Mental Health Services
The Township Mental Health Committee, made up of River Forest resident volunteers appointed by the Board, reviews the grant applications submitted each year from local agencies and makes funding recommendations to the Township Board of Trustees.
River Forest Township works with local agency partners to fund a wide range of programs in the areas of behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, domestic violence, substance use and addiction recovery. Services include case management, respite care, behavioral health treatment, early intervention, prevention, substance treatment, education, outreach and support groups. This continuum of community-based services is cost-effective, systematically evaluated and responsive to evolving mental health needs.
FY2026 Grant Applications were due January 15, 2025 for the April 2025-March 2026 Fiscal Year. Any agency that meets the following criteria is eligible to receive funding from RFT:
● Agency must be a public, not-for-profit entity that has been in operation for at least one (1) year.
● Agency must demonstrate sound fiscal policies, financial reliability and stability.
● Service recipients must be River Forest Township residents who are living in River Forest Township at the time services are delivered. The funded agency assumes full responsibility and liability for proof of residency of its clients. Failure to do so will result in full repayment for the services provided and potential denial of any future funding.
Grant Agreements
1. We require each grantee to sign a Grant Agreement containing the terms of the grant, their W9 and ACH information. Grant request deadlines are published on our website.
2. We will pay for qualified services rendered to River Forest residents and/or a flat grant based on their application that is included in the Grant Agreement.
3. We must receive from all agencies with purchase of service grants the number of River Forest clients and services hours billed on a quarterly basis.
4. We require all agencies to submit yearly financial audits from a CPA.
5. We shall be notified within 30 days of any change to an agency’s executive director or funding manager.
6. Grantees may be asked to participate in various meetings including quarterly consortiums held jointly with Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board.
7. We function under non-discriminatory purposes and grantees must follow the Township’s Policy handbook in this area.
8. We may be able to make allowances for over spending the contractual state amount.
9. Payments may be suspended or contract terminated if stated conditions in said contract are not followed.
First Tuesday of the Month Mental Health Committee Meetings - 7PM
May 6, 2025 - Thank you dinner
The Committee then takes a break for the summer.
Sep 2, Oct 7 and Nov 4
The Committee then takes a break for the winter.