Plainfield Township expanding mental health services in community

Plainfield Township softly launched a mental health program a year ago and is gradually building on its success.

In December 2023, Plainfield Township – as well as Lockport Township – started partnering with Thriveworks, an online and in-person mental health care provider, to offer free mental health services.

Plainfield Township Administrator Chuck Willard said the program was modeled after the one the Joliet Fire Department launched in 2022, especially since Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey wanted to expand the program beyond Joliet.

The Joliet Fire Department launched its partnership with Thriveworks in 2022.

“The stories we’re getting, the letters, the calls from residents who are grateful that it’s changed their [lives] are reassuring that we are doing the correct thing.”

—  Chuck Willard, Plainfield Township administrator

Willard said Plainfield Township already offers programs for seniors, youth and people with disabilities, which put mental health services “in our wheelhouse of what we can do.”

So Plainfield Township beta-tested the Thriveworks program in 2023 and then increased its budget in 2024 for mental health services, Willard said.

The Plainfield Township’s 2023-2024 Treasurer’s Report Summary showed $10,000 was budgeted for Thriveworks, and Willard said the township will be adding more funding.

“We wanted to make sure we had managed growth with the program,” Willard said. “The last thing we wanted to do was launch large and then run out of money and not have the service until the next fiscal year. We’re trying to be responsible with this.”

Plainfield’s police and Plainfield and Lockport’s fire districts are the program’s “advocates in the field,” Willard said. This means responding firefighters and emergency medical technicians may refer residents experiencing a mental health crisis to Thriveworks, he said.

“Having Plainfield fire and Lockport fire trained up as crisis responders, that was key,” Willard said, later adding: “It’s all about crisis management in the long term. You’re not just trying to solve the problem today but whatever issue caused the problem.”

After prioritizing emergent needs, Plainfield Township wanted to bring the information to local schools “to make sure youth had access,” Willard said. Plainfield Township then started letting seniors and the general public know, too, he added.

However, the program has always been open to all Plainfield Township residents since its inception, Willard said. The program accepts health insurance if the client is insured, Willard said. Otherwise, Plainfield Township steps in, he said.

“It’s been a game-changer, with no out-of-pocket cost to the residents,” Willard said.

Tim Albores, director of student services for high school and ED/alternative programs in Plainfield High School District 202, said the district first partnered with Thriveworks through a partnership with the Joliet Fire Department in March 2022.

“They secured a grant to provide free counseling for any Joliet resident,” Albores said. “We shared this out with our families that attend PSD in the Joliet area.”

Thanks to Plainfield Township, that program is no longer limited to District 202’s Joliet students.

“Since then, we heard that Plainfield also secured a grant and is now offering free counseling for any Plainfield family,” Albores said. “So we began sharing this out with our social workers and PSD families earlier this year.

District 202 already offered a variety of counseling resources, including an on-site partnership with Hartgrove Behavioral Health and access to Referral GPS, a free database for District 202 families to connect with counseling services.

But now, District 202 has “another tool in the chest,” Willard said.

Carey said the local schools really helped to “get the message out” to their students.

“This really helped our reach, I think,” Carey said. “Not only are the kids in school aware of it, it gets home to the parents, too.”

Carey said Troy Township and Beecher also are partnering with Thriveworks.

“It’s been great to see how well it’s worked here, and it’s been great to see it expand and meet the needs of more individuals in other communities,” Carey said. “Ultimately, people are getting the care they need.”

As of December, 45 Plainfield Township residents had signed up for the program, with a total of 239 sessions, Willard said.

“That’s a lot for a little township,” Willard said. “The stories we’re getting, the letters, the calls from residents who are grateful that it’s changed their [lives] are reassuring that we are doing the correct thing.”

Willard said any Plainfield Township resident who wants more information should pick up a brochure from the township office at 22525 W. Lockport St. in Plainfield or call the township at 815-436-8308.