Ecker Center for Behavioral Health

What Ecker Center for Behavioral Health does

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) behavioral health services provider founded in 1955 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, serving Kane County and the greater Fox Valley region. The organization delivers a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services spanning crisis care (24/7 crisis line, mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization, psychiatric emergency services co-located inside Sherman Hospital's ED, and a crisis residential program for Medicaid recipients), outpatient mental health (psychiatry, therapy, case management, Community Support Team, psychosocial rehabilitation), integrated substance use treatment including Intensive Outpatient Programs and medication-assisted recovery (Suboxone, Vivitrol), court-approved DUI evaluations and risk education, supported employment, housing assistance, juvenile justice mental health services, problem gambling counseling, and prevention/education programs including NARCAN training.

The organization operates through five physical locations across Elgin and St. Charles, a mobile crisis response unit dispatched county-wide, a hospital co-location at Sherman Hospital's Emergency Department, and virtual/telehealth options for DUI services. Its service delivery is built on licensed clinical staff (psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, licensed counselors, licensed clinical social workers) integrated with peer support and case management rather than on a proprietary software platform; the public-facing site is hosted on Wix infrastructure and the organization has no disclosed proprietary technology products.

Ecker Center's revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix: third-party reimbursement from Medicaid and most private insurance for clinical services, a sliding scale self-pay structure for uninsured clients, county and state grant funding from the Kane County Health Department, Hanover Mental Health Board, United Way, and Grand Victoria Foundation, plus individual donations, bequests, and charitable gift annuities. Disclosed FY2024 total revenue was $12.6M, with the organization serving over 5,000 individuals directly and impacting more than 10,000 through prevention programs. The organization is currently pursuing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) status and is executing a 2025 expansion initiative that includes an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program and additional 24-hour crisis programs.

Name

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health

Legal name

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health

Website

https://eckercenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) behavioral health services provider founded in 1955, serving Kane County, Illinois through crisis care, outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, DUI, housing, and employment programs for over 5,000 individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Mental health treatment
• Substance use recovery
• Crisis intervention services
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Services covered by Medicaid and most private insurance including outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, DUI services, and psychiatric care.
2. Sliding Scale Self-Pay: Reduced fees for self-pay clients available on a sliding fee scale based on household income and family size. Accepts various proof of income documentation.
3. Grants and Donations: Funding from Kane County Health Department, Hanover Mental Health Board, United Way, Grand Victoria Foundation, and community donors. Nonprofit 501c3 organization.
4. Legacy Donations: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and beneficiary designations. Tax ID: 36-2312495.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive continuum of community-based behavioral health services including 24/7 crisis intervention, outpatient mental health treatment, substance use recovery programs, DUI evaluations and treatment, supported employment, housing assistance, and prevention/education services. The nonprofit serves over 5,000 individuals annually across Kane County, Illinois through five physical locations and mobile crisis response, with services available regardless of insurance or ability to pay via a sliding fee scale.

Product overview

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health operates as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) providing a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services organized into distinct service lines: Crisis Care Services (24/7 crisis line, mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization, psychiatric emergency program, crisis residential), Outpatient Mental Health Services (psychiatry, therapy, case management, community support team), Substance Use & Recovery Services (IOP, medication-assisted recovery, peer support groups), DUI Services (evaluations, risk education, treatment), Prevention/Education Programs (NARCAN training, youth programs), and specialized programs including supported employment, housing assistance, juvenile justice services, problem gambling support, and fitness restoration. The organization serves over 5,000 individuals annually with services available regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ecker Essentials Store: A retail store selling merchandise where proceeds support Ecker Center's behavioral health programs in the community.

Products and services

• Crisis Care Services Emergency behavioral health support including 24/7 crisis line, mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization (up to 23 hours), psychiatric emergency program at Sherman Hospital, and crisis residential program for Medicaid recipients (14-28 days). For individuals in mental health crisis in Kane County and surrounding communities.
• Outpatient Mental Health Services Comprehensive outpatient behavioral health care including psychiatry and nursing, individual/group/family therapy, case management, Community Support Team (CST), psychosocial rehabilitation, fitness restoration services, housing support, and juvenile justice programs. For children, adolescents, and adults with mental health needs.
• Substance Use & Recovery Services Integrated substance use treatment combining mental health and addiction services including Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), individual and group counseling, medication-assisted recovery (Suboxone, Vivitrol), and peer support groups (SMART Recovery, NA, AA, Recovery Cafe). For individuals with substance use disorders.
• DUI Services Court-approved DUI evaluations, 10-hour risk education classes, treatment assessments, early intervention, individual counseling, group treatment (Levels II-III), and continuing care for individuals arrested for DUI/DWI offenses in Kane County and Fox Valley area. Virtual appointments available with evening and weekend options.
• Supported Employment Program Employment assistance program helping adults with behavioral health needs achieve competitive employment through individualized employment planning, job search support, benefits counseling, and ongoing coaching at 30, 90, and 180-day milestones. Available in Hanover Township.
• Housing is Recovery Program Immediate housing placement program for adults at risk of institutionalization, offering rapid transitional housing placement, financial assistance with deposits and rent, twice-monthly case management, and referrals to therapy and job services.
• Mental Health Juvenile Justice (MHJJ) Program Community-based mental health services for justice-involved youth including rapid assessments, in-home therapy, school advocacy, probation and caregiver coordination, and frequent check-ins until stability is demonstrated.
• Fitness Restoration Services Court-readiness program for individuals found unfit to stand trial due to mental health diagnosis, providing weekly legal education classes, psychiatric evaluation and treatment, intensive case management, transportation assistance, and court-ready progress documentation.
• Problem Gambling Support Confidential counseling and support services for adults experiencing gambling challenges, including one-on-one counseling, self-exclusion program enrollment assistance, and gambling risk education.
• Prevention, Education & Intervention Services Proactive mental health education, early intervention, and prevention services for children, teens, and adults including ATOD prevention, DUI evaluation, NARCAN training, parent education presentations, and youth/family coalition programs. Impacting more than 10,000 people annually.
• NARCAN Training Free opioid overdose reversal training providing NARCAN kits and life-saving instruction to community members, with distribution goals focused on overdose prevention and safe medication storage education.
• Ecker Essentials Store Online retail store selling merchandise where proceeds support Ecker Center's behavioral health programs in the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% Client Satisfaction Rate (Fiscal Year 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Northwestern MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership for integrated behavioral health services in the community.
• Elgin Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership hosting the annual Client Art Show showcasing artwork by individuals in Ecker Center programs.
• Sherman HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership providing Psychiatric Emergency Program located in Sherman Hospital Emergency Department.
• Elgin Country ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Annual Gala events supporting Ecker Center fundraising.
• Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Elgin (CSHE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition partner for prevention programs serving youth and families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rosecrance: Illinois-based nonprofit behavioral health network offering residential, outpatient, and crisis services across multiple counties. Most directly comparable given overlapping Illinois footprint, similar nonprofit CCBHC-style service continuum, and shared target populations including Medicaid beneficiaries and court-referred clients.
• Gateway Foundation: Illinois-headquartered nonprofit specializing in substance use disorder treatment including IOP, residential, and medication-assisted recovery. Directly comparable on substance use services and court-referred DUI/assessment pipelines, though with a more residential-heavy model.
• Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare: Chicago-area nonprofit community behavioral health provider offering outpatient, case management, supported employment, and crisis services. Strong overlap with Ecker Center's integrated continuum and Medicaid-focused mission.
• Behavioral Health Services North: Multi-county community behavioral health nonprofit in New York offering outpatient, crisis, substance use, housing, and court-referred services. Directly comparable on integrated continuum-of-care nonprofit model and CCBHC-style operations in a different region.
• Chestnut Health Systems: Illinois-based nonprofit providing substance use, mental health, and primary care across multiple counties. Comparable in nonprofit structure, integrated substance use and mental health services, and CCBHC-equivalent operating model.
• Family Service Center: Multi-service nonprofit agency providing counseling, crisis intervention, and community-based behavioral health. Comparable as a regional community mental health center with sliding-fee scale and court-referred services.
• Thresholds: Chicago-area nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, housing, and employment services. Comparable as a community behavioral health center with an integrated continuum including supported employment and housing programs, and pursuing CCBHC-equivalent designations.

Broad incumbents

• Carelon Behavioral Health: National managed behavioral health organization and behavioral health subsidiary of Elevance Health. Comparable as a large-scale behavioral health administrator serving Medicaid populations, though operating at vastly broader scale and as a payer-services intermediary.

Regional players

• Linden Oaks Behavioral Health: Hospital-affiliated behavioral health provider in Illinois' western suburbs offering inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization. Comparable on Illinois-based outpatient mental health and crisis services but operates within a larger health-system structure.
• Compass Health Center: Illinois outpatient behavioral health provider specializing in intensive outpatient programs and mental health treatment. Comparable on outpatient mental health, IOP, and substance use services but operates on a more commercial/private-pay model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecker_center
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ecker_center
• Facebookfacebook.com/eckercenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eckercenterforbehavioralhealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecker_center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecker Center for Behavioral Health