CESSA Statewide Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 05/08/2023

Approved by Committee Members 06/12/2023

Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) Statewide Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes - Monday, May 08, 2023 - 1:00 pm-3:00 pm via WebEx

This meeting was recorded

  • Call to Order/Roll Call
    • Meeting called to order by Grace Hou at 1:03pm.
    • Approval of Minutes (4/10 meeting): Alice Cary asked for a motion to approve minutes, seconded by Drew Hansen.
    • Members Present: Shelley Dallas (approved), David Albert, PhD (approved), Andrew (Drew) Hansen (approved), Alice Cary (approved), Jim Kaitschuk (approved), Blanca Campos (approved), Emily Miller (approved), Pooja Nagpal (approved), Curtis Harris (approved), Ashley Thoele, Richard Manthy, and Chris Huff
    • Lee Ann reviewed procedures around the Open Meetings Act and meeting logistics.
  • State Updates (Lee Ann)
    • Legislative update: We have been working with DHS office to consider extending CESSA implementation by a year. We have been extended until July 2024.
    • 988/DMH Contracts: We put out a NOFO from SAMSHA and NAMI Chicago has been awarded a grant. We are in early phases of onboarding NAMI with Vibrant, but it will take several months.
      • Will cover zip codes that aren't covered by other agencies in Chicago.
    • Questions from public comments:
      • "Has the risk level matrix changed or been updated since receiving feedback from many stakeholders and advocates? The risk matrix gives too much authority to crisis care response."
        • It's called interim because as systems evolve, the risk level matrix will evolve as well. Some minor clarifications have been sent to the Protocol and Standards Subcommittee for review.
      • "Can we discuss the ability of 988 to handle other dispatches besides 590/MCR…?"
        • A lot more complicated than it seems. Because 988 is a federal system, there are only some things as a state that we can do. There's still a possibility that any call to 988 can end up in a national backup center that we have no control over.
    • Data/Survey Updates (Dr. Mary Smith)
      • Between July 1, 2022-September 30, 2022, 20% of agencies with 590 MCRT programs reported having no MCRT contacts, 32% reported between 1-25 contacts, and 48% of agencies reported >26 contacts.
        • Overall, 81% of MCRT surveys have been completed. There are 29 surveys outstanding.
        • Cindy and Mary met with PSAP Administrators in March to discuss purpose of survey, PSAP responsibilities, and a walkthrough of the survey.
    • Regional Updates
      • Brenda Hampton (RACs 1, 2, 3, and 7): Common questions about who takes primary responsibility at the scene? EMS? MCRT? LE? RACs are also asking questions about sustainability post implementation.
      • Peter Eckart (RACs 4, 5, and 6): Even though there is DMH support, the time between a call is made and a crisis worker is able to respond is longer than the recommended time in the IRLM. Continuing questions related to involuntary commitment and how to work with ppl who present differently around crisis works and le are around. Questions about liability re: 911 act. What happens if they want to make a referral to 988?
      • Asantewaa Darkwa (RACs 8, 9, and 10): Common questions about what will happen post June 30th. Comments about wanting to make recommendations for level 4 on the IRLM, not just 2 and 3.
      • Dr. Lorrie Jones (RAC 11): Change in leadership, Dr. Saafir has stepped down and Eugene Humphrey from HRDI will replace him. Hopefully Eugene will be onboarded by June meeting.
  • Technical Subcommittee Updates
    • Protocols and Standards (Dr. Lorrie Jones)
      • UIC Liaisons have collected feedback from RACs regarding the interim risk level matrix.
      • Shared confusion between the RACs around medical terminology and language.
      • Objections to the term "florid psychosis" and would like to make recommendations for level 4, not just levels 2 and 3. Will come back with suggestive language for the Protocol and Standards Subcommittee that describes behaviors, rather than diagnosis (i.e. "florid psychosis"). Confusion around 'dispatching' and functionality.
        • In the process of developing guidance in transfers between 911, 988, and MCRTs.
      • There have been questions regarding funding for upgrading systems, training, etc. We are working on a list to address what PSAPs and other parts of the system need to move forward.
      • Protocol Vendors
    • Communications (Dr. Allison Brown /Emily Miller)
      • Communications subcommittee has been disbanded. Asked for volunteers to continue the work that this subcommittee has done. No volunteers so the Hub will send the full committee and email requesting volunteers.
      • Subcommittee approved key statewide stakeholders and the types/modalities and cadence of communication in the last meeting. This table needs to be revised now for use by the RACs.
        • Members will form a workgroup to continue working on deliverables.
      • Emily motioned to accept minutes from 4/6 meeting, seconded by Blanca Campos.
        • Accepted: Director David Albert, Ashley Thoele, Shelley Dallas, Alice Cary, Rick Manthy, Jim Kaitschuk, Blanca Campos, Emily Miller, Pooja Nagpal, Chris Huff
        • Abstained: Chris Huff, Curtis Harris
    • Data and Technology (Peter Eckart)
      • Subcommittee has been monitoring implementation of CESSA.
      • What was mandated by CESSA legislation does not necessarily include all of the data we would like to gather.
        • (1) and (2) Restated: The volume, type and disposition of calls between 9-1-1, 9-8-8 and 590 providers.
        • (3) Restated: The volume, type and disposition of calls appropriate for referral to community mental health providers but not served.
      • Recommended CESSA Reports: IL CESSSA Crisis Continuum (CC) Service Report, IL CESSA Statewide and Regional Compliance Report, IL CESSA Administrative Report, IL CESSA Evaluation Report.
        • Subcommittee will be focusing on the first and third report.
      • Next Meetings: 5/15 @ 2:30, 6/5 @ 2:30, and 6/20 @ 9am.
    • Training (Dr. Terry Solomon)
      • Next Meeting: 5/9 @ 10:30am
      • Cindy has accepted a chair position, still looking for a co-chair. Also looking to identify expert consultants (590, 911, & 988).
      • Subcommittee has conducted 3 trainings in April. Asked people for suggestions for topics and allow them the opportunity to gain CEUs.
    • Barriers to Implementation (Dr. Lorrie Jones)
      • Lack of clear vision articulated across the regions for improvements in crisis care system.
        • We have urban, suburban, and rural areas with different needs. How they resolve needs will all be different. We are planning a process for both SAC and the RACs to think about this.
  • Wrap Up/Next Meeting
    • Next meeting date is June 12th from 1:00-3:00pm via Zoom.
    • Unclear if in person meetings will now be required moving forward now that public health emergency mandate is ending.
  • Public Comment:
    • Zachary Gittrich: Can 988 dispatch 590 teams?
      • Lee Ann Reinert: the system is still in development. Theres been work done to provide 988 centers the info they need. But the call centers in IL are at varying levels of technological ability. So yes and no.
      • Zachary Gittrich: Can RACs get material on involuntary commitment? Also want to know how many Living Rooms are in the state, where they are, and how to get patients there.
    • Charles Petrof(Access Living): Community has concern about their liabilities working on crisis response system. Under section 55 of the CESSA statute,, anyone working at 988 centers or MCRTS should have the same level of immunity.
    • Alicia Ozier: Asked if there was a place for CARES to participate as a statewide stakeholder?
      • Lee Ann: Statewide appointees were listed specifically in the CESSA legislation. However, anyone can come to public meetings and make public comments.
    • Ashley Thoele: Language added to the EMS Act (see 210 ILCS 50/3.155.i): EMS can decide to transport a patient directly to an EMS system-approved mental health facility instead of to an emergency department. There should be conversations to develop a policy for those transports.

Adjournment: Director David Albert ( for the Secretary) asked for a motion to adjourn, and the motion had a consensus by lack of dissent. The meeting adjourned at 3:01.