CESSA Protocols & Standards Subcommittee Meeting October 5, 2023, 2:30 - 4:00 pm via Zoom
Meeting Minutes - Approved by Members 10/19/2023
Call to Order/Roll Call
- Meeting called to order by Lorrie at 2:32pm (via Zoom)
- Approval of 9/21 meeting minutes.
- Members Present: Candace Coleman (Present and approved), Christina Smith - Lee Ann Reinert Designee (Present and approved), Drew Hansen (Present and approved), Bobby Van Bebber - Leslee Stein-Spencer Designee (Present and approved), Shelley Dallas (Present and approved)
State Updates (Christina Smith)
* There are no updates
Updates on Meetings with Protocol Vendors
- Lorrie Jones: We have started working with Power Phone. They have been very flexible working with us as we tackle what changes should be made in protocols and scripts once approved.
- Mary Smith: Cindy, Alicia, Lorrie, Mary, Shelley Dallas, MJ Martin, and Asantewaa met with PowerPhone to determine the process for review and modification of the protocols as necessary so that they are aligned with the IRLM.
- We did agree on the process - Will review the 80 protocols and questions that relate to them. Next step will be to meet with PowerPhone again to make sure we are aware of the guidelines, limitations, and challenges related to modifying the questions. Will probably need a few more meetings, but it's a very promising process.
Illinois Deflection Initiatives (Stephanie Frank)
- Discussed how Illinois is a national leader in deflection programs, creating the option for law enforcement officers to serve as a conduit to treatment.
- Deflection - A collaborative intervention connecting public safety and public health systems to create community-based pathways to treat and other services to address social determinants of health without entry into the legal system.
- Deflection happens as an alternative before entering the criminal justice system, while diversion happens after being involved with the system.
- Six pathways of deflection include: self-referral, active outreach, naloxone plan, officer/first responder referral, officer intervention referral, and community response.
- Lorrie: Asked what statute authorizes police to make the decision not to arrest and rather deflect?
- Stephanie: Doesn't know the exact legal code, but police have their own discretion. There are some things they have to arrest for, but something like trespassing they can make their own decision.
- Lorrie: What's codified in the deflection act?
- Stephanie: The act was about allowing police to pursue this third option, ability to defer to services.
- Shelley: Asked familiarity with Safe Passage. Lee County, Safe Passage was implemented. Is it similar to that?
- Stephanie: Absolutely. That's a person seeking services at police station, and they are able to refer them on to whatever services they need. Safe Passages is pretty much a deflection program.
- Lorrie: Asked if treatment sites and law enforcement able to deflect someone with a co-occurring (mental health and substance use) disorder.
- Stephanie: Yes. That third option was crisis, really crisis response is about deflecting from arrest. We have to think about it broader. Law enforcement becomes an access point for people seeking services. Deflecting from arrest in the sense that, instead of taking in someone that is loitering, hearing voices, and drinking. Instead of arresting them, the police officer now has the option to call an engagement specialist to help them get into services.
- Candace: Discussed the importance of advancing the conversation to figure out systemically where the crossover is and how we support making sure that people don't end up in the criminal justice system.
- Lorrie: Proposed getting a small group together with Stephanie to see what the possibilities are. Candace volunteered.
- Candace: Asked funding mechanisms for this program to operate.
- Stephanie: Funding some of the initial work with cannabis funds. If people are referred to services, it's usually via Medicaid or whatever funding source people pay for.
Next Meeting Dates
* October 19, 2023, November 2, 2023, November 16, 2023, December 7, 2023, December 21, 2023
Public Comment
* No public comments
Adjournment
* Lorrie asked for a motion to adjourn, and the motion had a consensus by lack of dissent. The meeting adjourned at 3:23pm.
