About Us

Agency values

We believe in EMPOWERMENT and the importance of allowing persons served the opportunity to take charge of their lives and their recovery.

We believe in HELPING OTHERS by providing outreach, advocacy and support.

We believe in HONESTY as the backbone of this agency, which engenders trust, unity and success.

We believe in the strength of HOPE where things can change. Hope is a crucial element in recovery as it motivates and inspires persons served to move forward as they gain a sense of purpose and create a vision and positive expectation of new ways. In turn, this gives persons served direction and greater sense of safety and comfort.

We believe in the power of KNOWLEDGE as a key to progress. By understanding information and having the facts, persons served can apply their learning to their issues. They then have the ability to influence and make changes to move past opinions and stigma and use their minds as a basic tool to achieve their goals.

We believe in the healing energy of LOVE where goodwill, friendliness and caring brings us together as we show our respect and compassion. This contributes to unity, making change possible in bringing out the best in persons served and our agency as we better understand and support one another.

We believe in RECOVERY, a lifelong process, that is possible as persons served grow beyond where they have been and move toward greater well-being, success and enlightenment; thus embracing change, vision and hope for the future.

We believe in RESPECT for one another, which strengthens our agency and allows us to work together effectively as we show and receive consideration, civility and decency in our interactions. By celebrating our diversity, sharing our views and earning respect for our agency we acknowledge the dignity in each human being.

We believe in SPIRITUALITY where mind-body-spirit connects us and provides us strength through our collective wisdom and experience.

History of the Organization

Douglas County Mental Health and Family Counseling Association, Inc. (DCMH), a private, not-for-profit organization, has been located in Tuscola, IL since August 1974. It was established because of the expressed need for a local center that would help decrease referrals to State facilities and agencies outside of Douglas County.

Accreditation by CARF International

DCMH adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards. In October 2007, DCMH received its fourth Three-Year Accreditation from CARF, an international accreditation commission. This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization's substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality.