February 2024 Newsletter

  1. DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
    1. Staffing Update
    2. SUPR VACANCY
    3. UPCOMING TRAININGS
    4. NARCAN SHELF LIFE INCREASED
    5. HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM-SERVICE AGENCY PROVIDER SURVEY
    6. SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
    7. 2024 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS)
    8. CapMan Reporting Reminder!
    9. CHANGING PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL USE BY GIRLS AND YOUNG ADULT WOMEN

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the lives and successes of people of African descent. We also take this time to learn and reflect on the historical and everyday challenges for African Americans.

We celebrate the contributions of African Americans in the arts, medicine, education, and every area of American culture. We recognize the strength and resilience of a people who have overcome many traumatizing periods in history and in the present.

At SUPR, we are also committed to addressing inequities created and perpetuated by public policies, including the overwhelming and disproportionate impact of the overdose crisis on African American communities (IDPH-Statewide Semiannual Overdose Report). We arecommitted to preventing and reversing overdose deaths and reducing the racial disparities that impact Black lives. One way we do that is by centering the successes and strengths of the Black community.

One example of those successes within the field of substance use disorder treatment and recovery is the Online Museum of African American Addictions and Recovery. Curated by Mark Sanders, one of Illinois' beloved trainers in the field, the museum highlights the accomplishments of African Americans who have made outstanding contributions to the substance use disorder treatment and recovery field (Museum's Hall of Fame). Please visit the museum and browse through the many sections that document the history of treatment and recovery in the African American community.

SUPR and IDHS celebrate Black History Month, elevating all the amazing successes of the African American community and its institutions, the amazing individuals that drove some of these successes, and the historical impacts and current challenges that African American communities face.

By knowing our true history, we can build on that legacy to achieve new heights.

Laura Garcia, Director

Staffing Update

Staci Ashmore joined the SUPR team as a Grant Implementation Specialist within the Bureau of Business and Fiscal Operations. For the past five years, Staci has worked with federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Illinois, providing technical assistance, training opportunities, and program resources on various topics including mental health, substance use, and medication-assisted recovery (MAR). She has also previously worked as a Mental Health Access Clinician and Substance Use Prevention Specialist!

Lorri Batty joined the SUPR team as a Management Operations Analyst Data and Technical Support within the Chief of Staff 's Office. Lori has over 20 years of experience working multiple roles in customer service, most recently serving as a store director!

Megan Hudson joined the SUPR team as an Administrative Assistant within the Director's Office! Prior to joining SUPR, Megan served as the assistant to the Deputy Director of Clinical Practice at IDCFS for two and a half years.

SUPR VACANCY

Administrative Assistant II, Cook County- Administrative Assistant to Deputy Director of Planning, Performance Assessment and Federal Projects

If you are interested in this position, please visit the new Careers at State of Illinois (jobs2web.com) to apply.

Current state of Illinois Employees: please create an internal candidate profile and apply using the "career portal for State of Illinois employees". Below is the internal link where you can create your profile, search for the position, and apply.

Internal Link:

UPCOMING TRAININGS

  • Black Women Speak Out About
  • Gambling Addiction, Recovery
  • February 20, 2024 | 1PM CT

Join Dr. Sandra Adell as she addresses questions related to Black Women and casino gambling, Why Black women aren't seeking treatment for gambling and the limitations of current treatment and recovery practices? Registration opening soon. Visit: https://learn.illinoisproblemgambling.org/ for  additional details.

African American/Black Conference on Problem Gambling

February 23, 2024

Join us for this engaging and educational community event on February 23rd for an opportunity to hear from speakers who will address Problem Gambling, and its impacts on the African American and Black communities. Lunch will be held at noon where keynote speaker Jarrett Payton will surely not disappoint with his motivational speech, and a few minutes for a Q&A with our audience.

Registration is now open, but hurry! You don't want to miss out! To register, please visit Events - Illinois Council on Problem Gambling

NARCAN SHELF LIFE INCREASED

Good news! NARCAN 4 milligram (mg) Nasal Spray shelf life has been increased from 3-years to 4-years. The FDA announced this change on January 22, 2024.This shelf-life extension applies only to NARCAN (4mg) nasal spray products produced after January 22, 2024. The shelf-life of products that were produced and distributed prior to this date is not affected and remains unchanged.

Drug Overdose Prevention Program enrollees, Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution service organizations, and people who  may have previously distributed kits on hand are advised to continue to abide by the expiration date printed on each product's packaging and within the product's labeling. Guidance on expired naloxone

HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM-SERVICE AGENCY PROVIDER SURVEY

  • From M/Sgt Will Sandusky
  • ISP Division of Criminal Investigation
  • Trafficking Enforcement Bureau

"It has become apparent that there is a need for a

repository or centralized list of human trafficking

victim service providers to better service and help

locate resources for victims and survivors of human

trafficking. This survey is a tool to help establish

that list of resources. The goal is to create a list of

service providers across the state, so when a victim

or survivor presents or is recovered the appropriate

resources/services can be offered/provided."

If this survey is relevant to your organization, please

complete it no later than Thursday, February 15.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

HRSA's Health Workforce efforts include the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. There have been only three Illinois recipients in 2023. Please look at the requirements here and if you qualify, please consider applying. Organizations can apply to be a site, see further information here. You can sign up to receive email notifications when the new application period starts.

2024 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS)

The Illinois Department of Human Services/Substance Use Recovery and Prevention (IDHS/SUPR) is asking for your participation in the 2024 N SUMHSS.

This annual survey, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), collects data from substance use and mental health facilities in the United States, its territories, and District of Columbia.

The survey gathers information on services that treatment facilities provide and summary-level information on clients served. SAMHSA and other Federal, state, and local agencies and behavioral health care professionals use the data to understand treatment availability and identify gaps in our nation's treatment services.

Your facility's participation helps researchers, policy makers, and facility directors better understand the national treatment resource landscape and supports informed, evidence-based planning.

Benefits of Participation

  • Participating facilities have the option of being listed on FindTreatment.gov (https://findtreatment.gov) which will make others aware of your services and help you reach potential clients in your community you do not currently reach. Your facility must complete the N SUMHSS every year to maintain your listing on FindTreatment.gov.
  • Data from the N SUMHSS will be available at Data | SAMHSA.

You'll receive more information about the NSUMHSS in February and March. For current information, see https://info.nsumhss.samhsa.gov.

Findings from the 2022 N-SUMHSS Report

See the 2022 data and findings from the N-SUMHSS at 2022 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS) Release (samhsa.gov).

CapMan Reporting Reminder!

All IDHS/SUPR organizations delivering Level of Care 3.5 services and opioid treatment programs(OTPs) must use the Capacity Management system (CapMan) to manage your capacity and waitlist(s). To update your organization's status, log into your Provider Portal account at IL Helpline Provider Portal and click PROVIDERS (top right side of Homepage).

CHANGING PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL USE BY GIRLS AND YOUNG ADULT WOMEN

On January 17th, the Alcohol Policy Resource Center hosted a webinar on "Changing Patterns of Alcohol Use by Girls and Young Adult Women" with Dr.

Aaron White from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Data shows that alcohol use among young people has been declining over the past 20 years, but for some age ranges, girls and young adult women are now more likely to drink and binge drink than boys and men for the first time since data collection began more than a century ago. This webinar explores these trends and their impacts.