The Illinois Children's Mental Health Task Force was convened in 2002 to assess the status of Illinois' mental health system for children from birth to age 18, and to develop short- and long-term recommendations for assuring that all Illinois children have access to coordinated and comprehensive mental health services and programs. This report is the culmination of several months of Task Force and committee work examining research and policy studies, identifying key goals and recommendations, and deliberating about the priority areas most needed in Illinois. The report also serves as a blueprint for constructing a new system of children's mental health services in the state. Following an introduction, the report outlines a vision for children's mental health in Illinois, highlights children's mental health facts, and discusses barriers and opportunities for a comprehensive children's mental health system. The report concludes with detailed task force recommendations: (1) make children's mental health a priority; (2) develop and strengthen prevention, early intervention, and treatment policies, programs, and services for all children; (3) maximize current investments and invest sufficient fiscal resources over time; (4) build a qualified and adequately trained workforce with sufficient number of professionals to serve children and their families; (5) increase public education and awareness; (6) create a quality-driven children's mental health system with shared accountability among key state agencies and programs; and (7) invest in research. An annotated list of public systems, services, and programs that serve Illinois children is appended. (Lists 21 federal/national and 8 state mental health resources. Contains 23 endnotes.) (HTH)