Illinois Department of Human Services

09/14/2026

💜 Recovery is personal, and access to treatment when someone is ready matters.

MAR NOW helps people in Illinois quickly access medication and treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Through MAR NOW, care managers can help individuals explore treatment options, including prescriptions by phone or same-day appointments when available.

📞 Call 833-234-6343 to reach MAR NOW. Support is available 24/7.

There are many paths to recovery, and treatment can be part of the journey.

09/14/2026

💙 Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed September 13–19, 2026, Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week in Illinois!

Across Illinois, DSPs serve in many roles and settings, including dedicated IDHS employees in our State Operated Developmental Centers and DSPs working through community-based organizations and providers.

Their work is professional, personal, skilled, and essential. Every day, DSPs help people with disabilities build independence, pursue their goals, and live with dignity and choice.

IDHS celebrates and thanks DSPs across Illinois for the difference they make in the lives of the people and families they support.

09/11/2026

IDHS Assistant Secretary for Programs John Schomberg is participating in a panel to discuss the Growing Gap: Cost of Living and Community Needs on Monday, September 14.

This event will explore the resources, strategies, and community partnerships that can increase access to housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

Learn more and RSVP: centerofconcern.org/needs

Join us on Monday as we explore how rising costs impact older adults and low-income individuals and families. This event will explore the resources, strategies, and community partnerships that can increase access to housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

You are invited to this free event (donate what you can!) to enjoy an evening of appetizers, cocktails, networking, expert panel discussion, and awards ceremony.

Learn more and RSVP: centerofconcern.org/needs

Guest Speakers
- Senator Tammy Duckworth, Welcome Remarks
- Representative Michelle Mussman, Moderator
- Danita Childers, Cook County Housing Authority, Panelist
- Tangela Enyia, Meridian of Illinois, Panelist
- Dr. Kiran Joshi, Cook County Department of Public Health, Panelist
- John Schomberg, Illinois Department of Human Services, Panelist
- Diane Slezak, AgeOptions, Panelist

The Growing Gap: Cost of Living and Community Needs
Monday, September 14th, 2026

5:30pm Networking, Appetizers, & Resource Tables
6:30pm Program Start – Awards & Panel
8:30 Goodnight

Des Plaines Theatre
1476 Miner Street
Des Plaines, IL 6001 6

09/11/2026

On September 11, we remember those whose lives were lost and honor their memory through service.

For the fifth year, IDHS-Serve Illinois is partnering with 9/11 Day at Chicago’s Union Station, where more than 1,500 volunteers come together to pack at least 500,000 meals for communities in need.

Nearly 25 years after 9/11, service continues to bring people together in remembrance and in support of their communities.

Serve. Unite. Remember.

09/11/2026

September is Recovery Month, and IDHS is sharing Voices of Recovery – firsthand stories from people whose lived experiences reflect the many paths recovery can take.

Tara Retondo faced both depression and PTSD. But even after receiving help, she still found herself in the darkest days of her life. Hear about her recovery story, the CRSS program, and how she reclaimed her life by helping others confronting the same challenges.

Hear Tara’s story:

September is Recovery Month, and IDHS is sharing Voices of Recovery...

09/10/2026

IDHS Secretary Dulce M. Quintero and IDHS’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery joined Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, NAMI Chicago, The Trevor Project, Equality Illinois, and other LGBTQIA+ and behavioral health partners to raise awareness about the need to restore, at the federal level, specialized LGBTQIA+ crisis support through the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

The conversation highlighted the previously available “Press 3” option and the importance of ensuring LGBTQIA+ young people have access to responsive, affirming crisis care when they need it most.

With the end of 988+3 last year, IDHS moved to fill the gap that the federal government left.

Through partnership with The Trevor Project, 988 contact center staff are trained on LGBTQIA+ cultural competence, so that whoever answers the reach out can effectively support anyone who calls them. This additional training and technical assistance ensures that all Illinoisans get the support they need.

Thank you to NAMI Chicago for hosting this conversation and bringing partners together to advance LGBTQIA+ mental health and well-being.

09/10/2026

For International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, IDHS’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery and the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force partnered with 40 neighborhood organizations in Chicago to connect residents with health education, resources, and support.

The event also provided an opportunity to remember those whose lives have been impacted by overdose and strengthen community efforts to prevent future loss.

Learn how to access naloxone and other overdose prevention resources: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=58142

09/10/2026

September 10 is World Su***de Prevention Day.

A conversation, a check-in, or simply listening can help someone feel less alone. Reach out, stay connected, and help create communities where asking for support is met with compassion.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.

09/09/2026

💜 Finding the right substance use treatment or recovery support can feel overwhelming. You don't have to figure out where to start on your own.

The Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances is available 24/7 to help people across Illinois understand their options and connect with treatment and recovery services. Support is free, confidential, and available in any language.

Whether you're looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, the Illinois Helpline can help you take the next step.

📞 Call 833-2FINDHELP (833-234-6343)
📲 Text HELP to 833234
🌐 Visit HelplineIL.org

This National Recovery Month, know that support is available and recovery is possible.

09/09/2026

or Destiny Merritt, recovery has meant surviving some of the most difficult moments of her life, rebuilding what she thought she had lost and ultimately finding purpose in helping others.

“I took my pain and turned it into purpose. I took my survival and turned it into service.”

As part of our Voices of Recovery series, Destiny shares her story of addiction, trauma and survival — and how recovery gave her the opportunity to build a new chapter and help others find their own path forward.

Read Destiny’s story: Voices of Recovery: http://eepurl.com/tGAY1f9e7F