I recently joined the Board of Impact Behavioral Health Partners, and I am pleased to be part of an organization that continually strives to serve its participants with the utmost respect and integrity and overcome the stigma associated with mental illness. Impact's success rate in providing supportive housing and employment services to adults recovering from mental illness is remarkable. I am most impressed with the dedication and empathy of the staff, and their willingness to provide support to the participants extends far beyond what is expected. Over the last 30 years, Impact has helped many individuals with mental illness regain their independence, dignity and self-confidence, and continues to work tirelessly to remove the stigma of mental illness.
Since joining Impact's Board a little over a year ago, I continue to be impressed and pleasantly surprised by how strategic Impact's comprehensive services model is and at the results delivered by each pillar. The approach and results reflect deep understanding of and empathy for their clients and clients' families and loved ones. Impact delivers on a clear vision with efficiency that would make most for-profit enterprises envious.
I have volunteered with Impact for the past 4 years and continue to be impressed with all the great work they do. They work tirelessly to help people with mental illness live as full a life as possible. They provide great housing, incredible clinical and nursing support and their work program is a model for the country on how to provide supportive job services. Their 30 year history speaks volumes for the success of their programs. I have met some of the people they help when they first come into their programs--and I have seen these same people a year later. The transformation is incredible. Impact gives people a second chance in a way that really works.
I have been involved with Impact since its inception 30 years ago. At that time, there were few services and virtually no supportive housing for adults recovering from mental health issues in Evanston. Since then, Impact has provided the equivalent of over 1,000 years of supportive housing, along with clinical and employment services for our participants.
I have volunteered for not-for-profits my entire adult life, and can truly say that Staff, Board and Advisory Council Members and Volunteers are all devoted to our mission. We help our participants to change their lives for the better.
Impact truly cares about the city of Evanston and the constituents that the organization serves. Having attended their gala, I can say with certainty that the staff and board truly are excited and passionate about the mission of their organization.
Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Impact's gala, held at the Writer's Theatre in Glencoe, and I have to say –it was an absolute treat. Not only was the evening entertaining, culminating in a performance of the award-winning Trevor: The Musical, but it was great to be able to work hand-in-hand with Impact staff to see all of the hard work, firsthand, that everyone at the organization put in to make the event go off without a hitch. From the atmosphere of the venue to the content of the program, the mission of the organization was in full-focus, and the night was a great success.