The United States spends more on health care than any other developed nation, yet millions still struggle to access timely, effective treatment. One promising reform gaining traction among policymakers and researchers is integrated care, an approach that unites physical, behavioral, and social health services to treat the whole person rather than isolated symptoms.
Health policy experts across the country have been examining how this model could reduce costs and improve outcomes with the right implementation.
In Illinois, that vision is being put into action by Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), a founding member of the Illinois Health Practice Alliance (IHPA) — and the results show what’s possible when care is coordinated, compassionate, and complete.
1. Coordinated Care Turns Crisis Into Stability
Before finding help, Mary* was overwhelmed by distressing thoughts and feelings of wanting to die, repeatedly checking herself into the emergency room simply to cope. That changed when she connected with MFS, whose behavioral health services linked her with IHPA. IHPA Team Members are skilled professionals, often including care coordinators, case managers and therapists, as well as providers of primary care and chronic disease management, especially for underserved populations.
When notified about Mary’s repeat ER visits, the MFS IHPA team intervened to provide Mary with wrap-around services. With gentle guidance from the team, led by Clinical Program Supervisor Jennifer Altman, Mary has learned and uses effective coping strategies to deal with distressing thoughts — like coloring, video games and exercising.
Since her treatment began, she has had only one hospitalization, with none for the past six months. Despite diagnoses of schizophrenia and PTSD, she now feels confident, maintains her hygiene, and attends both therapy and group sessions consistently.
2. Partnership Creates a Stronger Safety Net
Mary’s progress reflects the power of partnership — both with her care team and between MFS and IHPA. IHPA is a statewide network of providers spanning behavioral health, primary care, nursing, and care coordination. Several managed care organizations also partner with IHPA, aligning efforts to make mental health care more connected, effective, and affordable for people on Medicaid.
By creating infrastructure that supports efficient, high-quality behavioral health services, IHPA enables its members to deliver care that treats the individual as a whole person — addressing both immediate symptoms and the social factors that determine lasting recovery.
3. Addressing Root Causes Leads to Lasting Results
Evidence shows that integrated health care yields better social and clinical outcomes. IHPA teams focus on social determinants of health — factors such as food insecurity, employment, housing, and physical and behavioral health — to address the root causes that influence whether treatment works and endures.
By prioritizing the lasting impact of care, this model improves overall health outcomes and saves costs associated with hospitalizations, one of the costliest areas of providing Medicaid services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services underscores the importance of these determinants, and research affirms that integrating social and clinical systems can significantly enhance efficiency and results.
4. Data Proves the Model’s Impact Across Illinois
Today, more than 100 community-based behavioral health providers are part of the IHPA network, providing integrated care that connects behavioral health, nursing, and primary care.
In 2023, Metropolitan Family Services was ranked as the #1 provider for CountyCare, the Medicaid-managed care program for eligible Cook County residents, and is on track to repeat this achievement for 2024 (with final numbers to be reported this fall 2025). This ranking is based on IHPA deliverables such as client follow-up within seven and thirty days after hospital discharge.
In 2024, inpatient hospitalizations for IHPA members attributed to MFS (for follow-up care coordination) were reduced by 43.12%, and emergency room visits declined by 19.63%. The expected number of inpatient hospitalizations was 79.12, but the actual number was 45. The expected number of ER visits was 389.44, while the actual number was 313.
These results demonstrate that when quality services are delivered efficiently, care becomes both more impactful and more sustainable — freeing resources to reach even more people in need.
5. Community-Based Care Prevents Hospitalization
As awareness and need for mental health services continue to grow, MFS and its IHPA partners have expanded their reach beyond clinic walls. The MFS Mobile Crisis Response program brings trained clinicians directly to people experiencing a mental health crisis — at home, in schools, or in the community — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This hands-on, community-based approach ensures that individuals in distress can access immediate support, reducing the need for hospitalization and reinforcing the long-term stability that integrated care seeks to achieve.
6. Scaling Integrated Care Meets National Need
The need is significant. According to Mental Health America’s 2024 State of Mental Health in America, 23 percent of adults — nearly 60 million Americans — experienced a mental illness in the past year, and 1 in 4 adults with frequent mental distress could not see a doctor due to cost.
As need rises, models like IHPA’s offer a proven framework for expanding access and improving outcomes. By integrating care, addressing social determinants, and reducing costly hospital stays, this system offers both a more humane and a more economically viable path forward.
7. Illinois’ Integrated Care Model Offers a Scalable Solution
MFS and IHPA’s partnership demonstrates what’s achievable when health systems align around a single goal: lasting, whole-person wellness. The data show that integrated care doesn’t just work for one community — it provides a scalable roadmap for improving public health nationwide.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
How to Help
Since its founding in 1857 as The Chicago Relief Aid Society, Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) has remained a cornerstone of support for families across the Chicago region, helping more than 205,500 individuals and families learn, earn, heal, and thrive each year. Through ten community centers, MFS provides legal aid, early learning programs, behavioral health services, workforce development, and more — meeting families where they are and empowering them to reach their full potential.
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, MFS will host the 44th Annual Mpower the Night Gala at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. A celebration of community and impact, this year’s event will honor ComEd with the Legacy Award, accepted by Gil Quiniones, President and CEO, recognizing the company’s lasting contributions to families across Illinois.
Proceeds from Mpower the Night directly support MFS programs that strengthen families and build more equitable communities. Visit the website to learn more, explore sponsorships, and make a donation to help Metropolitan Family Services continue empowering families across Chicagoland.
Lauren Finnegan, LCPC, CADC the Behavioral Health Director at MFS, earned a MA degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Saint Xavier University and has 12 years’ direct service and leadership experience in the community mental health space. Lauren has specialized training in treating clients across the lifespan who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses and substance use disorders, and extensive knowledge in applying trauma-informed, motivational interviewing, DBT, CBT, harm reduction, and other evidence-based practices to support individuals, groups, and families. Lauren has demonstrated successful leadership of high-quality clinical services through many years of staff and program development, implementation, and oversight of clinical service deliverables across systems of care including intake and assessment, crisis management, outpatient behavioral health, and community support teams for youth and adults.
