FY19 Letter to Our Supporters
In Fiscal Year 2019, Ecker Center for Mental Health served 3,463 individuals with mental illness, which represents an 11.2% increase from the previous year. Despite this, it is estimated that only 43.3% of adults with mental illness sought treatment in 2018. Raising awareness of the importance of mental health to overall well-being is necessary to reinforce the need for treatment and reduce stigma. Unfortunately, many individuals have financial challenges that provide obstacles for seeking obtainable care. Ecker provides quality, comprehensive, and accessible behavioral health care to individuals in our community. We exhaustively seek opportunities for outreach and engagement in the community to increase access of care. Our compassionate, committed staff work diligently to provide the best outcomes for our clients. We pride ourselves on being able to provide simultaneous and accessible treatment options for our clients.
In Fiscal Year 2019, Karen Beyer retired as the CEO from Ecker Center after nearly 20 years of service. Her wisdom and guidance played an important role in the accomplishments of the agency. Karen’s leadership during financially turbulent times allowed Ecker to provide continuum of care when other agencies had no choice but to close their doors. Under her direction, the agency launched new programs and services, and the agency achieved accreditation of The Joint Commission. Her dedication and professional accomplishments are commendable.
Approximately 300 supporters attended our events, including our November Fest & Folly, our Spring Wishes for Wellness Brunch, and our Ecker Client Art Show.
The Ecker Center achieved a number of key strategic and operational targets during Fiscal Year 2019. We began to increase many of the service hours for therapy at all three locations, including at our satellite offices in Streamwood and St. Charles. We developed a telepsychiatry program to increase access of care for our clients. Ecker began providing counselors for the City of Elgin Police Department’s Collaborative Crisis Services Unit. Also, the agency secured funding to employ an Outreach and Engagement Case Manager for the area's adult homeless population.
We continue the process of merging with Renz Addiction Counseling Center to become a full-service behavioral health care provider and achieve the advantages of economies of scale. Our staff and clients appreciate the support we have received in Fiscal Year 2019, which made it possible to provide essential mental health services to thousands of people in our community.