In the summer of 2024, a dedicated group of residents came together around a shared goal: to improve access to mental health services in Palatine Township. They launched a grassroots campaign to create a local planning and funding mechanism designed to support mental health, substance use treatment, and developmental disability services called a Community Mental Health Board. Over the following months, the team ran an innovative campaign in which they mobilized over 120 volunteers, secured endorsements from 31 organizations, and held dozens of community events to build support and awareness.

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The referendum passed in April 2025 by a decisive 2:1 margin, reflecting widespread public recognition of the urgent need for local mental health solutions. But for the organizers, this was just the beginning. With the board successfully established, they founded The Community Mental Health Project to continue the work that started with the campaign—engaging the public, advocating for inclusive policy, and ensuring that mental health remains a community priority long after the election.