Expanding civil court outpatient pathways to care

Recommendation 6.2 of the Illinois Courts' Mental Health Action Plan promotes "increasing utilization of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) as a form of civil commitment that authorizes the judicial system to commit eligible individuals with severe psychiatric disorders to mental health intervention in the community."

Illinois has secured over $3.5 million in federal funding to coordinate efforts designed to increase the use of AOT, a historically underutilized but powerful tool for providing community-based care. Also known as "outpatient civil commitment" or "mandated outpatient treatment," AOT is a form of civil commitment that authorizes the judicial system to commit eligible individuals with serious mental illness to mental health intervention in the community. Grant funds are leading to new procedures, enhanced resources, and a greater ability to divert individuals with serious mental illness from repeated hospitalizations and justice system involvement.

In 2024, The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) was awarded a four-year $2,915,393 federal SAMHA grant to directly increase AOT utilization. This project is underway and is actively supporting structured AOT programs in Cook and McLean Counties. Recently, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) was awarded $603,041 in supplemental federal SAMHSA funding for technical assistance to formalize a program model for AOT that works across Illinois. This program model will also address the housing component necessary for AOT, so outpatient treatment can become a viable option for individuals experiencing homelessness. IDHS will partner with multiple stakeholders, including the AOIC, the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, and counties and municipalities, to ensure the effectiveness of the program model developed using this supplemental funding.

What this means for the courts

The increased attention on AOT and dedicated funding marks a pivotal moment for civil outpatient mental health pathways to care in Illinois. Court professionals can anticipate:

• New resources: The forthcoming toolkits will provide courts and justice partners with suggested procedures, best practices, and program models. A final deliverable is expected no later than September 30, 2026.
• A collaborative approach: These initiatives emphasize a collaborative, problem-solving approach to mental health, offering a meaningful alternative to the cycle of crisis, hospitalization, and even diversion as referenced in PA 104-0318 (725 ILCS 5/Art. 104A).
• Legislative updates: PA 104-0217 was signed into law on August 15, 2025 and takes effect January 1, 2026.