About The Kennedy Forum Illinois Just as President Kennedy rallied the nation to dream big and set audacious goals 50 years ago, The Kennedy Forum in Illinois is working toward lasting change in the way mental health and addictions are considered and treated. OUR VISION A future where all persons are treated with dignity and receive the person-centered mental and physical care and support they need to thrive and achieve their goals; with a health system that fully recognizes that the brain is part of the body. OUR MISSION End stigma and discrimination against people with mental health and addiction challenges. Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the system. OUR WORK - Elevate and improve the quality of the public discourse and mass media coverage of mental health and addiction; - Ensure equal access and coverage of mental health and substance use disorder care; - Advance integration and coordination of behavioral health care and prevention into the general primary care medical system; - Leverage innovation and technology to advance and improve mental health/addiction interventions and integration; - Give children the best chance to succeed in life by addressing brain health at an early age.