IMHPAC -Justice Subcommittee Meeting Minutes 08/09/2023

Illinois Mental Health Planning and Advising Council - Justice Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

(approved by Members 10/11/2023)

Attendees: Scott Block, Lee Ann Reinert, Susan Schroeder, Matthew Fishback, Mike Davis, and Shirley Davis

Member of the public: None

Scott Block introduced himself as the "new" Chair of the Committee and facilitated member introductions.
All attendees confirmed their committee membership. As this committee has not been active for quite some time, members discussed recruiting more members at the next full Advisory Council Meeting.

Scott provided a brief overview of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators "National Judicial Task Force to Examine the State Courts' Response to Mental Illness" and how the Task Force work prompted development of his role in the Illinois Courts.
More information is available on the following websites:
- https://www.ncsc.org/behavioralhealth
- https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/additional-resources/mental-health-task-force/

Scott provided a presentation on best practices, emerging initiatives, and current Illinois efforts across the Sequential Intercept Model. 988, CESSA, Pretrial Fairness Act, Problem-Solving Courts, Fitness to Stand Trial Reform, Reentry, and Community Corrections Programs were reviewed.

Review Current Block Grant Justice Priorities
- Committee members discussed the relevancy of currently identified objectives.
  - Objective #1; Provide an alternative to incarceration for youth with SED and link them to community-based services that address unique needs and strengths. All members agreed the objective should remain but will request an overview of strategies from DHS representatives.
  - Objective: #2: Maintain and increase the number of outpatient mental health agencies providing competency restoration services in the community. All members agreed the objective should remain and discussed the many efforts underway to reform and improve the "competency to stand trial" system.
  - Objective #3 Expand Jail Data Link (JDL) access- a shared data program between Community Mental Health Centers and Jails/Detention Centers that re-connects mental health consumers who have been arrested and detained with a mental health agency in their community where they have previously received services. All members lauded the JDL program and its potential but question the DHS' commitment to promoting, implementing, and operating the program. Very little has been done in years. Members would like DHS to provide further information at the next committee meetings.

Next Meeting Date: October 11, 2023, at 2:00 pm