Our History

In 1969 as a result of the Community Mental Health Act, a referendum was passed by the voters of McHenry County to establish a Community Mental Health Board and levy an annual tax for the purpose "...of providing community mental health facilities and services including facilities for the developmentally disabled and the substance abuser."

Following the successful referendum, the County government appointed a nine-member Board of community representatives to administer the mental health fund and to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Community Mental Health Act. The McHenry County Mental Health Board held its first meeting shortly thereafter and quickly began to develop general operating procedures and fund agencies.

Four years later a full-time director was hired to coordinate the day-to-day affairs, assist the voluntary Board members and add professional input and expertise to the Board's actvities. As of 2006 the Board administers a budget of over 16.2 million dollars which provides funding for twenty-two agencies and eighty different programs, and also supports a federal children's mental health initiative, service coordination activites for the county, and administrative staff to fulfill our state mandate.