Project ACCESS is a coalition of mental health service providers, community organizations, social service agencies, and individuals which has come together in a coordinated effort to improve access to mental health services to populations in Champaign County which are currently underserved in the area of mental health.

Project ACCESS traces its roots to early in 2002 when the Champaign County Mental Health Board brought Dr. Harry Shallcross, a nationally-recognized expert in mental health systems planning to evaluate the mental health service system for children and youth in Champaign County. Project ACCESS became an organized body in the fall of 2004 with the formation of the service access committee. In the spring of 2005, a federal grant to fund Project ACCESS was submitted to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) by the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health (IDHS/DMH). While this grant application was unsuccessful, Project ACCESS is committed to the development of a system of care in Champaign County and plans to reapply for the SAMHSA grant when the next application cycle begins. In 2006, Harry Shallcross returned as a consultant to Champaign County. His consultation report focused upon readiness for systems of care implementation and progress within the county since his last report. Project ACCESS developed a pilot program to work with justice system-involved youth under a grant from the Champaign County Mental Health Board. This pilot lasted from early 2007 to 2009, expanding partnerships and changing the face of youth services across Champaign County.

Today, Project ACCESS is still focusing on strengthening communication among those who work for the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities across Champaign County.