CESSA - Region 11 Committee Meeting Approved Minutes 01/23/2023

Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) Region 11 Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes- 01/23/2023 - 1:00 PM

Meeting Minutes - Approved by Members 02/20/2023

Meeting began at 1:02 pm. Called by Dr. Saafir.

Introduction: Dr. Eddie Markul Chair, Dr. Rashad Saafir

Meetings will be third Monday each month through 7/01/23. Invitations to follow.

  • Dr. Eddie Markul - Present
  • Dr. Rashad Saafir - Present
  • Dr. Lorrie Jones - Present
  • Cosette Ayele - Present
  • Jennifer McGowan - Present
  • Jonathan Zaentz - Present
  • Matthew Fishback - Present
  • Karah Kohler - Present
  • Nestor Flores - Present
  • Jamie Kach - Not Present
  • Peggy Flaherty - Present
  • Kelsey DiPirro - Present
  • Caral Orlandini - Present
  • Jeffrey Jamrock - Present
  • KPearlman - Not Present
  • KTataris - Not Present
  • JWeber - Not Present
  • Michelle Garcia - Present

Agenda: Welcome and call to order, Meeting Logistics/open meetings act, Roll Call & Introductions, CESSA Legislation, CESSA Structure, Questions and Answers, State Updates, Public Comment and Dismissal.

  • This first meeting was informational, to clarify our roles and expectations.
  • Discussion of Illinois Open Meetings Act. All members are to complete the Open Meetings Act Training. The link is https://foiapac.ilag.gov/
  • Frequently Asked Questions Document. Sent in invitation email.
  • Open Meetings Act Notices: Notes are being taken and recorded. Video cameras are optional. Meeting minutes will be posted to Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health Open Meetings Page after member approval from the Regional Advisory Committee. Phones are to be muted. Please utilize "raise hand" feature. Members of the public will have a public comment time to provide input.
  • Roll Call & Introductions - All committee members present provided brief introduction.
  • Illinois Division of Mental Health
    • Someone to call (988 Regional Crisis Call Hub Services). 6 Lifeline call centers. SAMHSA Goal: 90% of individuals with access by end of 2023.
    • Someone to Respond (Mobile Crisis Team Services). 66 providers in 83 locations. SAMHSA Goal: 80% of individuals with access by end of 2025.
    • Somewhere to Go (Crisis Receiving & Stabilization Units). 21 Living Rooms (not 24/7/365) and 11 Crisis Residential Programs (not available in most part of state). SAMHSA Goal: 80% of individuals with access by 2027
    • Current Crisis Continuum of Care. Most of the resources are in Region 11.
  • CESSA - Also known as Stephon Edward Watts Act. DHS Mandated to lead this work. To improve upon Mental Health needs during crisis. Requires statewide Advisory Committee & Regional committees within each of the 11 EMS Regions. Committees are charged with coordinating with emergency responses teams and addressing Protocols and standards, Training, Communications & Mobile Crisis Response Teams.
  • Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs) coordinate with Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) teams DMH developed a 590 Program to provide community-based response to low-level and low risk behavioral health crisis. Law enforcement will be integrated into process.
  • Crisis Response System: 179 PSAPs, 66 MCR, 877 Law Enforcement Entities, 1300 + Local Fire Departments, Six 988 Call Centers, Advocates and people with lived experience.
  • Continuum of Police & Community - innovative law enforcement and behavioral health collaboration.
  • CESSA - 12 Advisory Committees: 1 Statewide committee and 11 Regional Advisory Committees. Regional best practices will be developed by RAC.
  • CESSA became law in 2021. Q1 2022 members identified and confirmed. Q2-Q3 2022 SAC launched. Q4 2022 SAC & RACs meet and develop and finalized recommendations. 2023 protocols and standards are approved by governing bodies, staff are trained and all recommendations are in full force.
  • State wide Advisory Committee and 4 Technical Subcommittees.
  • Standards & Protocol Deliverables
  • Technology, Systems & Integration Data Management Deliverables
  • Training & Education Deliverables: Plan for training and education approval for crisis responders, crisis counselors, 911 call dispatchers and credential recommendation for crisis responders.
  • Primary RAC responsibilities: recommend changes to 911 protocols, identify recommendations to address necessary changes, determine regional training, recommend data collection.
  • CESSA RAC Membership: EMS Director, 590 Provider, Law Enforcement Entities, Advocates, EMS Provider Representative, EMS Union Representatives, Law Enforcement Representatives, Mental/Behavioral Health Providers, 708/Government Entities & 911 PSAP Representatives.
  • Introduction to CESSA Charter: Meeting schedule, responsibilities and deliverables, decision-making process, possibilities of RAC sub-committees and handling public content.
  • Member Discussion:
    • Jen McGowan: We were talking about the technical assistance the four sub-committees if they need support from the regional committees, is the information they are consolidating available generally? If we request something, will they provide it. It sounds like they are doing interesting work that we may want to see generally.
    • Dr. Markul - That's a great point. Dr. Lorrie Jones is on the call, I think it would be great to summon the information we received from the sub-committee. Other municipalities around the country and how they've been doing crisis response. Some of the risk matrixes on how they will base the risk of the call will help determine what is the best resource to use.
    • Dr. Jones: the technical sub-committees are also governed by the open meetings act. The meeting membership is members of the statewide advisory committee. The meeting minutes, recordings or power points are always posted on the DHS website.
    • Dr. Markul: Quick Summary if someone has Mental Health crisis they call 911 or 988, we have questions available that provide that person with the best response for them. If they call 911 or 988 they can be interchangeably transferred.
  • State Updates:
    • New timeline 7/1/23. State planning partners presented to SAC a new project timeline for getting deliverables done that would help us achieve the goal date. The timeline consists of what the RAC should be focused on in order to meet the timeline. For example, your March meeting should reflect an agenda that focuses on approval. The new risk matrix requires behind the scene work to assist with guidance. The Co-Chairs need to be able to organize within themselves to complete the work to bring the full agendas to the RAC to keep on track with the deadline. Look at the timeline and see what needs to be added to the agenda for each meeting.
  • Nestor Flores: Is the committee going to be able to propose items for the agenda? I have questions about the 988 call centers and how they dispatch the calls? I have questions about CIT, I heard the budget decreased? I'm also, interested in SAS and how that connects with all of this and the CARES line. Can we propose items and how would that be done?
  • Dr. Markul: Yes, we can definitely. I think there was an email address on the chat on where you can submit agenda items? Dr. Saafir should those suggestions go though the state or Monique to help inform the agenda.
  • Dr. Jones: Co-chairs this is your meeting. The agenda provided are templates for your use as a level of technical support. You can make any adjustment to the agenda.
  • Dr. Saafir: It's important the work were doing in Region 11 is really informed by the people who have interacted with the 911 system. As we have more interactions with the 988 system we know our communities have a different perspective and we want to make sure we are being mindful and respectful of how some of our communities will respond. There are already misconceptions about what 988 means. As a RAC we need to make sure those voices are being heard and were not being reactive but proactive with the concerns we bring to the RAC.
  • Matt Fishback: I was wondering will there be any thought on getting the extra meeting in since we are one meeting behind?
  • Dr. Markul: I do think we should talk about what we want to accomplish in the next meeting. I think we need to talk about the current process is right now when you call 911. And what the potential is some of those calls call be diverted to the 988 system.
  • Nestor Flores: My sense is they are trying to deescalate as many calls as possible. Pilsen Wellness wasn't receiving as many calls as expected and it creates a bit dissidence because the providers to have 24/7 coverage but not receiving volume of calls because call centers are triaging and creating safety plans themselves. Providers stalling with programs in terms of growth and providing services. I'm curious what the decision-making model is for the call centers.
  • Dr. Jones: I think the call centers refer to 590 or refer back to 911 I'm not sure if the state is prepared to have all that guidance vetted in time for the next meeting next month. They are currently still working on that level setting.
  • Kelsey DiPirro: The triage protocol we dispatch and to clarify the direction from SAMSHA is to deescalate as many calls as possible. The current de-escalation rate is 90%.
  • Adjournment.