December - January 2024- What's Happening in the World of Behavioral Health?
Issue 11
December-January 2024
WELCOME
Hello, fellow Illinoisans and Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season continues to bring you joy, good health, prosperity, and a lot of love. A new year brings a fresh start and infinite possibilities.
Before we dive into this issue of What's Happening in the World of Behavioral Health, I remind you to take the time to listen to your own body and mind. Rather than set your goals based on how fast other people walk, how much time it takes others to prepare for that big meeting, concentrate on what makes YOU healthy! Embrace this new season of life with open arms. Wishing you a year filled with joy, laughter, good health, and wellness!
Be well,
David T. Jones
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Provider Spotlight
The CBHO team is delighted to present a featured provider in this issue, aiming to showcase the remarkable strides in behavioral health within our state, foster meaningful connections, and commemorate achievements. This time, we had the opportunity to speak with Gift of Voice and share their organization's backstory, values, challenges, and plans for the future. Within this brief article, we can only scratch the surface of the profound impact of their work.
About Gift of Voice
Founded in 2016, Gift of Voice emerged as a peer-run organization dedicated to providing community-based mental health supports in Madison County and beyond. Today, it has evolved to provide training, technical assistance, and advocacy operated by individuals with lived behavioral health experiences. Gift of Voice provides numerous trainings, many of which support the workforce development of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) Success Program.
From Left to Right Gloria Centeno, AJ French, Michelle Tibbs
A Conversation with AJ French, Founder
AJ French, Gift of Voice's founder, has grown the organization from the ground up, motivated by her personal mental health recovery experience. In doing so, AJ is an advocate at local and national venues on the critical role of peer-run organizations and peers with mental health and substance use recovery experiences, and those who have been involved in the justice system.
AJ highlighted some areas of pride for the organization from the last year, including providing supports for individuals reentering the community after prison through their Recovery Resource Center, and their Food and Fellowship program, which is designed to create connections and forge healthy relationships. AJ provided powerful case examples of individuals finding great relief in their tailored resources. Gift of Voice supports the goals of each individual they meet with and embrace challenges such as securing employment, reestablishing relationships post-prison release, finding stable housing, and tackling bureaucratic barriers. The organization recognizes the importance of rapid response and community collaboration, aiming to contribute to a healthier and stronger community and State.
Chief David T. Jones visit to Gift of Voice in September 2022. Pictured from left to right: AJ French, Michelle Tibbs, Ann Marie Stanley, Chief David T. Jones, Will Morris and Kara Gilomen.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Progress Update
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are a new type of healthcare provider designed to offer comprehensive behavioral health services all in one place. Illinois is currently applying to the federal government to become a CCBHC demonstration state. If accepted, it would allow the State to pilot the integration of CCBHCs into our healthcare system. You can learn more about the CCBHC model from SAMSHA here.
As the opening of the federal demonstration applications approach this spring, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), is working closely with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to prepare. To stay informed about the latest developments regarding Illinois CCBHC demonstration application, visit HFS's dedicated CCBHC landing page here.
CCBHC Demonstration Application Status Since November 2023
In late October 2023, HFS unveiled the organizations conditionally approved to participate in the State's CCBHC demonstration. Those not selected were invited to join a learning collaborative, intended to enhance their future potential to become a CCBHC. The following week, HFS hosted two webinars for the conditionally approved organizations and updated FAQ documents in December. These efforts were dedicated to addressing provider inquiries and provide additional clarity on program expectations. Both webinars "CCBHC Cost Reporting Webinar 11/03/2023" and "CCBHC Certification Process 11/02/2023 (webinar)" and CCBHC FAQs can be found here.
Currently, the conditionally approved organizations are undergoing a certification review process to: (1) verify their ability to implement the CCBHC model in line with SAMHSA's certification requirements and the Illinois specific service requirements; and, (2) determine their Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) rate using cost reporting. This process includes submission of supporting documentation, which was due at the end of the 2023 calendar year, and on-site reviews. The final step of on-site reviews is expected to be completed by the end of February 2024.
Concurrently, the Office of the Chief Behavioral Health Officer (CBHO) facilitated the second CCBHC Advisory Committee meeting on 12/7/23 to elicit feedback from the community on the State's demonstration application. This meeting was comprised of current SAMSHA CCBHC Awardees discussing their lessons learned from launching their CCBHC sites. Additionally, the CBHO facilitated conversations with executive leadership of the Illinois Health and Human Services Departments, ensuring a collaborative approach and alignment of efforts.
Congratulations to the selected 18 agencies with 25 CCBHC sites:
- Bridgeway, Inc
- Centerstone Of Illinois, Inc. - Alton location
- Chestnut Health Systems - Bloomington, Granite City and Bellville locations
- ComWell
- Ecker Center for Behavioral Health
- Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc.
- Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Inc.
- Human Resources Development Institute -51st Street and 114th Street locations
- The Link & Option Center, Inc.
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
- North Central Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.
- Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc. (dba Clarity Healthcare)
- The Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health - Moline and Rock Island locations
- Rosecrance, Inc. -Champaign and Winnebago locations
- Sinnissippi Centers, Inc. -Sterling and Dixon locations
- Thresholds -McHenry and Ravenswood locations
- Transitions of Western IL
- Trilogy Behavioral Health, Inc.
A big thank you goes out to the providers, advocates, government officials, customers and everyone involved for their hard work and collaboration in making this progress possible. Let's come together and show our support for Illinois as we embark on this competitive application process!
Alcohol Use Disorder
While Illinois has remained diligent on addressing the ongoing overdose crisis, there have been other important substance use related health concerns that have had significant impact on residents. Data from the 2021 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, specific to Illinois, indicates that 1.052 million residents qualified as having an alcohol use disorder in the last year (2021). We expect this number to increase as the ongoing stress of the pandemic increased alcohol use rates across the nation.
Increased alcohol use leads to increased health impacts due to alcohol misuse as reflected by information compiled by the Alcohol Policy Resource Center.
There is some good news, according to Illinois Youth Survey data, since 2008, self-reported alcohol use by Illinois youth in 8th through 12th grade has trended downwards. Yet, Illinois youth alcohol use rates (use in the last 30 days) are still above national measures. In addition, although more men than women die overall from alcohol-related causes, a recent study has shown that alcohol-related deaths are rising faster among women than men - highlighting the importance of screening all individuals for alcohol use and alcohol use disorder in healthcare and other settings.
A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that nationally, from 2018 to 2020, alcohol-related deaths increased by 14.7% per year for women, compared to 12.5% increase per year for men. And from 2012 to 2020, those deaths rose 6.7% per year among women 65 and older. According to America's Health Rankings, from the CDC's 2020-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020-2021, 18.1% of Illinois females ages 18-44 reported binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks per week) ranking Illinois 19 from lowest to highest among the contiguous states. In response to the increasing use of alcohol, the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery has started a new program called Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) NOW. It uses the same model developed for OUD NOW, but for alcohol use disorders that will ensure someone looking for treatment will have access to FDA approved medications within 48 hours, if appropriate.
Chief Jones Receives the Marvin Lindsey Behavioral Health Innovator Award
Conference attendees at the December 2023 CBHA Annual Winter Conference.
In December, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois (CBHA) hosted their 51st Annual Winter Conference. We congratulate CBHA along with their outstanding leader, Blanca Campos for hosting a terrific conference and appreciate Chief Jones being graciously awarded the Marvin Lindsey Behavioral Health Innovator Award. This award is given to an individual or organization that is thinking "outside of the box" for creative solutions to challenges in the behavioral health landscape. This award recognizes their innovation and achievements.
We would also like to congratulate the other award recipients Illinois State Representatives Lindsey LaPointe and Jackie Haas, Bernadette May, and Marco Jacome for receiving the Legislator of the Year Award, the Ellen T. Quinn Memorial Award, and the Frank Anselmo Lifetime Achievement Award respectively.
Holiday Support
As we move into colder weather, earlier sunsets, and the holiday season, please be mindful of your well-being and of those around you. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common, affecting millions of people each year. Whether you are missing someone this holiday season, feeling lonely amidst all the Hallmark commercials and Lifetime movies, or simply do not like the shorter and darker days, please know that you are not alone, and resources are available.
Below, you will find a few resources that you can utilize this holiday season:
Help is Here: Talk to Someone
COVID Holiday Survival Guide
Self-Care Cheat Sheet
Unhappy holidays: It's not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone
Party Planning Tips for an Alcohol Safe and Drug Free Holiday Season
Mental Health America: Hope for the Holidays
Hope Starts With Us: You are NOT Alone
NAMI Illinois
Resources to Support Youth, Families & Providers During the Holiday Season - Institute for Innovation (umaryland.edu)
Mental health and the holidays: Holiday stress - Mayo Clinic News Network
It's OK to Not Be OK During the Holidays | Psychology Today
Five Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health This Holiday Season - Mental Health First Aid
HELP IS AVAILABLE
If you or someone you know is in need of additional support as it relates to the pandemic and/or the painful current events both in Illinois and across our country, please check out the DHS resources.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, text HOME to 741741 or call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8.
There are also mental health resources and substance use and recovery resources available. For additional wellness resources, please check out Be Well Illinois.
