LifeLinks

What LifeLinks does

LifeLinks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community mental health agency headquartered at 750 Broadway Avenue East in Mattoon, Illinois, operating under the legal name Coles County Mental Health Association, Inc. (DBA LifeLinks Mental Health) since 1965. The organization provides a full continuum of outpatient behavioral health services — including adult outpatient counseling, child and adolescent services (KIDZ KONNECTION), 24/7 crisis services, community support services, IPS supported employment, the FIRST.IL first-episode psychosis program, family services, court-ordered Partner Abuse Intervention (RAP), and supportive housing (two 24-hour CILA homes plus Courtyard Square and Logan Court Apartments) — to approximately 3,400 adults, adolescents, and children annually across Coles, Cumberland, Moultrie, Douglas, Clark, Edgar, and Shelby counties in East Central Illinois.

The underlying technology stack is described as behavioral health services technology infrastructure supporting crisis hotlines, case management, and telehealth delivery; no proprietary platforms, AI/ML systems, patents, or mobile applications are disclosed. Access is phone-based through a single Access Center ((217) 238-5700), supplemented by a toll-free crisis line (1-866-567-2400) that routes into the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system, the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service, school-based counselors deployed into local districts, and field-based community support and employment specialists.

The business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service clinical billing, Illinois Department of Human Services and county mental health contracts, Medicaid/insurance reimbursement, and individual/foundation donations plus planned giving vehicles (bequests, life insurance, securities, real estate, retirement plan beneficiary designations, and charitable gift annuities). With 51–100 employees and Joint Commission accreditation, LifeLinks is the designated community mental health center for a rural seven-county catchment; the organization is governed by a board led by Executive Director Joey King and FY 25 President Ladena Lambert, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or external equity ownership.

Name

LifeLinks

Legal name

Coles County Mental Health Association, Inc.

Website

https://lifelinksinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Behavioral Health & Cognitive Support Coordination (Dementia, Depression, SUD) (HSABAIAF)

Keywords

• Community mental health services
• Behavioral health treatment
• Crisis intervention services
• Supported employment programs
• Outpatient counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Mattoon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Services billed to insurance companies, Medicaid, and other payers for treatment services including outpatient counseling, case management, and crisis intervention.
2. Government Contracts: Funded through Illinois Department of Human Services contracts and county mental health funding for community mental health services in Coles, Cumberland, and surrounding counties.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: 501c3 nonprofit accepts charitable donations, bequests, gifts of securities, real estate, and life insurance. Operating since 1965 as Coles County Mental Health Association.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LifeLinks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community mental health agency delivering a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services across East Central Illinois. Core offerings include 24/7 crisis intervention, adult and child/adolescent outpatient counseling, supported housing (CILA homes and apartment complexes), IPS supported employment, the FIRST.IL first-episode psychosis program, community support services including case management and peer support, and the Partner Abuse Intervention Program (RAP). Services are accessed through a centralized Access Center and delivered across Coles, Cumberland, Moultrie, Douglas, Clark, Edgar, and Shelby counties.

Product overview

LifeLinks is a 501c3 not-for-profit community mental health agency offering a comprehensive array of outpatient behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults in East Central Illinois. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Adult Outpatient Services, KIDZ KONNECTION (child and adolescent services), Crisis Services (24-hour crisis line), Community Support Services, Individual Placement & Support (IPS) supported employment, FIRST.IL LifeLinks first episode psychosis program, Family Services, Housing Services (CILA homes and apartment complexes), and the Partner Abuse Intervention Program (RAP). The agency also partners with the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Services are accessed through a central Access Center and are designed to support consumer recovery across the lifespan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Outpatient Services Confidential counseling for adults using a short-term solution-focused therapy model, addressing personal problems, family concerns, and serious persistent mental illness including bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia.
• KIDZ KONNECTION (Child and Adolescent Services) Child and adolescent services including short-term counseling, school-based services, and caregiver support for children with behavioral and emotional disorders in East Central Illinois.
• Crisis Services 24-hour behavioral health crisis services for Coles and Cumberland counties, including a toll-free crisis line (1-866-567-2400) and participation in the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system.
• Community Support Services Adult services for major psychiatric disorders including clinical case management, Connections peer support, housing assistance, IPS supported employment, recovery support services, WRAP development, and FIRST.IL first episode psychosis program.
• Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Evidence-based supported employment service helping mental health consumers enter the competitive labor market through vocational assessment, individualized job search planning, resume assistance, interview practice, and ongoing employment support.
• FIRST.IL LifeLinks Specialized treatment program for individuals aged 14–40 with psychotic illness of no more than 18 months duration, providing support, education, recovery improvement, and relapse reduction for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms.
• Family Services Family counseling using evidence-based techniques for coping with disruptive behaviors, individual and group counseling, and specialized trauma and domestic violence support for families affected by mental health issues.
• Housing Services Supported housing for single adults with serious persistent mental illness, including two 24-hour CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangement) homes, Courtyard Square (16-unit apartment complex in Charleston), and Logan Court Apartments (16-unit complex in Mattoon).
• Partner Abuse Intervention Program (RAP) Court-ordered program providing weekly group sessions on domestic violence education, conflict management skills, and promotion of non-abusive behavior for individuals mandated to address partner abuse.
• Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service Text-based mental health support service operated in partnership with the State of Illinois, providing a non-crisis listening ear for individuals experiencing stress by texting TALK to 552020 (or HABLAR for Spanish).

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,400+ individuals served annually across all programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2022LifeLinks is a partner in the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system. When people from Coles, Cumberland, Moultrie, Douglas, and Shelby counties dial 988, they are connected to trained counselors who can link them to LifeLinks' 24-hour crisis team.
• Illinois Call4Calm Text LinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifeLinks is a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text 'TALK' to 552020 (or 'HABLAR' for Spanish) for stress support. This is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear, not a crisis hotline.
• The Joint CommissioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLifeLinks maintains accreditation from The Joint Commission, which periodically inspects and certifies the organization meets quality and safety standards for behavioral health care.
• GuideStar (Candid)minorOthersLifeLinks maintains GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, demonstrating commitment to nonprofit accountability and public disclosure of organizational information.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Centerstone: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit behavioral health providers, operating the full continuum of outpatient, crisis, housing, and supported employment services across multiple states. Comparable service architecture, but at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Compass Health Network: Midwest community mental health center offering outpatient counseling, crisis services, case management, supported employment, and housing programs similar to LifeLinks' integrated service stack. Comparable operating model and payer mix (Medicaid + grants).
• Chestnut Health Systems: Illinois-based nonprofit provider of behavioral health, substance use, and recovery housing services across central Illinois. Comparable on integrated community mental health model, residential CILA-style housing, and adult/youth outpatient offerings.
• Heritage Behavioral Health Center: Community mental health center in central Illinois (Decatur) operating crisis, outpatient, case management, and housing programs for behavioral health populations. Most directly comparable peer given overlap in service mix, geography, and Joint Commission accreditation model.
• Pillars Community Health: Illinois-based community health organization providing mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and community support services alongside primary care. Comparable as an integrated human services nonprofit serving multiple counties with licensed clinicians.

Regional players

• Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness: Illinois nonprofit delivering behavioral health, primary care, and youth services across multiple counties with strong school and child welfare referral pipelines. Comparable as a multi-county community-based organization with similar child, adolescent, and family programs.

Others

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: National trade association representing community mental health and addiction providers, including CCBHCs and CMHCs like LifeLinks. Not a direct competitor but an enabling/supporting ecosystem player informing funding, accreditation, and policy relevant to LifeLinks' operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/LifeLinks-Mental-Health/125809616773
• Xx.com/lifelinksinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifelinks-mental-health

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 LifeLinks