Hartgrove Behavioral Health System

04/29/2026

It's National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and knowing the signs matters.

Here’s the tough part: a lot of opioid exposure doesn’t start with something labeled "fentanyl." It often comes from fake pills that look like prescription meds, but secretly contain fentanyl, or maybe someone started taking real prescription pills and moved to fentanyl.

Changes in behavior, health or routines can sometimes be a bigger signal that something’s off. When that happens, people need support, not judgment. At Hartgrove, we care about meeting patients and families with compassion. No scare tactics or shame. Just real conversations and care that treats the whole person.

We’re here to listen. We’re here to help. 💙

04/28/2026

🎤 "We meet our patients where they are, and we’re going to take them far."

That's from Beverly Echols, Ed.D., group director of educational services for both Hartgrove Behavioral Health System and Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital, and she and her team work very hard to help our patients keep up with their education while going through treatment.

Dr. Beverly (as the students call her 🙂) has more than 30 years of educational leadership experience across public, private and nonprofit schools, and she completely revamped our educational services department during her 18 months with us. Her team of licensed educators provide year-round, structured schoolwork time that's both intentional and personalized.

We partner very closely with schools across the region to make sure no kids fall behind. And if needed, we can help adults catch up, too! 🎓

04/27/2026

Here, Gina Smith, LCSW, shares a little about what therapy looks like for students and families through our Schoolhouse Counseling Center.

💬 "I like helping people through difficult times and watching how much they learn about themselves throughout the process. I get kids to open up in therapy by going at their pace. We build trust by doing fun things like playing games, and with time, children feel comfortable and safe."

We care about students being able to continue their progress after the school year ends. That's why our Schoolhouse Counseling Center services are available all summer long.

As the school year wraps up, routines change, but we're here to help students and their family members manage any big emotions that come with it. Whether you're already working with a therapist or it's your first time, our team can help with individual therapy, family counseling, telehealth and medication management.

04/24/2026

Flashback and follow along with our COO, Patrick Sanders, MS, MA, MHA, as he makes his way through two expert panel discussions at the Becker's Hospital Review 16th Annual Meeting last week.

Mental healthcare looks different for everyone, and Patrick talked a lot about why this means systems need to adapt over and over again to meet patients' needs. He also discussed what leaders can do to protect staff and keep them from burning out.

(And if you've ever been to a healthcare conference, you know some of the best conversations happen in between sessions 🤝.)

Shout-out to Becker's for inviting behavioral health providers like us to help lead the national conversation!

04/23/2026

😲 Fifty years!? Now that's something to celebrate! 🎉

Here at Hartgrove Behavioral Health System, we help patients get on track, but we care a lot about them staying on track, too. That's where strong partnerships like the one we have with TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) come in.

They seriously make a huge impact in the community, and we're honored to work alongside them. Here's to the next 50 years!

04/22/2026

Give it up for our medical records rock stars! 👏

This team works hard behind the scenes to keep patient info safe, accurate and where it needs to be. They don’t always get the spotlight, but our patients, our providers and our whole hospital depend on them. We care about protecting privacy and doing things the right way, and this team makes that happen.

Happy Health Information Professionals Week! 🙂

04/21/2026

👋 Welcome to some of Hartgrove Behavioral Health System's newest team members!

We take great pride in our orientation program. We care a lot about preparing our new hires for what they'll actually see once they get on the units to help our patients. Our orientation goes deep, it's brutally honest, and we surround our trainees with support from day one.

Our CEO and executive team show up right away during the first week, because leadership knows just how important every single role in the hospital is to helping our patients improve.

One thing we hear often: "This is the best orientation I have ever had." (We'll take it! 😁)

04/20/2026

Alcohol comes up earlier than a lot of people expect.

If you’re a teen reading this: it’s okay to be curious, unsure or even struggling. Nobody has it all figured out at this age. It helps to have at least one trusted person you can talk to when things feel confusing or out of control.

And for parents: the talks can be light, like quick check‑ins. Asking what your kid sees and hears (think listening 👂 more than lecturing). Those moments add up and make it easier for kids to come to you when they actually need help.

Here at Hartgrove Behavioral Health System, we care about making sure teens know they are not alone. If alcohol remains a challenge for you or someone you love, we can help.

04/17/2026

🎤 "Staff want to feel heard. They want to feel like the administration is listening to their concerns. At the end of the day, the bottom line is safety."

Our COO, Patrick Sanders, MS, MA, MHA, joined an expert panel at the Becker's Hospital Review Health Summit to discuss strategies to combat clinician burnout. He shared what guides our approach here at Hartgrove Behavioral Health System and our sister hospital, Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital.

Safety for both patients and staff is our top priority. That means open communication, responsive leadership and a culture where concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

We care about delivering the best possible behavioral health treatment for every patient who walks through our doors, so caring for those who care for others is essential.

04/16/2026

LOVE this partnership! 💙

Nothing beats a visit from our longtime friends at UCAN. They've been showing up for Chicago’s youth and families for decades by providing safe housing, trauma‑informed care, education and support that helps young people get on track and stay on track.

Together we help create smoother paths to care, stronger support systems and real continuity for the kids and families we serve. Patients and their families see just how much we care when they're surrounded by people who are invested in their long‑term healing and success.

This team's work reaches deep into the community, and we're honored to work alongside them. 🤝

04/15/2026

Patrick Sanders, MS, MA, MHA, Group Chief Operating Officer, hits the Becker's Hospital Review Behavioral Health Summit stage tomorrow morning! 👇

Tomorrow at the Becker's Hospital Review Behavioral Health Summit, our COO, 🎤 Patrick Sanders, MS, MA, MHA, joins fellow behavioral health system leaders for a thoughtful panel on "Combatting Burnout in the Behavioral Health Workforce."

The discussion goes beyond quick fixes, exploring how leadership, culture and system-level supports can help clinicians feel valued, supported and able to sustain the work they love for the long run.

Get more session details here: https://bit.ly/3O7v6rH.

04/14/2026

We care a lot about hope (we know that's kind of a given for those of us in the behavioral health field 🙂).

Hope can take many forms. Sometimes it's a person who listens without judgment. Sometimes it's a new coping skill or a fresh perspective. It can also be the first step toward healing, often starting with the right support in place.

Here at Hartgrove Behavioral Health System, we see hope show up every single day. And you can, too. 💙