Thresholds provides services and resources for persons with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders in Illinois. We work with many populations, including youth and young adults, veterans, young mothers, deaf, and individuals experiencing homelessness, among others.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live an independent, healthy life.
Founded in 1959, Thresholds provides healthcare, housing, and hope for thousands of persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders in Illinois each year. Through care, employment, advocacy, and housing, Thresholds assists and inspires people with mental illnesses to reclaim their lives.
Last year, Thresholds served more than 12,500 adults and youth, with 75% of services delivered out in the community, representing more than 500,000 hours of care.
Thresholds is one of the oldest and largest providers of recovery services for persons with mental illnesses and substance use conditions in Illinois. We offer 30 innovative programs at more than 75 locations throughout Chicago, the adjacent suburbs, and four surrounding counties. Services include assertive outreach, case management, housing, employment, education, psychiatry, primary care, substance use treatment, and research.
Thresholds’ staff meets people where they are – out in the community. Offering services in a community-based setting makes them more accessible and effective and lessens the social exclusion that is often present in the lives of persons living with mental illnesses and substance use conditions. This allows our staff and clients to work on skills, clinical interventions, and recovery that allows them to live independent lives in their own neighborhoods
Our clients are all unique – coming from vastly different backgrounds and arriving with different needs, talents, and hopes. Each client works with our staff to set their own specific short-term goals and objectives, based on their needs, desires, and level of self-sufficiency.
Recovery from mental health and substance use conditions is possible. Recovery is a process of finding and living a satisfying and meaningful life, as one defines it for oneself. We assist our clients as they work to reclaim a positive sense of self, and discover their own potential, gifts, and skills.
IDEAS at Thresholds: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to advance Social Justice
We respect, honor, and value diversity and we are invested in creating an inclusive culture that is compassionate, committed, and caring.
Thresholds is holding an open invitation for requests for proposals for audit and tax services. Please find all instructions and information here. The deadline for receipt of proposal submission is November 30, 2024. Documents should be emailed to Thresholds’ Chief Financial Officer, Al Shoreibah at al.shoreibah@thresholds.org.
We believe that the relationship between staff and clients is one of mutual respect, decision-making, and direction.
Most individuals that we serve have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Diagnoses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and severe post-traumatic stress disorder. This also includes individuals who are experiencing substance use conditions – either coexisting with their mental illness or on its own.
At the time of initial service, 90% of our clients are unemployed and living well below the National Poverty Level, and approximately half have co-occurring substance use conditions, and most have at least one advanced physical health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Thresholds believes in a respectful, collaborative approach, where staff and clients work together to design an individualized course of treatment. Our prevailing goal is to help our clients experience lives of greater autonomy and happiness.
Everyone should have the opportunity to live a life of value, self-respect, compassion, and dignity. All of our members arrive with untapped potential, full of gifts and skills to develop.
Total Clients Served: 8,360
97% of all clients showed confidence in their recovery 93% of all clients were satisfied with services and were willing to recommend Thresholds to others.
54% of clients enrolled in IPS supported employment services found jobs. |
85% of clients were linked to a primary care provider |
84% of clients were linked to a psychiatrist |
1250 Housing Units Managed | 182 Clinical Teams | 1200+ Dedicated Staff | Over 90% of Thresholds’ Team Leaders and one-third of Clinical Staff is master’s level. |
Programs For Specific Populations
68 clients transitioned out of institutional care into independent living in the community.
76 clients with serious mental illness who are deaf or hard-of-hearing were served by our Deaf Program.
77 chronically homeless or system-involved young adults received support through our Young Adult and REACH Programs.
150 of young people at risk for serious mental health challenges received support through our MindStrong Program.
150 former veterans struggling with mental illness, trauma, substance use, homelessness, or unemployment received assistance through our Veterans Project.
Client Demographics
Mark Ishaug, M.A. Dee Atkins Mike Faley Peggy Flaherty, L.C.S.W. Mark Furlong, L.C.S.W. Debra Howard-Frye, M.A. Chris Noone
Chief Executive Officer
Chief of Community Engagement and Equity
General Counsel
Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations
Chief Operating Officer
Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations
Chief Talent Officer
Heather O’Donnell, J.D.
Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy
Debbie Pavick, L.C.S.W.
Chief Clinical Officer
Brent Peterson
Chief Development Officer
Emily Moen
Chief Communications Officer
Al Shoreibah, C.P.A., M.B.A.
Chief Financial Officer
Ademola (Dayo) Popoola
Chief Information Officer
Steve Weinstein, M.D.
Medical Director
J.Wesley Cook, D.O.
Chief Medical Officer
Cynthia Jones – Chair
Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler – Vice Chair
James Kolar – Treasurer
Minal Varma – Secretary
Dr. Garth Walker – Assistant Secretary
Benjamin J. Albrecht
Judy Ashworth
David Buchanan
Pamela Buffett**
Bill Burfeind
Diana Carreno Garcia
Joanne Dahm
Marianne Doan*
Keith Douglas
Joseph Feldman
Satyender Goel, PhD
Ronald B. Grais, JD*
Megan Greer
Robert Haan
Lt. Jermaine Harris
Mary Jo Herseth*
Claudine Hollack
Vicki Horwich
Charlie Hymen
Stephen Isaacs
Peggy Johnson
Dan Klaff*
Roxanne M. Martino*
Keith McClintock
Cori McKeever
Suzet M. McKinney DrPH, MPH*
Joseph Moos
Sandeep Nain
Sharon Neal
Kevin Osten-Garner
Ina N. Owens, LCSW
Gino Pinto
Luvia Quinones
Christine M. Rhode
Sue Roberts
Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer
Ofelia Sanchez
Chris Segal
Robert Spencer
Masami Takahashi
Sarah Ware
Kirk Williams
Jana Barbe*
Mary Hill
Richard J. Loewenthal, Jr.
Adrianne Mautner
Linda Sahagian
*Past Chairs
**Honorary Director
The Thresholds Junior Board (TJB) is a community of people who are passionate about mental health. TJB members contribute a diversity of experience and expertise and are committed to Thresholds’ mission of providing healthcare, housing, and hope to persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders each year. Through fundraising and volunteerism, the TJB works to grow Thresholds and its life-saving services. For more information, please contact Eric Sikkema or Arriana Arroyo.
TJB members are required to: