Project IMPACT

Project IMPACT (Inter Multi-Disciplinary Prescreening Assessment Crisis Team) is a behavioral health crisis program in 5 hospital emergency rooms on Chicago’s north side. Crisis Counselors assist adults and children experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis. The goal of the program is to reduce the need for unnecessary hospitalizations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis, they are able to walk-in to any of the 5 emergency rooms for help. They can also call our Mobile Crisis Team, who will travel to the individual’s location.

Please call 911 if the person has harmed themselves, is attempting to harm others, or is acting violent.

Project IMPACT is open 24 hours every day, including weekends and holidays. We serve all individuals, insured or uninsured. Additionally, LSSI follows each hospital’s COVID-19 protocols to keep clients and staff safe.

Located in these Chicago hospital emergency rooms:

Community First Medical Center

5645 W. Addison
Chicago, IL 60634
773.794.8395

Weiss Memorial Hospital

4646 N. Marine Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640
773.564.7535

Thorek Memorial Hospital

5025 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60640
773.989.1445

West Suburban Medical Center

3 Erie Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
708.763.3727

Swedish Covenant Hospital

5140 N. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773.989.1609

What to Expect

  1. When a person comes to 1 of the 5 Emergency Rooms (ERs) in crisis, the ER staff will notify Project IMPACT.
  2. An IMPACT Crisis Counselor will meet with the individual to learn more about their feelings and the events leading up to the ER visit.
  3. Then the IMPACT Crisis Counselor will work with the individual on next steps, which could be an inpatient stay in the hospital or linkage to an outpatient program for follow-up.
  4. Information and referrals are often provided for additional services that might benefit the individual, including how to access food and shelter, or apply for benefits.

What Is a Mental Health or Addiction Crisis?

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of the following:

  • Talking about or thinking of hurting themselves (suicidal) or harming others (homicidal)
  • Struggling to keep up with hygiene that is unusual, such as brushing teeth and showering
  • Irregular sleep patterns; unexplained periods of exhaustion or inability to sleep for days at a time
  • Extreme moodiness or agitation; quick tempered, “short fuse”
  • Dangerous use of drugs and/or alcohol
  • Harming self, such as cutting or burning
  • Isolation, such as missing school or work, cutting off family and friends
  • Seems to be preparing for a departure; giving away personal belongings, saying “goodbye,” giving away pets, tying up “loose ends”
  • Seeing or hearing things that nobody else does; hallucinating
  • Paranoia and suspicion; feeling like everyone is “out to get them”

Project IMPACT Often Makes Referrals to:

  • Outpatient counseling
  • Alcohol and drug treatment
  • Crisis Stabilization Units
  • Domestic violence treatment and emergency services
  • Detoxification
  • Crisis housing and shelters