Our History

1970s

Trilogy, established in 1971, provides sheltered employment for adults with mental illness. Soon after, we receive our first grant from the Illinois Department of Mental Health and establish vocational training and placement services.

1980s

The Illinois Department of Mental Health provides funding to expand Trilogy’s programs to include a case management/day treatment program. We purchase our first free-standing site, a property located on north Ashland Avenue in Rogers Park.

1990s

The 1990s is a decade of growth. In 1991, Trilogy purchases a four-floor, 42,000-square-foot site in Rogers Park. We are awarded funding to provide individuals with Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) placements and begin providing support to adults with mental illness living independently in the community. We also help to fill gaps in service created as other providers close. In Evanston, Trilogy is selected to provide mental health services to adults, and in Rogers Park, we begin providing services to children and adolescents. As the decade progresses, we merge with 7720 Inc., a residential services provider, adding three group homes and expanding our case management program.

2000s

Throughout the 2000s, Trilogy continues to expand services to ensure that people can access the full array of mental health supports needed to move toward wellness. Thanks to the collective support of funders, Trilogy expands Mental Illness/Substance Abuse (MISA) services, employment training, assertive outreach, culturally competent Latinx services, and family supports. We begin our efforts toward rapid re-stabilization of people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk. And Trilogy partners with Asian Human Services to create a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) at our Greenleaf location.

2010s

Trilogy works to ensure that our services are more accessible to those who need support across the city. We open offices in Lawndale, South Shore, Albany Park, and Logan Square, ensuring that our services are available to residents who need our services regardless of their zip code. We also shift the focus of services to include community-based outreach services. And we open a peer-led drop-in center called the Beacon, which becomes the busiest mental health drop-in center in the state. Trilogy is selected by the state to lead the effort to assist people living in nursing facilities to live more independently.

We work with 43 nursing homes, helping residents who choose to move out to plan the transition to their own home. We begin using Occupational Therapy to help people build independent living skills. In addition, Trilogy is awarded a four-year, $1.5 million Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant in support of our Integrated Healthcare Program. In partnership with Tapestry 360 Health, we offer Primary Care services and an on-site pharmacy to all Trilogy clients at our Greenleaf location. And our PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program assertively works to help people experiencing homelessness connect to healthcare, substance abuse counseling and housing opportunities.

2020s

In 2020, Trilogy rapidly pivots to incorporate telehealth therapy and supports to continue providing support and services through the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, Trilogy marks 50 years of service, and is poised to continue assertively reaching out to people across Chicago who need our services most.