Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board
Access & Equity Working Group Meeting
June 13, 2023
Virtual Meeting Held Via Zoom
Meeting Minutes
Access and Equity Working Group Members
Joel K. Johnson, TASC, Inc. (Chair)
Ty Bechel, Bechel and Associates
David Gomel, PhD, Rosecrance
Mike Tyson, Take Action Today
Shane Pettigrew, Illinois State Police
Wyvetta Grainger, Community Member
Rebecca Estrada, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Stacey Stottler, Illinois Community College Board
Don Otis, Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center of St. Clair County
Jonnell Benson-Cobbs, DPN, Serenity Treatment and Counseling Center
Tim Devitt, PsyD, Private Practice
Gail Richardson, West Side Opioid Task Force
Debbie Holsapple, Jefferson County Comprehensive Services
Michelle Saddler, Kittleman & Associates, LLC
Charles Stratton, Department of Human Resources, Sangamon County
James L. Grafton, Administrator, Rock Island County
Jennifer Lehman, Burlington Community School District
Diana Bottari, MD, Advocate Aurora Health
Karen Ayala, DuPage County Health Department
Michelle Kavouras, PCC Community Wellness Center/New Directions Addiction Services
Blanca Campos, Community Behavioral Healthcare Association
Allison Arwady, MD, Chicago Department of Public Health
John Werning, Chicago Recovery Alliance
Mark Mulroe, A Safe Haven Foundation
Melissa Hernandez, Puerto Rico Project
Michael Wahl, MD, Illinois Poison Center, Illinois Health and Hospital Association
Welcome and Roll Call
Joel Johnson welcomed the group and called the meeting to order. Sue Pickett, PhD of Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), facilitator, conducted roll call. All members were present except for Ty Bechel, Allison Arwady, Wyvetta Grainger, Stacey Stottler, Don Otis, James Grafton, Jennifer Lehman, Karen Ayala, Michelle Kavouras, Blanca Campos, Mark Mulroe, and Melissa Hernandez. Quorum was established.
Review and Approval of May 9, 2023 Meeting Minutes
The May 9, 2023 meeting minutes were reviewed. Mr. Pettigrew made a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Mr. Stratton seconded the motion. All working group members in attendance voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed.
Priority Recommendations for the IORAB
- Update on Working Group Recommendations
- Ms. Peyton led a discussion to gather more information on the working group's recommendation related to services for pregnant and postpartum people (PPP) with opioid use disorder (OUD), babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and their families. The group discussed pilot program location, services, funding, and number of programs that should be funded. Dr. Pickett shared that Illinois Department of Human Services/Substance Use Prevention & Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) funds a pilot project that involves doulas and Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS), with three sites in Chicago and one site in central Illinois. Each site serves approximately 25 PPP and their families per year. Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH) hospital discharge data, which includes the number of infants born with NAS each year, could help determine the number of families the pilot should serve.
- Working group members discussed the services and supports the pilot should provide, including services not covered by Medicaid. Suggested services include housing (including low barrier housing for pregnant women with substance use), childcare, legal services, mutual aid, bail bond assistance, transportation, medications co-pay, diapers/groceries not covered by SNAP, clothing, assistance with moving expenses, and household items (e.g., sheets, towels).
- The group discussed how to determine the amount of funding that should be provided per family, per month. Ms. Peyton will find out if cash assistance could be provided to pilot participants. She noted that she could estimate $1,000 per family, per month in support services, and determine what that would cover.
- Working group members are encouraged to think about these questions and send suggestions to Ms. Peyton prior to the July meeting.
- Discussion of Core Abatement Strategy 1: Evidence-Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Abatement Strategies within the State
- Ms. Peyton reviewed the nine core abatement strategies in the settlement agreement (Illinois-Opioid-Allocation-Agreement-Fully-Executed.pdf ).
- Mr. Johnson discussed the term evidence-based, which can be limiting. It is important to consider populations with diverse demographics and contexts; evidence-based services may not have been studied among all groups. He noted that the working group did not develop strategies related to data collection and research. Ms. Peyton stated that proposals have been submitted that include requests for funds to evaluate recommended activities.
- Mr. Johnson asked if there was an opportunity for the working group to review and strengthen access and equity among other groups' proposed recommendations. Ms. Peyton stated that she has incorporated this idea into proposed recommendations, stating "…under the advisement of the working groups".
- A working group member asked if the group could review proposed recommendations submitted by other groups. Ms. Peyton will explore this and update the group.
Thank you and Farewell to Karen Ayala
The group congratulated Ms. Ayala on her retirement, thanked her for her service, and wished her well.
Public Participation
A member of the public who attended the meeting stated in the chat that she appreciated the care the working group has taken to create a consistent and equitable process.
Adjourn
Dr. Gomel made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Wahl seconded the motion. All working group members present voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed. The next Access & Equity Working Group meeting will be held via Zoom on July 11, 2023, from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM.
