The Roseland Health Hub on Chicago’s Far South Side has reopened its doors to provide crucial mental health services to the community. Operated by the Chicago Department of Public Health, the hub, located at 200 E. 115th St., began offering services on Wednesday, marking the return of city-run mental health care to the area after years of absence.
The Roseland Health Hub provides a variety of services, including individual and family therapy, medication management for psychiatric conditions, and sexual health services such as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, Mpox vaccinations, and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV prevention. These services are available free of charge to Chicago residents aged 6 and older, regardless of their insurance or immigration status.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the importance of the facility, saying, “This space will ensure that the people of Roseland and the South Side have access to services that they need.” He made these remarks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the hub, highlighting the facility’s commitment to improving mental health and public health in the neighborhood.
The hub’s reopening is part of a broader effort by the city to expand mental health resources and respond to community needs. Francisco Rodriguez, director of mental health clinics for the Chicago Department of Public Health, shared that there was no waitlist for services at the Roseland facility as of its opening, and the hub is expected to handle a high volume of clients right away.
Expansion of the CARE Program
Alongside the reopening of the Roseland clinic, the city also announced an expansion of the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program. The CARE program, which began in 2021, allows mental health professionals and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to respond to mental health crises instead of police officers or firefighters. This initiative aims to provide a more compassionate, appropriate response to mental health emergencies.
Public Health Commissioner Olusimbo Ige emphasized that the program is designed to be responsive to various situations, stating, “Whatever way the information comes to us, we have a team that can respond.”
A Long-Awaited Reopening and Expansion
The reopening of the Roseland clinic marks a significant step in Mayor Johnson’s pledge to expand access to mental health care. It also follows a series of moves to increase mental health resources in underserved neighborhoods, including the recent openings of hubs at the Legler Regional Library in West Garfield Park and in Pilsen.
Historically, the city has struggled with the closure of mental health facilities. Fourteen city-run clinics had been shuttered since 1989, with former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration notably closing all but five clinics in 2012. The Roseland clinic, however, remained open until 2016, when it was privatized, disrupting the continuity of care for many patients. Its return to city management marks a key part of Johnson’s vision to rebuild the city’s mental health infrastructure.
The city’s broader initiative to address mental health care includes plans to further expand the CARE program and, eventually, implement 24/7 CARE response teams. The city also aims to fully integrate the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, which provides comprehensive behavioral health services to individuals in need.
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), a key proponent of the “Treatment Not Trauma” campaign, expressed her continued support for expanding care structures, saying, “We are going to continue fighting. We are going to continue joining hands and hearts to create more structures of care for our communities.”
With these efforts, Chicago is working to ensure that every resident in need of mental or behavioral health services has a number to call, a team to respond, and a place to receive care.
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