Rescue Bear-Making Experience
Calling All Bear Makers!!
Make A True Change


Institute - Positive Mental Health
A Bit of Background
Founded in 1994, the Institute for Positive Mental Health (IPMH) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting mental wellness and to the social/vocational rehabilitation of adults and youths. As a community-based rehabilitation agency, IPMH helps people with a disability and those at severe economic disadvantage to optimize their vocational, social and personal competency.
We strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact with all of our pursuits.

About Us
Community Involvement
Institute For Positive Mental Health emerged out of a pursuit to inspire people with disabilities to be more, do more, an achieve greater goals. Today we design programs, projects, and activities that nurture positive mental health. We train program participants for employment as workers as well as entrepreneurs. We promote mental, physical, emotional, and economic health in the community at large. Established in 1994, we’re an organization driven by progressive ideas and bold actions,
Positive Mental Health
Making A Difference in Mindset & Self Sufficiency
Man of our program participants represent Chicago's neediest, which means that they live at or below he poverty line, have severely limited education and limited or no work experience. Many live day-to-day with risks of violence and abuse. They are disproportionately exposed to mental, emotional, and psychological trauma.

Employment Services
Reduce barriers, manage disability, and secure employment
At IPMH you will make plans to succeed in business whether its your own or through an employer. We develop new strategies for dealing with persistent employment challenges. All services are delivered with a growth mindset. A growth oriented mind set has been confirmed to not only change behavior but to actually change biology.

Coaching & Mentoring
Service coordination, support and encourgagement
At Institute For Positive Mental Health, you will have someone to talk to when you go through difficult circumstances and need support. We believe that in addition to the group experience, participants benefit from individual support of life coaching to coordinate services, target specific goals and make adjustments to keep pace with changes and challenges..
Who we are and what we do
IPMH is in the business of changing and shaping lives. Our programs and activities engage the whole person; mind, body, spirit.



WorkFirst Program
Community Employment
IPMH empowers clients to be self-reliant, to achieve or return to economic independence through gainful employment, entrepreneurship, information and education; thereby reducing the barriers to employment and their reliance on government assistance.
Interactive On the Job Training
Re-Use, Re-Cycle, Re-Purpose!
The overall mission of IPMH is to coach and train our clients to reach their highest level of functioning and independence. Active engagement in work activities develops confidence and builds new skills and abilities. These wall banners were formerly wall calendars!
Holistic Approach
Reduce Barriers to success
We make sure that our clients are empowered by creating opportunities that help people stay connected when they feel lonely; stay engaged in social activities when they would rather disconnect; and stay resilient when they feel broken.

Rescue Bears
Support teens and youths
We transform and re-purpose old, mismatched socks into adorable little bears or stuffed animals. Now they can bring joy into the heart of a teen going through a difficult time or experience. Rescue Bears are created for distribution to teens at schools and hospitals.
“That if real success is to attend the effort to bring a man to a definite position, one must first of all, take pains to find him where he is and begin there.."
Soren Kierkegaard
Here to listen, support, encourage, and even challenge you to live at your highest potential.
Get in touch with Institute For Positive Mental Health to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.
1010 Lake Street, Suite 200 Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 613-8946
(708) 613-8901
