The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy (ISFT) is proud to partner with the State of Illinois to advance the landmark Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (110 ILCS 58/; Public Act 101-0251), signed by Governor JB Pritzker, which strengthens campus mental health and improves student well-being across Illinois colleges and universities.
Through this partnership, ISFT has expanded Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) training opportunities to support both clinical and non-clinical roles across campuses, enabling staff and faculty to develop practical, evidence-based tools for prevention, resilience, and collaboration. The program builds on the state’s investment in expanding the mental health workforce and training campus professionals to respond to students’ evolving needs with compassion and competence.
In fiscal years 2024 and 2025, ISFT’s customized training and coaching series, Illinois Campus Cares, has reached approximately 350 campus staff members across 48 public colleges and universities. These initiatives directly support the Act’s core objectives: improving access to mental health services, expanding peer-support programs, and equipping higher-education professionals with the skills to promote emotional wellness and early intervention.
Illinois Campus Cares Coaching Series
The Illinois Campus Cares series offers a diverse range of interactive, solution-focused sessions designed to help professionals apply strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches in their daily work. Coaching session topics include:
● Solution-Focused Support for Students Managing Substance Use and Academic Pressures
● From Crisis to Capacity: Solution-Focused Case Management for Students with Complex Needs
● The Solution-Focused Mindset: Caring for Yourself While Supporting Others
● Solution-Focused Advising: Turning Academic Setbacks into Growth
● Solution-Focused Tools for Campus Collaboration and Crisis Navigation
● Solution-Focused Peer Support: Practical Tools to Empower Conversations and Groups
● The Solution-Focused Supervisor: Practical Approaches for Team Support and Retention
● Solution-Focused Teaching: Balancing Compassion and Accountability in the Classroom
● Solution-Focused Health Promotion: Practical Strategies for Outreach, Education, and Brief Interventions
Together, these sessions strengthen Illinois’ mental health infrastructure by creating a common language of hope, agency, and resilience among campus professionals—from advisors and residence-life staff to health educators, faculty, and administrators.
Advancing Illinois’s Vision for Campus Mental Health
The Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, enacted in 2020, mandates that Illinois public colleges and universities integrate proactive mental health awareness, early identification, and peer support into campus life. The Act provides grants to enable campuses to expand access to counseling, train staff, and build community partnerships that reduce barriers to care.
ISFT’s partnership supports these goals by bringing solution-focused thinking into the heart of higher education—transforming how professionals communicate, collaborate, and care.
“We are honored to support Illinois’s leadership in mental health innovation,” said Dr. Anne Lutz, MD, Executive Director of the Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy. “By equipping campus professionals with a solution-focused mindset, we help them not only respond to crisis but also cultivate resilience and belonging across their communities, fostering sustainable mental health care.”
About the Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy provides evidence-based training, consultation, and continuing education in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) for mental health professionals, educators, and organizations worldwide. Led by Dr. Anne Lutz, MD, ISFT advances the application of the solution-focused mindset across clinical and nonclinical settings to foster hope, agency, and meaningful change.
For more information or training opportunities, visit solutionfocused.net or contact info@solutionfocused.net.