Thresholds

Thresholds Thresholds is one of the oldest, largest providers of mental health and substance use treatment in Illinois.

Founded in 1959, Thresholds provides healthcare, housing, and hope for thousands of persons with mental illnesses and substance use conditions in Illinois each year. Through care, employment, advocacy, and housing, Thresholds assists and inspires people with mental illnesses to reclaim their lives. Thresholds is one of the oldest and largest providers of recovery services for persons with mental i

llnesses and substance use conditions in Illinois. We offer more than 33 innovative programs at nearly 100 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.

Last night, we truly met the moment.Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2026 Thresholds Gala. It was an incredibl...
04/24/2026

Last night, we truly met the moment.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2026 Thresholds Gala. It was an incredible evening centered around connection and compassion.

Because of you, we raised nearly $1.3 million to continue expanding access to housing, mental health care, and crisis response across Chicago!

Thank you to our honorees—Darrious Hilmon, Sasha-Ann Simons, and the James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation—and to our keynote speaker, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, for helping shape such an impactful evening.

And thank you to our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff who made it all happen.

Take a look through some of our favorite moments from the night, courtesy of the wonderful MERLO MEDIA.

We’re honored and deeply grateful to share that Governor JB Pritzker has officially declared April 23, 2026 as Threshold...
04/23/2026

We’re honored and deeply grateful to share that Governor JB Pritzker has officially declared April 23, 2026 as Thresholds Day in Illinois. 🎉

This recognition is a powerful reflection of the work happening every day across our communities — showing up with compassion, care, and connection for people navigating mental health and substance use challenges.

And tonight, we carry that momentum into the Thresholds Gala '26: Meet the Moment, where we’ll celebrate the impact of this work and shine a spotlight on our Crisis Response programs — meeting people where they are, in their most vulnerable moments, with dignity and real support.

Join us in celebrating this incredible honor — and the people, staff, and community who make it possible. 💙

Yesterday, Thresholds President and CEO, Mark Ishaug, participated in a Civic Federation panel, joining fellow leaders f...
04/22/2026

Yesterday, Thresholds President and CEO, Mark Ishaug, participated in a Civic Federation panel, joining fellow leaders from across Illinois to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the health and human services sector.

Alongside Emily Muskovitz Sweet of the Jewish United Fund of Chicago - JUF and Lauren Wright of Illinois Partners for Human Service, they discussed how:

✅ Nonprofits are meeting the moment with compassion, advocacy, and deep collaboration
✅ Philanthropy is advancing innovative funding strategies to drive systems-level change
✅ State partners are working alongside community providers to respond to evolving federal pressures impacting Medicaid, mental health care, housing, food security, and more
✅ And most importantly, the people served remain at the center of this work, fueling purpose, urgency, and impact every day

Thank you for including us in such an important and inspiring day!

Finding the right place to make a difference isn’t always immediate, but when it happens, you know.For many of our board...
04/21/2026

Finding the right place to make a difference isn’t always immediate, but when it happens, you know.

For many of our board members, their connection to Thresholds begins with a search: for purpose, for impact, for a way to turn experience into something meaningful. And often, it’s through seeing the work up close - the challenges, the compassion, and the care for both clients and staff - that their commitment truly takes root.

In this next story, board vice chair Judy Beth Ashworth shares how a search for connection led to a powerful firsthand experience. and a lasting dedication to supporting both the people we serve and the people who show up for them every day.

"When my husband and I planned to move to the Midwest, I went online before we'd even arrived, searching for ways to connect, to find something meaningful where I could be of service. I'd spent years in medical research, working on substance use, trying to develop medications that could help people struggling with addiction. I knew the world of stigmatized, overlooked populations. I knew how hard it was to get people the help they needed. I just hadn't found the right place to put that to work.

Then a neighbor, a Thresholds board member, found out what I did and thought I might belong at Thresholds.

He was right.

My understanding of Thresholds’ impact deepened when I joined two members of the Homeless Outreach Program for a ride along. We were moving between visits, helping find a family living in a bus, clients in tents, people in apartments barely holding on, when one of the outreach workers got a phone call. A member they had worked with had died of an overdose. Someone they had known, cared for; someone they thought had been doing okay.

Both of them were devastated. And within minutes, they were instructed to come straight back to headquarters. There was support waiting for them. People ready to sit with them, talk with them, help them carry that heaviness.

I thought: this organization takes care of its own just as it takes care of those it serves. I want to advance its mission in any way I can."

Judy has given her expertise, her energy, and her heart. If her story moved you, consider giving what you can. Every dollar goes directly toward Thresholds' mission: to help people living with mental illness build lives of stability, dignity, and purpose - through housing, meaningful work, and the kind of steadfast human support that shows up and never stops showing up. The link to give is in our bio and here. www.thresholds.org/donate.

NOW OPEN! Extended hours! Thresholds’ Crisis Response team is now available 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, offer...
04/20/2026

NOW OPEN! Extended hours!

Thresholds’ Crisis Response team is now available 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, offering compassionate, trauma-informed support for individuals navigating a mental health crisis. We’re here to show up with respect, empathy, and real help — whenever and wherever it’s needed.

🕛 Monday – Friday, 24 hours/day
📍 Serving Kankakee County
🔗 Learn more: thresholds.org/MCRT

You don’t have to go through a crisis on your own. Support is here — anytime. 💙

For many of our board members, supporting Thresholds isn’t a one-time decision - it’s something that shows up in everyda...
04/17/2026

For many of our board members, supporting Thresholds isn’t a one-time decision - it’s something that shows up in everyday actions, year after year. It’s in the traditions they build, the moments that stay with them, and the people whose lives they’ve witnessed change.

In this next story, we hear from Roxanne O'Brien Martino, a board member whose dedication and support spans decades.

"I was in my mid-30s, and I knew I wanted to help people experiencing homelessness. I just didn't know how. Handing someone food or money didn’t feel enough. I wanted something more lasting. I just hadn't found it yet.

Then a fellow Thresholds board member named Roger Brown asked me to help at a charity event. I brought some friends. We worked the event. Afterwards he stopped by my office and said he'd like to take me to lunch as a thank you.

The lunch was a Thresholds board meeting.

They opened with what they called a mission moment: one family's story, and how Thresholds had changed the trajectory of their lives. I sat there and learned that roughly one-third of the people experiencing homelessness in Chicago are living with severe mental illness. I had no idea. And I learned what it actually costs, both financially and humanly, to watch someone cycle through arrest after arrest, lose their medication, get released into an unfamiliar neighborhood, and start all over again. And then I learned how Thresholds earns that same person's trust, gets them services, and helps them find stable ground.

I was sold. Thirty-five years ago, over lunch.

I've spent every year since trying to bring as many people as I can into this work. Friends from that very first volunteer event are still involved today. They come in from Florida for the Gala. My neighbors are now major donors. My high school and college friends show up every year. Thresholds is just that special."

Roxanne has given thirty-five years. If her story moved you, consider giving what you can. Every dollar goes directly toward Thresholds' mission: to help people living with mental health and substance use conditions build lives of stability, dignity, and purpose — through housing, meaningful work, and the kind of steadfast human support that shows up and never stops showing up. Make a gift today 🎁 thresholds.org/donate.

🌟 Thresholds' biggest night of the year is almost here! 🌟 Join us for the Thresholds Gala '26: Meet the Moment - an insp...
04/16/2026

🌟 Thresholds' biggest night of the year is almost here! 🌟

Join us for the Thresholds Gala '26: Meet the Moment - an inspiring night of impact, community, and action. Part of which will be delivered by our incredible keynote speaker, Dr. Christine Yu Moutier - psychiatrist, author, and activist.

Christine Yu Moutier, MD, serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP) and knows the impact of su***de firsthand. After her own lived experience and losing colleagues to su***de, she dedicated herself to fighting this leading cause of death. Dr. Moutier has testified before Congress, presented at the White House, and provided Congressional briefings on su***de prevention. She co-anchored CNN’s Emmy Award winning "Finding Hope" su***de prevention town hall, serves as an expert nationally and abroad, and remains dedicated to the mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by su***de.

Don't miss out on this inspirational and impactful event. This is your last chance to get tickets! 🎟️ Get them today at thresholdsgala.org.

Happy Behavioral Health Advocacy Day! 💙Today, Thresholds proudly joined advocates in Springfield to push for stronger me...
04/15/2026

Happy Behavioral Health Advocacy Day! 💙

Today, Thresholds proudly joined advocates in Springfield to push for stronger mental health and substance use care. But you don’t have to be there to make an impact.

Take a few minutes to speak up:

📍 Find your state representative and senator using your home address
🔗 https://bit.ly/48PCG13
🌐 Visit their profile to get their Springfield office phone number
📞 Call your representative and ask them to co-sponsor HB4812 and HJR52
📞 Call your senator and ask them to co-sponsor SB3165 and SJR51

A quick call can go a long way in supporting Housing is Recovery and protecting access to care.

Support for mental health often starts with a single moment - but it grows through years of showing up. For the leaders ...
04/15/2026

Support for mental health often starts with a single moment - but it grows through years of showing up. For the leaders behind Thresholds, that commitment is deeply personal. It’s built on experiences that challenge assumptions, open eyes, and create lasting connections to the people we serve.

In this next story, board chair, Joanne Dahm, reflects on her personal journey that sparked a passionate dedication to helping others who might be facing similar struggles. 💙

"One of my family members went through severe depression and other struggles. We spent years trying to find the right doctor, the right diagnosis, and the right treatment. There were hospitalizations. There were psychiatrists who didn't take insurance. There were inpatient programs that were extraordinary, and extraordinarily expensive. I just kept thinking: the system is a mess. And we were the lucky ones.

So, when I was ready to get involved with a nonprofit, I knew exactly where I wanted to focus. Mental health services. Because I had lived on an easier side of a very hard thing, and I couldn't stop thinking about everyone on the other side.

Someone introduced me to Mark Ishaug, the Thresholds President and CEO. We sat down, and within minutes, I thought: this is the place.

What I've come to understand in eight years is that the heart of Thresholds isn't a building or a program. It's the people who show up every single day for the members: the clinicians, the case managers, the outreach workers. Protecting that consistency, ensuring that the people who need help most have stable, familiar faces in their corner…that is the work. And investing in those people is one of the most important things a board can do.

Eight years later, I'm still here. And I still feel like I want to do so much more."

If her story moved you, consider giving what you can. Every dollar goes directly toward Thresholds' mission: to help people living with mental health and substance use conditions build lives of stability, dignity, and purpose — through housing, meaningful work, and the kind of steadfast human support that never stops showing up. 🎁 Make a gift at thresholds.org/donate.

There’s nothing like a day at the ballpark ⚾Last week, Thresholds staff and clients of our Bridge North program went to ...
04/14/2026

There’s nothing like a day at the ballpark ⚾

Last week, Thresholds staff and clients of our Bridge North program went to a Chicago White Sox game, sharing laughs, cheering from the stands, and soaking in the energy of the crowd.

Outings like this are more than just fun - they’re an important part of recovery. For individuals living with mental health and substance use conditions, experiences in the community help build connection, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging. They offer opportunities to practice social skills, strengthen relationships, and rediscover joy in everyday moments. 💙

We’re proud to celebrate Joe Feldman, a dedicated Thresholds Board member, on being named a 2026 Notable Leader in Healt...
04/13/2026

We’re proud to celebrate Joe Feldman, a dedicated Thresholds Board member, on being named a 2026 Notable Leader in Health Care by Crain's Chicago Business.

This recognition highlights Joe’s powerful advocacy for mental health access and equity - work that is transforming how individuals and families navigate care. As the founder of Cover My Mental Health, Joe has been a leading voice in holding systems accountable and expanding access to lifesaving treatment.

Crain’s Notable Leaders honors individuals who are driving meaningful change across the healthcare landscape through innovation, leadership, and community impact.

We’re grateful for Joe’s leadership and commitment to advancing mental health care - both at Thresholds and beyond. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! 👏 https://bit.ly/4srt6bF

🎒✏️ Help students start the school year strong!The Thresholds Junior Board is once again hosting a School Supply Drive, ...
04/10/2026

🎒✏️ Help students start the school year strong!

The Thresholds Junior Board is once again hosting a School Supply Drive, supporting the Thresholds Community Engagement Team as they distribute backpacks and essential supplies to students across Chicago-area neighborhoods this summer. Because every kid deserves to kick off the school year with confidence. 💙

🛒 Donate directly through our Amazon Wish List: https://a.co/02Wgr4yV

Your support helps ensure students have the tools they need to succeed - inside and outside the classroom.

Address

4101 N Ravenswood Avenue
Chicago, IL
60613

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+17735725500

Website

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