Hartgrove Behavioral Health System

01/28/2026

We recently stopped by UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital to say hello 👋 to Laryncia Dates, MSW, LSW (left) and Ahmiyah Jones (right), drop off some goodies and more importantly, to spend time with a team doing such meaningful behavioral health work every day.

We've partnered with the team for years 🤝, and our collaboration makes sure patients have clear pathways to resources, smoother transitions and the right level of care at the right time.

Strong partnerships like this help the system work best. Multiple teams, same goal: helping people get the right support when they need it most, without extra barriers. Big appreciation to the Ingalls team for being such a great group to work with!

01/27/2026

🧠🚧 The teenage brain is still under construction, especially the parts responsible for decision-making, impulse control and long‑term planning. That "construction zone" makes teens more likely to try substances and more vulnerable to the effects.

Here’s the quick science: the brain’s reward system develops faster than the areas that manage judgment, meaning substances can feel more intense, more rewarding and harder to walk away from. This also increases the risk of forming patterns that can develop into substance use disorder (SUD).

The good news? Support works. As Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month comes to a close, remember that early conversations and access to compassionate care can make a huge difference. 💙

Understanding addiction and how it affects young people is one of the best ways we can protect and support our teens.

During Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, we’re spotlighting how the adolescent brain responds to risk and the factors that can increase vulnerability.

Here are a few key risk factors:

🏡 Home and Family: When substance use happens at home, teens may be more likely to experiment themselves.

👥 Peers and School: When teens feel pressure or lack support, it can open the door to harmful choices.

🧠 Early Use: The developing brain is especially vulnerable.

🔥 Method of Use: How a substance is taken can affect the likelihood of dependency.

Raising awareness gives families, caregivers and communities the tools to understand what teens are up against and how we can all show up for them. Together, we can help them make safer choices and feel supported every step of the way.

01/26/2026

👋 Meet Keith Henderson, SPHR, the new Group Director of Human Resources for both Hartgrove Behavioral Health System and Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital!

If his office wall looks like a football hall of fame, well, that’s because it kind of is 🏈. Keith spent four years playing college football on a full athletic scholarship where he made Second-Team All-American as a wide receiver, and he even signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. And those Starting Lineup figures on the wall? That’s him. You know, no big deal. 😉

His football days gave him grit, teamwork and leadership skills for his 23-year (and counting!) career in HR. After getting his bachelor's degree in HR management and his master's degree in HR industrial relations, he spent 10 years in educational HR and the last 13 years in healthcare HR.

He enjoys the team‑oriented leadership culture here and says people looking into a behavioral health career need to understand that it’s tough (but incredibly important!) and you must have a certain type of mindset to do the work: 💬 "We have a lot of tenured team members, and that in itself says a lot about the great people that work here. The fact that we are an organization that helps a lot of people gets me really excited to be here."

01/23/2026

🥶 The arctic blast is here! 🥶

We know it's awfully cold here in Chicago, so please be safe when stepping outside. We also know mental health challenges have no schedule and take no breaks. That's why help is always available at Hartgrove.

Our doors are open when you or your loved one need care.

📞 773-413-1700 or contact us here: https://hartgrovehospital.com/contact-us/.

Contact Us Get Help Now In case of a mental health crisis, CALL 988 or seek the nearest emergency room. For physical health emergencies, CALL 911 or seek the nearest emergency room. Hartgrove Hospital’s Assessment Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a no-cost mental he...

01/22/2026

Shout-out to the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice for throwing a great event last week! 👏

Our own Stefani Jivkova, Oak Park Counseling Center's Hildie Ericksen and Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital's Elena Colas loved talking to students about our practically perfect practicum programs (okay, we'll stop 🤣)... but seriously, our internships are something special.

Our psychology training programs provide hands-on behavioral health experience, real mentorship and an incredibly supportive team, and we're extremely proud to teach students who are genuinely excited about this work.

Here's what Hildie had to say about the event: 💬 "We built a highly supportive and solid training program which ensures students will be ready for the next steps in their career. One really great question was, 'What does a supervisor look for in an ideal candidate?' I think students should be ready for the broad range of client presentation with strong curiosity, flexibility to adapt to patients' changing needs and self-awareness to engage in their clinical development."

And while there was no official voting or prize, several students told us our booth was their favorite of the entire event! 😊

01/21/2026

"When hospitals, community providers and neighborhood partners come together with shared purpose, we can preserve access to care." 🎯

That's from Patrick Dombrowski, Executive Director of Collaborative Bridges, a community health hub whose mission is to help change the way behavioral health services are delivered for Chicago West Side residents.

📽️ Watch the video to learn more about how Collaborative Bridges began.

We're extremely proud to say we've been there from the jump as a core member of this collaboration 🤝. Organizations like theirs play a huge role in health equity by making sure people have access to the right care at the right time, regardless of their circumstances. When hospitals and community organizations team up, we create a smoother path forward for patients beyond discharge.

Executive Director Patrick Dombrowski shares how community partners came together to redesign behavioral health care and protect access for Medicaid patients...

01/20/2026

When substance use disorder (SUD) takes hold, it may feel like there's no way out. But we're here to show you that change is possible. 👊

In fact, change has five stages once you start to turn the corner:

1️⃣ Precontemplation
2️⃣ Contemplation
3️⃣ Preparation
4️⃣ Action
5️⃣ Maintenance

👉 Learn more about each stage here: https://bit.ly/4bf8u1H.

If you or a loved one struggle with SUD, our experienced professionals can help you on your road to recovery. We're here 24/7.

Addiction is a complex and challenging disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be difficult to overcome, but with the right treatment and support, recovery is possible. One of the key components of successful addiction recovery is understanding the stages of change. The stages of c...

01/19/2026

Martin Luther King Jr. Day reminds us of the power of hope.

Hope moves people, lifts communities and inspires change, and that same hope can be a lifeline when navigating mental health challenges.

If you’re holding onto even a tiny spark of hope today, that’s enough. Keep going. 💪

01/16/2026

January's Employee of the Month coming in strong. 💪

Congratulations to Joseph Thompson, RN! 🏆 Since joining Hartgrove Behavioral Health System, he’s grown fast and stepped up in big ways. He keeps patient safety front and center, builds real rapport with his patients and knows how to calmly de-escalate tough moments. That strong, authentic rapport helps patients feel less alone and is key to delivering great care.

He’s dependable, steady under pressure and always willing to help when the unit needs support. As Shalini Pandiyan, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing (pictured left), shared, "Joseph is very knowledgeable and demonstrates proficient clinical skills. He strives to maintain patient safety and provides a therapeutic milieu, and he is reliable and consistent in all his duties."

We’re proud to recognize Joseph as our first Employee of the Month for 2026 and grateful for the positive impact he has on our patients and our clinical team!

01/15/2026

Human trafficking doesn’t always look like the dramatic stories we see on TV. It often happens quietly through manipulation, exploitation and control, and it leaves deep emotional and psychological wounds.

Survivors commonly face long‑lasting impacts like anxiety, depression, PTSD and difficulty trusting others. No one should have to face that alone.

When communities understand the signs and know how to respond, we create safer spaces for everyone. Here are some of the warning signs for at-risk youth:

👫 Dating an older person
🏃‍♀️ Chronic runaway
💍 Material items they cannot afford
💵 Large amounts of money
🏨 Hotel keys or cards
📱 Prepaid phones
🤳 Explicit photos or videos

If you or someone you know struggles with trauma, help is available, and reaching out is a strong and incredibly brave first step.

01/14/2026

Nothing better than spending quality time with great community partners doing such important work. 👊

Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness is a community health hub providing primary care, behavioral health and support services to families across Illinois. Their integrated, whole-person approach connects kids, teens and adults with the kind of coordinated care that makes a big difference long after a clinic visit.

We loved stopping by to say hello and drop off a little something for their team. They’re in the community every day supporting the people that need it the most. Having a strong relationship like this means people get connected to care faster, transitions feel smoother and families have more support along the way.

We’re grateful for the collaboration, trust and the shared commitment to serving the community. Big thanks to our friends at Aunt Martha’s; we’re honored to work alongside you! 💙

01/13/2026

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) impacts lives in ways that can feel overwhelming. But hope is real, and healing happens every day — we see it all the time right here at Hartgrove Behavioral Health System. When you take that first brave step toward treatment, you choose a future filled with possibility. 💪

We can now treat SUD as a primary condition, and we’re here to walk the journey with you. We offer compassionate, evidence-based care that focuses on recovery and dignity, because everyone deserves a chance to reclaim their life.

📱 We here when you're ready: https://bit.ly/4pr9Olp.