The Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center (BHWC) Biennial Legislative Report highlights statewide progress from FY23–FY25 to strengthen Illinois’s behavioral health workforce through data-driven planning, strategic partnerships, and targeted investments in recruitment, education, retention, quality of care, and policy engagement.

The report documents significant workforce shortages—particularly in Central and Southern Illinois—along with persistent challenges related to access to supervision, workforce preparedness, burnout, and retention.

It details BHWC’s efforts to expand workforce data infrastructure, grow career pathways, enhance training and supervision, support evidence-based practices, and inform legislative and regulatory solutions.

Together, these efforts lay the groundwork for a more accessible, prepared, and sustainable behavioral health workforce, with a forward-looking strategic plan guiding priorities for FY26–FY28.