Search Partners with Endeavor Health to Expand Behavioral Health Services

PRESS RELEASE – Search receives $211,108 to enhance behavioral health supports and wellbeing for community members

CHICAGO, IL – January 13, 2025 – Search, a non-profit organization supporting over 350 people with disabilities annually to live rich, rewarding lives in their communities, is proud to announce its selection as a partner in Endeavor Health’s 2025 Community Investment Fund (CIF). This year, Search has been awarded $211,108 to support the creation and certification of the Search Behavioral Health Clinic, expanding behavioral health access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and other mental health diagnoses in Cook County.

“Endeavor Health’s investment in the Search Behavioral Health Clinic is an investment in the health and well-being of our communities,” said Search Chief Executive Officer, Cory Gumm. “Our existing behavioral health services have positively impacted people with IDD, empowering them to live their lives to the fullest. This partnership gives us the opportunity to change the lives of more community members through these much needed and impactful supports.”

Endeavor Health selected Search as one of 44 local organizations across the Chicagoland area to collaborate on programs focused on behavioral health, food and housing insecurity and access to care.

“At the heart of the Community Investment Fund is our role as a convener, connecting organizations and fostering partnerships that amplify their collective impact,” said Kristen Murtos, Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer at Endeavor Health. “By bringing together diverse community groups, we don’t just fund projects—we create opportunities for collaboration that drive innovation, spark new ideas and deliver solutions that are greater than the sum of the parts.”

Search will allocate these funds to hire a Behavioral Health Clinic Division Manager to oversee the program, procure partnerships and referral networks to support the project and develop a new sensory-friendly program area at their Adult Learning site in Chicago. This specially designed space will offer environmental support for people with sensory-input desires and needs, benefiting over 75 individuals. Search’s Behavioral Health Clinic services will be available on-site at Search’s existing locations throughout Cook County, in-home for people in need of this support, or elsewhere in the community, depending on the person’s preference.

Accessible and effective behavioral health supports are life-changing, particularly for people with IDD, who often have co-occurring conditions affecting their mental health and limiting their ability to participate fully in their communities. Search’s mission is to provide every person with the support they need to thrive as healthy, active, and valued members of their community. The Search Behavioral Health Clinic is dedicated to making this mission a reality.

For more information about Search and its efforts in providing support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, please visit search-inc.org. To learn more about Endeavor Health’s Community Investment Fund, visit endeavorhealth.org/cif.

About Search Inc.

Search Inc. (Search) is a non-profit organization that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to achieve their full potential, accept a valued role in their community and lead rich, rewarding lives. Since its founding in 1968, Search has worked tirelessly to advocate for the inclusion of people with IDD. Search supports over 350 people with IDD and their families each year through comprehensive programming, including Supported Living, Adult Learning, Career Services, Clinical Services, Community Education and Social Ventures. For more information, visit search360.org.

About Endeavor Health

Endeavor Health℠ is a Chicagoland-based integrated health system driven by our mission to help everyone in our communities be their best. As Illinois’ third-largest health system and third-largest medical group, we proudly serve an area of more than 4.2 million residents across seven northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 27,600 team members, including more than 1,700 employed physicians, are the heart of our organization, delivering seamless access to personalized, pioneering, world-class patient care across more than 300 ambulatory locations and nine hospitals, including eight Magnet-recognized acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights), Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital (Naperville).