Building on the administration’s funding increases for child welfare and wellbeing, today Governor Pritzker announced the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for children and adolescents in the State of Illinois.
The Governor tasked the Initiative with building a coordinated, inter-agency approach to ensure young people with significant behavioral health needs receive the community and residential services they need to thrive while providing parents, guardians, and family members with transparency and clarity in the process. The initiative will provide a transformation blueprint by the end of 2022. The Governor also named Chapin Hall child welfare expert Dana Weiner, PhD, as Director of the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative.
“I’m launching the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign the systems that support our most vulnerable kids and adolescents – so that down the line, Illinois families will be better able to access holistic, wraparound support for children in need,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Under the leadership of nationally recognized child welfare expert Dana Weiner, PhD, and six state agency heads, this Initiative will deliver a transformative blueprint by the end of the year.” […]
Governor Pritzker has increased funding for DCFS from $1.2 billion in FY2019 to $1.55 billion in FY2022 with a proposed additional increase to $1.8 billion this coming fiscal year. The Governor’s proposed fiscal year 2023 budget provides a new investment of $7 million for a completely redesigned independent living program which will better support youth transitioning out of DCFS’ care.
Additionally, the Pritzker Administration recently launched an $86 million effort to support local efforts to develop comprehensive school systems grounded in mental health and trauma.
The FY2023 budget also includes $150 million to fully implement the Pathways to Success program at DHFS, which helps Medicaid-enrolled children under age 21 who have complex behavioral health needs and require intensive services and support. The program will begin upon federal CMS approval without any additional implementation action from the GA. […]
At Governor Pritzker’s direction, HFS, DHS, DCFS, ISBE, DPH and DJJ have put together an interagency working group to better support children in need of behavioral health services and their families, whether they access services in their community, at their school, or through a residential program. The Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative turns that collaboration into a formal, step-by-step review of existing systems in order to better support Illinois children and families.
The Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative will examine:
• Needs of children requiring behavioral health services
• Allocation of resources to meet needs within existing programs
• Pathways for accessing needed services
• Eligibility requirements for levels of care
• Decision-making practices for allocation of resources
• Alignment of policies, rules, regulations to support transparent, efficient, and effective service delivery
• Barriers to effective interagency coordination
• Infrastructure needs to support new pathways and existing programs
• Best practices from other comparable child-serving systems across the country
The pandemic has only made the need for improvements more urgent. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the proportion of children’s mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits among all pediatric ED visits increased and remained elevated through October 2020. Compared with 2019, the proportion of mental health-related visits for children aged 5-11 and 12-17 years increased 24 percent and 31 percent, respectively.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the connection of this plan to the latest DCFS crises that we’ve already been discussing here today…
Well, that’s precisely what this is about, right, to make sure that we’re coordinating systems and services so that people don’t have to sit for 117 days or, as we heard, for sometimes longer and without getting the services they need. And parents, of course, are desperately need. Foster parents and others. And so, look, we’ve put tremendous resources in already to try to staff up, to make sure that we’re serving these kids, to make sure that we’re, at DCFS for example, hiring up to standards here. And then very importantly, creating residential beds that got destroyed under the prior administration. 500 residential beds went away. And I think everybody here that’s been involved in the system of providing these services knows that these don’t come back, like, with the snap of a finger. It takes literally years to go build back up those. And that’s why we all are committed to the consistency of systems.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert…
This is a positive, albeit long overdue, step for children and families. Of course, the devil is in the details, and I look forward seeing the comprehensive blueprint promised by the end of the year.
It must be noted that this is not an answer to DCFS’s placement crisis. And children in DCFS care don’t have months and years to wait for the placements and services they need.
Just yesterday a Cook County Juvenile Court judge held DCFS Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the seventh time this year for failing to place children appropriately in violation of court orders. This most recent contempt finding involved a boy DCFS has kept in a shelter for more than a year, in violation of court orders, because DCFS doesn’t have a placement for him. This youth doesn’t have another year to wait for more studies.
I hope that this initiative will be implemented in a robust manner with the sense of urgency needed.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kyle Hillman with the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter…
We join other advocates in support of this new initiative Governor Pritzker is embarking on (in his fourth year of office) to address the mental health crisis children have been facing. While we are still unsure how this new initiative will work differently than groups like the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, any new effort is always welcomed. We do hope this new blueprint initiative though doesn’t delay efforts to address a mental health crisis both within DCFS and within our schools that need an immediate response and a sense of urgency that has been greatly lacking.
Low-income families in Illinois who receive TANF benefits could get an extra boost thanks to a proposal in Springfield.
Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) said the Illinois Department of Human Services should increase grant amounts for temporary assistance for needy families. The state currently provides 30% of the federal poverty guidelines for each family size. Evans would like to see that raised to 50%.
His bill could help a family of three currently receiving $549 per month from TANF get $915 in benefits. Evans said his plan also allows dollars for child support to go directly to parents or guardians instead of the current system where some of the money is dispersed by the state.
Maxica Williams is a mother of three in Cook County who helped make this change a possibility. As a member of the TANF Research Advisory Board, Williams worked to eliminate barriers to the benefits for those most in need. With TANF payments so low, Williams said surviving and meeting basic needs is challenging.
* Gonna invoke Charlie Wheeler here and remind folks to read bills like this before writing about them…
The Illinois General Assembly will consider a bill condemning and sanctioning Russia, three weeks into Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Democrat state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, said it is time for Illinois to act.
“This is not a situation where we can sit back and ignore what’s happening as countries around the world are imposing tough sanctions on Russia. It is now time for us to do what we can here in Illinois,” said LaPointe.
LaPointe filed a bill Thursday for Illinois to divest from the Russian economy. LaPointe said she put the widespread condemnation of Russia into legislation after three weeks of continued support by Illinoisans for Ukraine during the invasion.
(b) For these reasons, the General Assembly urges:
(1) the pension funds and retirement systems established under the Illinois Pension Code to divest their holdings in any companies that are domiciled in Russia or Belarus and that are on the list of restricted companies developed by the Illinois Investment Policy Board
Not saying it’s a bad bill at all. Just saying that the word “urges” is much different than the word “shall.” (And, yes, the bill forbids the state treasurer from investing/depositing money in Russian or Belarusian banks, but that’s not the same as divestment.)
…Adding… Ha! I failed to take my own advice. The bill does call for divestiture…
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, but not later than 9 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, each retirement system, as that term is defined in Section 1-110.16 of this Code, shall instruct its investment advisors to sell, redeem, divest, or withdraw all direct holdings of Russian or Belarusian sovereign debt, Russian or Belarusian government-backed securities, investment instruments issued by an entity that is domiciled or has its principal place of [etc.]
All apologies. I’m gonna get some more coffee now.
…Adding… Press release…
In response to Russian’s deadly invasion of Ukraine, Governor JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, and House Speaker Chris Welch issued the following joint statement:
As Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine escalates, it threatens everyone around the world. We are unified in our belief that Putin must be stopped. Working together, our offices will advance legislation to remove any Russian companies from Illinois’ pension assets and prohibit contracting with any companies based in Russia. Beyond these financial consequences, we will also join national efforts to assist with this heartbreaking refugee crisis. We are hopeful that negotiations can bring about an end to this violence, but until then Illinois must stand strong for democracy and support the brave men and women of Ukraine in defending their country.
State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is pushing for passage of the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity, or MICRO Act.
“I think it’s time for a change and try to bring back some of those supply lines here to the United States, so what this MICRO Act does is provide a very similar series of tax incentives that we applied to the electric vehicle industry,” Halpin said.
The proposal would provide qualifying manufacturers an enhanced version of the EDGE tax incentive over 15 years. Employers would receive a tax break on 75% of income tax withholdings attributable to new employees, which would increase to 100% if a production facility is located in an underserved area. Additional credit is available for employee training costs.
* Press release…
A rally and press conference in support of a proposal to expand Illinois’ Earned Income Credit (EIC) and create a statewide Child Tax Credit (CTC), which would benefit over 4.8 million no-, low-, and middle-income earners at moment when federal pandemic relief has expired and household costs are rising.
Leaders from the Illinois General Assembly, nonprofit advocacy groups, organized labor, and the community will come together to demonstrate the diverse and unified support for the proposal.
WHEN: Monday March 21, 2022, 10:00am Central
WHERE: Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL
(Live stream is also available at Facebook.com/ICIRR)
WHO: Advocates, legislators, labor leaders, and community members advocating for a more fair state tax system, including:
Advocate and Statewide Coalition Manager Amber Wilson of Economic Security for Illinois
State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago)
State Representative Carol Ammons (D-Urbana)
State Representative Michael Zalewski (D- Riverside)
State Representative Kam Buckner (D- Chicago)
State Senator Mike Simmons (D- Chicago)
State Representative Anna Moeller (D- Elgin)
State Senator Ram Villivalam (D- Chicago)
State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D- Skokie)
State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago)
State Representative Delia Ramirez (D- Chicago)
Erica Bland-Duroshimi, SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana Executive Vice President
Community members Krystal Peters, Teresa Campa, Dexter Liggins, Alejandro Lopez, and Barbara Beltran who would be impacted by the bill
In attendance will also be dozens of members and community leaders from the Illinois Cost-of-Living Coalition representing over 40 organizations, including: Economic Security for Illinois, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Workers Center for Racial Justice, Community Organizing and Family Issues, Young Invincibles, Chicago Votes, UpTogether, United Food and Commercial Workers - Local 881, SEIU - Local 1, SEIU- Local 73, SEIU Healthcare, Children’s Home and Aid, Grassroots Collaborative, and more
* Press release…
State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart testified before the House Appropriations-General Services Committee on Wednesday night, via zoom, for a subject matter hearing. State’s Attorney Rinehart was there to explain the need for his proposed pilot program to automatically text victims and witnesses about upcoming court dates in Lake County. State Representative Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) introduced the measure in the House and is shepherding it through the legislative process in Springfield.
The bill would appropriate $50,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for the 2-year pilot program.
“Victims and surviving family members deserve the same notice of court dates that perpetrators receive. This pilot program will ensure that those who have been victimized are aware of upcoming hearings so they can be involved in the process,” Representative Mason said. “I am happy to be partnering with Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart to stand up for crime victims and look forward to seeing this program take effect.”
“I am so grateful that we have strong victim advocates, like Representative Mason, among our Lake County delegation in Springfield who are pushing to ensure our victims receive all the support they need,” said State’s Attorney Rinehart.
* Press release…
STATEMENT: Illinois House of Representatives Adopts Resolution in Support of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s Efforts to Reclaim Reservation in Northern Illinois
Houses, state park now sit on a 1,000+ acre Reservation
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – The following is a statement from Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick following the news that legislators in the Illinois House of Representatives voted yesterday to adopt House Resolution 504, which supports Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s efforts to build on its history as an original part of the DeKalb County community and encourages the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow the Nation to secure 1,151 acres of land near Shabbona State Park in the southern part of DeKalb County:
“This milestone sends a strong and supportive message to Washington that Illinois legislators understand the importance of righting historical wrongs. It’s been 170 years since the U.S. government illegally sold our land in DeKalb County when my great grandfather, four generations removed, went to visit family in Kansas. Today, 170 years worth of loss and broken community has transformed into deep gratitude for the members of the Illinois House of Representatives who took this step to help put us on a path toward justice.”
A similar resolution sponsored by state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) is currently making its way through the Illinois Senate.
* Press release…
I’m pleased to invite you to join us next week for panel discussion titled “The Power of Sport in Illinois” where you can hear from State Legislators, former professional athletes, and sports-based youth development alumni and staff about the role that sport has played in each of their lives, the challenges that prevent young people from accessing or staying in sports programs, and the role that government can play to address some of these challenges. We’re hosting this conversation in the midst of working with the Illinois State Legislator to promote the inclusion of House Bill 4602 / Senate Bill 3994, which call for a 5M appropriation for grants to expand equity and opportunity in youth development-based sports initiatives in the 2023 Illinois State Budget. Event details below:
The Power of Sport in Illinois
• Date and Time: Friday, March 18th from 9-10am CT
• Information and Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a7iMud-yQ7SRBhZO7tgU_A
• Panelists:
• Luol Deng, former Chicago Bull
• Michael Johnson, Laureus USA Board Member and Olympic Champion
• Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Lead Sponsor of SB 2994 and Member of Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus
• Representative Kam Buckner, Lead Sponsor of HB 4602 and Chair of Illinois House Black Caucus
• Merary Flores, America SCORES Chicago Alumni and Current Program Assistant
• Amy Mummery, Executive Director of America SCORES Chicago
A Cook County judge ordered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith held in contempt of court for a seventh time Thursday for failing to place a child appropriately.
The order was issued by Juvenile Court Judge and former county Public Guardian Patrick Murphy.
Current Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert noted that this was the seventh time Smith has been held in contempt in the past 10 weeks. In this case, the subject of the order is a 16-year-old boy who has spent more than 375 days – almost the whole time he has been in DCFS custody – in a shelter that does not have the resources to support his needs given his intellectual and cognitive disabilities, the Public Guardian’s office said. […]
While she has been locked in the facility, she has not received services such as speech therapy. She also has not been allowed to go outdoors, and she has barely received an education.
For nearly a year now, the girl has received just one hour a day of schooling.
The Governor and Director Smith share the judge’s frustration and DCFS is working hard to find placements for these vulnerable children with special needs. Tragically, when Governor Rauner decimated social services, we were warned that it would be much easier to lose the 500 beds he destroyed than to recreate them again. Advocates warned that these services weren’t like a light switch that could be turned on and off with ease.
Since taking office, the Governor increased DCFS’ budget by over $340 million with DCFS launching aggressive hiring efforts to bring on 860 additional staff. The administration inherited a DCFS with outdated technology and inadequate trainings. Since then, technology has been overhauled and trainings and retrainings have taken place for every DCFS staff member. The DCFS hotline was backlogged with over 50% of calls requiring call backs in 2019. That’s down to under 1% now. The agency is working just as hard to create the needed placements for children.
DCFS’s placement shortage crisis has existed for at least the past seven years, when DCFS abolished 500 residential and group home beds. DCFS has not replaced these beds in all these years. DCFS’s placement shortage crisis has become so extreme that, for the first time in the more than three decades that I’ve been practicing in Juvenile Court, the court created a special consolidated docket where one judge is now hearing all of the cases with kids stuck in locked psychiatric hospitals, “temporary” shelters, offices, and the like. This docket has become known as the “placement crisis docket” and is sometimes also referred to as the “stuck kids call.” Judge Patrick T. Murphy presides over this consolidated call, and entered all six of the contempt orders against Smith. Holding a state agency director in contempt of court is extraordinarily rare. In the more than 30 years that I’ve been practicing in Juvenile Court, I cannot recall a single prior instance where a judge held the DCFS director in contempt. And now it’s happened six times in eight weeks.
The Department of Children and Family Services is dedicated to keeping children safe and strengthening families. We are working aggressively addressing the decades-long challenge of a lack of community resources and facilities for children with complex behavioral health needs, which has been exacerbated by an increased demand in social services in recent years. Every single day, DCFS works with its network of providers and foster parents in an ongoing effort to place these children in settings that can provide the appropriate level of care and in which the children can grow and flourish.
…Adding… The Richard Irvin campaign throws the kitchen sink at Pritzker…
The common theme of failure across the various agencies under Pritzker’s watch grows stronger as news today of yet another contempt of court order issued for Department of Children and Family Services agency director Marc Smith. This is the seventh contempt citation against Smith and DCFS to date.
Due to the failures of the Pritzker Administration to manage this agency, the courts have been forced to step in to address problems at the agency. Kids who were placed in the state’s care have not received necessary services, including housing, healthcare and more. Just yesterday, it was revealed there was a boy who had been living in a temporary shelter for over a year.
This is yet another massive failure in the Pritzker Administration. Earlier this week, we saw the families of veterans who tragically lost their lives due to the negligence and incompetence at the LaSalle Veterans Home seek justice. Pritzker’s Department of Insurance is also stalling in taking action against Blue Cross Blue Shield for restricting access to healthcare for central Illinoisans. And just last week, we found out that the Department of Employment Security knowingly gave funds to scammers that belonged to families and residents who were struggling during the pandemic.
“This now marks yet another state agency riddled with issues due to Governor Pritzker’s inaction, and the kids in the state’s care are paying the price. This is truly disgraceful,” said Irvin for Illinois spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “It’s the Governor’s job to own these problems and swiftly correct them, but all we’ve seen is deflection and inaction from the administration. It seems like the only time Governor Pritzker cares about DCFS is when he’s profiting from their insurance plans.”
Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Anna Valencia, released the following statement after Alexi Giannoulias released a new video “re-introducing” himself to Illinois voters after a 12-year absence:
“We noticed a few key pieces were left on the cutting room floor, so allow us to fill in the gaps: Alexi Giannoulias was senior loan officer for a bank that loaned money to convicted mobsters, he engaged in reckless lending practices that led authorities to seize his family bank, and he lost millions of dollars in college savings for thousands of Illinois families. Illinoisans rejected Alexi when he lost Barack Obama’s Senate seat to an opponent plagued by scandal. Now, Alexi on the ballot risks losing Jesse White’s Secretary of State office, too. Alexi’s ‘re-introduction’ video is a sorry attempt to paper over his checkered history in which Illinois families lost big when he served our state. As Jay-Z says, ‘this is all fact, I’ll never change.’
“Now, Alexi is refusing to be transparent with Illinois voters about what he’s been up to over the last twelve years while he worked as a Wall Street banker, including for a big bank with close ties to gun manufacturers, coal companies and even North Korea. While Anna — who was raised by working class parents in a union household and has delivered bold and innovative ideas as Chicago City Clerk — was fighting for our communities during the Rauner and Trump administrations, Alexi helped rich people get richer. His commitment to transparency and accountability is worth nothing as long as he refuses to come clean about his clients and investments from the last decade-plus. Illinois voters are waiting.”
