Former first lady Rosalynn Carter attends a rally at the U.S. Capitol in March 2008 when she helped get the mental health parity law enacted. Carter died on Nov. 19 at age 96. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Julian Hernandez (right), 12, a seventh-grader at Hillside School in Illinois, says he feels much safer being back in school knowing that a weekly testing program is identifying those who are sick with COVID-19. Christine Herman/WILL hide caption

Larry Lieb, 69, feeds the cattle on his farm in Mode, Ill., on July 8. He says he feels safer having gotten the coronavirus vaccine. But he's not interested in trying to convince anyone else to get it. Christine Herman/WILL hide caption

Jennifer Gibaldi's daughter Alyssa, 17, began experiencing severe anxiety which left her catatonic during the pandemic last year. But finding help for Alyssa, who has Down syndrome, was challenging, as most health care providers wouldn't take kids with disabilities or they wouldn't take her insurance. Heather Walsh for NPR hide caption

Experts hope a new insurance provision included in the recent stimulus package could help stem rising maternal mortality in the U.S. Each year, about 700 American women die due to pregnancy, childbirth or subsequent complications. Getty Images hide caption

Rashida Humphrey-Wall (right) with her son Kai Humphrey at their home in Washington, D.C. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Before conducting the nasal swab test for COVID-19 at the Rantoul, Ill., clinic, researchers go out to greet each visitor and ask for basic identification and health information. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

Sandra's 17-year-old daughter, Lindsey, has autism. Lindsey thrives on routine, and got special help at school until the coronavirus pandemic cut her off from the trained teachers and therapists she'd come to rely on. Audra Melton for NPR hide caption

University of Illinois graduate student Kristen Muñoz submits her saliva sample for coronavirus testing on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

Mayra Ramirez received a double lung transplant after COVID-19 caused irreversible damage to her lungs. Northwestern Medicine hide caption

José's son, who has schizophrenia, recently got into a fight that resulted in a broken window — an out-of-control moment from his struggle with mental illness. And it could increase his chances of deportation to a country where mental health care is even more elusive. Hokyoung Kim for NPR hide caption

Toni Hoy, at her home in Rantoul, Ill., holds a childhood photo of her son, Daniel, who is now 24. In a last-ditch effort to get Daniel treatment for his severe mental illness in 2007, the Hoys surrendered parental custody to the state. "When I think of him, that's the picture I see in my mind. Just this adorable, blue-eyed, blond little sweetie," Hoy says. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption