Heartland Human Services

Heartland Human Services is the result of the efforts of a caring and concerned community. In the 1960’s, community leaders realized counseling services for mental illness and addictions treatment were lacking in rural areas. The State of Illinois made a commitment to help communities improve their quality of life by establishing a tax levy for the support of mental health services and addictions treatment. Effingham county leaders and voters were farsighted enough to pass such a tax levy by referendum in 1969, thus providing funding for community based behavioral healthcare services. In 1970 a non-profit corporation was established under the directorship of a local board of directors to oversee the development of a full continuum of behavioral healthcare services. They named this new entity the Effingham County Mental Health Center. Over the years Heartland Human Services has changed names and grown from its simple beginnings to provide a broad array of behavioral healthcare services. Today local county funding comprises less than 5% of Heartland Human Services total funding. The Agency contracts with the State of Illinois, business corporations, third party insurers, and private individuals as a means of underwriting the costs of services. Heartland Human Services receives funding from the Illinois Departments of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Children and Family Services, Mental Health, Public Aid, Public Health and Rehabilitation Services. These same state departments license and/or certify the quality of Heartland programs. Staff employed by the Agency are also licensed and/or certified in their particular area of expertise. The Agency employs a multi-disciplinary staff including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other staff members trained in one of the many human service fields. We’re proud to be Effingham County’s behavioral health and counseling agency for over 45 years!