Belinda M. Willis, MPH

Evaluation Director

Evaluation Director

Graduated Capella University, 2011 and Loyola University, 1981

Specialty areas: evaluation studies and longitudinal studies targeting substance use and mental health treatment methods; database design/management


Belinda Willis is the Evaluation Director at Lighthouse Institute—Chicago. Since joining Chestnut Health Systems in 1995, she has worked on research projects concerning substance use, mental health, and HIV/AIDS related issues as well as supervised staff in data collection activities for several multi-site evaluation projects. Ms. Willis has developed numerous MS-Access based databases designed to manage data collection activities for over 30,000 participants. She holds a master’s degree in public health and epidemiology.

Selected Publications: 

Scott, C. K., Dennis, M. L., Willis, B., & Nicholson, L. (2013). A decade of research on recovery management checkups. Comprehensive Addictive Behaviors and Disorders, 3, 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398338-1.00028-2

See all Publications

 

Related Links:

Belinda Willis LinkedIn

 

Centers

Lighthouse Institute - Chicago

 

Research Projects

Remote Observed Methadone Evaluation Phase 2 (ROME 2)

Michael L. Dennis, Belinda M. Willis
2024
Sonara (Prime PI: M. Giles)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
R44DA056259

This SBIR Phase II study continues to evaluate Sonara, a HIPAA-compliant web-application (app) with 2-way text messaging between patient and clinical team (counselor, nurse), that is designed to facilitate methadone take-home monitoring for two cohorts: 1) a group of long term clients who have plateaued at weekly take home (1 clinic visit per week with 6 days of take-homes) for 6 months or more and 2) a group of new clients as they first go onto weekly take home (with 1 or 2 clinic visits per week).

State Opioid Response (SOR) IV

Belinda M. Willis
2024
IL SUPR (Prime PD: K. Monahan)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI087748

The purpose of SOR-IV is to address escalating opioid misuse, opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid-related overdose across Illinois.

Minority AIDS Initiative – High Risk Populations (MAI-HRP)

Belinda M. Willis
2023
Haymarket Center (Prime PD: G. Soberanis)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI086833

The purpose of Haymarket’s MAI-HRP program is to increase engagement in care for racial and ethnic medically underserved individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or co-occurring SUDs and mental health conditions (COD) who are at risk for or living with HIV.

State Opioid Response (SOR) III

Belinda M. Willis
2023
IL SUPR (Prime PD: K. Monahan)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI085769

The purpose of SOR-III is to address escalating opioid misuse, opioid use disorder (OUD), and opioid-related overdose across Illinois.

Supportive Employment Program (SEP)

Belinda M. Willis
2023
Haymarket Center (Prime PD: A. Malson)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SM88370

Haymarket SEP program intends to engage 238 adult Chicagoans over 5 years to overcome undertreated mental health and substance use disorders. Haymarket SEP will be data-driven and results-oriented, using the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support intervention model of Supported Employment and clinical interventions.

Cook County Health MAT-PDOA

Belinda M. Willis
2022
Cook County Health and Hospital System (Prime PD: J. Watts)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI084335

Cook County Health’s MAT-PDOA program aims to increase and expand Medication-Assisted Treatment services for individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) by implementing a rapid access, low barrier, and high-capacity bridge clinic on Illinois Medical District Campus in Chicago.

Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals in Illinois (GBHI-IL)

Belinda M. Willis
2022
Haymarket Center (Prime PD: A. Holyk)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI082773

Haymarket GBHI project will expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and comprehensive services to 300 unique adults who are experiencing substance use disorder (SUD), serious mental illness (SMI), and homelessness.

Haymarket TCE-Special Project

Belinda M. Willis
2022
Cook County Health and Hospital System (Prime PD: K. Cathey)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI082139

Haymarket TCE-Special Project aims to assess adults with an opiate use disorder (OUD) and a co-occurring mental disorder by the expansion of MAT and intensive medication management by a team of direct care nurses. The TCE-Special Project intends to address medication noncompliance as part of a strategy to temper opiate and mental health treatment crises.

NW Violence Prev

Belinda M. Willis
2022
Northwestern University (Prime PI: M. Brook)
BC/BS-IL
60056521 CHS

The purpose of this study is to identify data-driven interventions to reduce rates of community violence in high-risk populations.

Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC)

Belinda M. Willis
2021
Haymarket Center (Prime PD: K. Fletcher)
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
TI083080

The goal of Haymarket’s CORC program is to reduce opioid-related overdoses by 1) expanding outreach visits to 500 persons; 2) expanding treatment, including using MAT; and 3) expanding comprehensive recovery services to 250 participants.

Cook County Offender Reentry Program (CCORP)

Belinda M. Willis
2020
Cook County Health and Hospital System (Prime PD: S. Elder)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
TI080942

The purpose of this program is to expand and/or enhance substance abuse and mental health treatment and related recovery and reentry services to female adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration for criminal offenses.