Director's Message
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month presents an opportunity to reflect on Illinois' behavioral health system and how to increase its effectiveness for people of different cultural backgrounds and experiences. Overdose mortality disparities data clearly shows that we need to reach people who have been historically underserved. The overall problem may be more complicated due to historical and current social determinants that tend to drive most existing disparities. To help eliminate health disparities, SUPR has created the CADC Success program. The program supports individuals interested in becoming a substance use disorder counselor but may not have the means or face significant barriers to achieving this goal. A diverse workforce is the first step in making the system more welcoming for historically underserved communities. Please visit SAMHSA's Adapting Evidence-Based Practices for Under-Resourced Populations website to explore research supporting adaptations of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for underserved populations. Together, we can make sure substance use disorder treatment is responsive to everyone's needs.
SUPR Staffing Update
Dr. Mario A. Garcia Jr., Ed.D
Dr. Mario Garcia has joined the IDHS/SUPR team as the new Block Grant Manager, Public Service Administrator, Option 1, effective Monday, July 1st. He will be part of the Chief of Staff's Office, reporting to Roseann Solak, Administrator of Federal Block Grant & Data Reporting, and will be based in the Chicago office.
Dr. Mario Alberto Garcia Jr. was born and raised in the Southwest side of Chicago. He has a robust background in psychology and mental health services, having worked as a security officer in hospitals and later as a vocational counselor and mental health worker. He holds a degree in Psychology from Aurora University, where he was active in student government and the Latin-American Student Organization. Dr. Garcia has extensive experience with the Department of Human Services, working in various capacities since 2000. He completed his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Education from Argosy University in 2018, bringing over 25 years of work experience to his new role.
Michael Curry Interns
Kyndal Hill
Kyndal Hill is 23 years old from the south side of Chicago. She is entering her senior year at Chicago State University in the fall, where she will be earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology. Over the past three years, Kyndal has been actively involved in community organizing, working to establish more mental health services for underrepresented communities in Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new foods and reading, often spending her leisure days in a park, under a tree, with a good book and a delicious meal.
Kyndal will be part of our Gambling Program under the supervision of Kellie Gage.
Joy Jibunoh
Joy Jibunoh is an international student from Nigeria currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Health at Western Illinois University. With a background in parasitology and entomology, Joy is excited about the opportunity to delve into substance abuse issues and understand the mindset of individuals who abuse substances, with the goal of finding ways to help them. She is also passionate about health policy development and advocacy, aiming to create effective policies and public service announcements to reduce substance abuse cases. Joy aspires to become a renowned public health advocate and is eager to gain valuable experience through this opportunity.
A fun fact about Joy is that she once hosted a talk show during COVID-19 and hopes to revive it soon. Joy will be joining our Recovery Support Services under the leadership of James Kowalsky.
Tai Tepede
Tai Tepede recently graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Film and Digital Media. During college, Tai served as a Video and Storyteller Intern with the Food and Drug Administration, where they researched the Food and Drug Administration Commissioning Program and produced an informative video about it. Tai also studied abroad in Fortaleza, Brazil, for a month, completing a comprehensive study of Brazilian mass media and developing cross-cultural communication skills through collaboration with Brazilian students.
Tai will be interning in our Bureau of Licensure, Compliance and Monitoring Programs under the guidance of Kim Fornero.
Benjamin Campbell
Benjamin Campbell is a Ph.D. student in community health at the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign. His research focuses on the intersection of policy and youth substance use, particularly the impact of green space access on youth substance use and mental health issues, considering state responses and initiatives.
Benjamin recently completed a Policy and Research Legislative Fellowship through the Center for Social and Behavioral Sciences at UIUC, working with Representative Carol Ammons [D-103] on higher education enrollment, K-12 funding, and hunger-free campus legislation.
Before his Ph.D. studies, Benjamin was a substance use response consultant, helping cities and towns across the country implement deflection programs to connect community members.
Benjamin will be joining our Drug Overdose Prevention Program (DOPP) under the supervision of Patrick Price.
Important Upcoming Fiscal Information
Fiscal Billing Deadlines
The last billing date for FY24 in the DARTS system will be August 5th, 2024, and the last date for expenditure-based vouchers will be July 15th, 2024.
FY-25 Award Execution Update
In addition, there is a new EMAIL FOR RETURNING SIGNATURE PAGES DHS.OCA.SignaturePages@illinois.gov
How to locate Signature Page to Print and Sign.
- Log into CSA
- Click the Contracts tab making sure to select fiscal Year 2025
- Then select your contract amendment and print page 1 and 2.
- Sign those pages and return to DHS.OCA.SignaturePages@illinois.gov and CC' your Grant Manager
IDHS/SUPR Employee Recognized for Service
SUPR is proud to announce that James Kowalsky received the State of Illinois Employee Recognition of Service Award for his work to support persons experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. James received this award from The Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) and was recognized at the second annual Home Illinois Summit 2024 in Springfield. James oversees the IDHS/ SUPR Permanent Supportive Housing program and was nominated for this award by housing providers. James is a tireless advocate for harm reduction and recovery services and champions the SUPR value that all people deserve supportive services, including housing, regardless of where they are on their recovery journey. Please join us in congratulating James!
Prevention First's Youth Prevention Resource Center (YPRC) New Resource
Prevention First's Youth Prevention Resource Center (YPRC) is happy to release their newest resource - "Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Intersection of ACEs & Increased Risk Factors for Youth." This resource explores research showing the presence of ACEs in a young person's life could increase the likelihood of that young person developing a substance use disorder later in life. In addition, this resource explores the effect of benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) as protective factors in a young person's life.
Upcoming SUPR Virtual WRAP® Orientations
SUPR is pleased to announce the opportunity to register for Virtual Level 1 Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) Orientation.
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) is a self designed prevention and wellness tool anyone can use to get well, stay well, and make their life more the way they want it to be. While it was originally developed for individuals with mental health challenges, it is an evidence-based practice that can be used with substance use clients as well. WRAP® participants identify tools that help with everything from maintaining everyday routines to dealing with stressors, triggers, setbacks, relapses, and crises.
To qualify to use WRAP® with clients, staff must first complete a multi-week training program to become a Certified WRAP® Facilitator. Certified WRAP® Facilitators are training to facilitate WRAP® groups. Per Rule 2060.407 Group Treatment, Certified WRAP® Facilitators qualify as a "professional with credentials specific to the subject matter of the didactic group". There are several pre-requisites to submit a successful application for admittance into WRAP® Facilitator Training, one of which is attending a Level 1 WRAP® Orientation. Level 1 WRAP® Orientation is provided across the state to introduce individuals and organizations to the foundational principles of wellness, parts of a WRAP® plan, and an overview of the values and ethics of the WRAP® program. This is an ideal opportunity to learn the basic concepts of WRAP®. WRAP® Orientation is for individuals who are interested in WRAP® for their own lives or organizations that are interested in implementing WRAP® in their programs. For more information about WRAP®, visit Wellness Recovery Action Plan. Please contact Kim Sriner at Kimberly.Sriner@illinois.gov.
Upcoming Virtual Level 1 Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) Orientations
- Thursday, August 15th 9-11a - Registration Closed
- Tuesday, November 12th 1-3p - Save the Date!
- Wednesday, February 26th 10a-12p - Save the Date!
- Thursday May 22nd 1-3p - Save the Date!
Please note that each orientation is limited to 40 registrants.
100th Oxford House in Illinois!
Please join us in congratulating our partner, Oxford House Inc., on the opening of their 100th Oxford House in Illinois! IDHS/SUPR has partnered with Oxford House Inc. since FY22. In that short amount of time, they have expanded throughout Illinois, providing people in their recovery journey with safe, supportive housing in a family-like environment. The Oxford House model is unique in that the homes are self-supporting and democratically run by the residents. Additionally, Oxford Houses are strategically located in desirable neighborhoods fostering a wrap-around community approach to recovery.
Join Oxford House Tarian for an Open House on July 10th from 1 PM - 6 PM at 1625 W Main St, Decatur, to celebrate the momentous achievement of being the 100th Oxford House in Illinois. The Tarian House features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, soaring domed ceilings, stained glass windows and a solarium featuring an indoor cherub fountain. Originally designed by Frank Weber, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School of Architecture in Chicago, this home is the perfect example of what recovery looks like in Illinois!