Illinois CESSA Statewide Advisory Committee
Quarterly Updates on the Crisis Continuum
Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter 3 January 1, 2024- March 31, 2024
988
The 988 Workgroup meetings concluded in December 2023 and the 988 Action Plan was submitted to the Illinois General Assembly ahead of the January 1, 2024 deadline. The 988 Workgroup did not conduct any activities this quarter, as work ceased with the completion of the Action Plan.
On January 19, 2024, NAMI Chicago became the seventh Lifeline Call Center (LCC) as part of the 988 program. In just 13 days, NAMI Chicago answered 732 calls making it the State's second largest Lifeline Call Center. NAMI Chicago operates a 16/7/365 schedule from 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM with their routing area entirely on Chicago's South Side. The 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM schedule allows for NAMI Chicago to respond to the periods of highest call volumes for the 988 system. PATH Crisis serves the routing area during the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In January 2024, the call volume for the 988 mental health crisis helpline in Illinois reached 13,203 calls, reflecting a substantial increase compared to the previous year's call volume of 1,721 calls in January 2023. This significant uptick in calls signifies a growing awareness and utilization of mental health crisis services among Illinois residents, highlighting the importance of accessible support and resources for those in need.
Deflection
Deflection is a collaborative intervention connecting public safety and public health systems to create community-based pathways to treatment and other services to address social determinants of health without entry into the legal system. The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR) have partnered with the Illinois State Police (ISP) to bring the deflection initiative to ISP drug enforcement districts across the state. Through the collaboration of IDHS/SUPR and ISP, the Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) and their Center for Health and Justice, brought communities together as defined by the drug enforcement districts to build a network of services in communities that serve as an alternative to arrest for individuals who are encountered by law enforcement. Forty counties across Illinois either have an active deflection initiative or are building an initiative that supports the work of ISP and the local communities by connecting individuals to services.
Program 590
This quarter saw Program 590 hold three monthly Learning Collaboratives with Program 590 Project Directors, staff, and other agency representatives as well as three Cluster Meetings with Program 590 Project Directors. Three monthly trainings for MCRT staff were also held. Additional activities this quarter included reviews of the fiscal year 2024 budget, and negotiations for budget adjustments where necessary. Program 590 administrators conducted one site visit, as well as meetings with two providers regarding program compliance. Anticipated activities for the next quarter include continuing the monthly Learning Collaboratives, Cluster Meetings, and staff trainings.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) are federally designated providers that offer a full range of mental health, substance use recovery and limited physical health services, offering truly integrated care for customers. CCBHCs are responsible for provider Mobile Crisis Response and other crisis services to all customers in their service area. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services' Divisions of Mental Health (DMH) and Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR), submitted an application to participate in the federal Illinois' CCBHC Demonstration Program to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). If Illinois' application is approved, Illinois will be able to fully certify 19 CCBHC locations across the state, providing enhance access to integrated services for Illinois customers. Awards will be announced in June 2024. If awarded, Illinois will begin CCBHC services on October 1, 2024.
Pathways to Success
Pathways to Success is a program for Medicaid enrolled children under the age of 21 in Illinois who have complex behavioral health needs and could benefit from additional support. The program provides access to an evidence-informed model of intensive care coordination and additional home and community-based services. Pathways to Success will be removed from this report moving forward, as it is not a crisis program.
Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA)
This quarter saw the CESSA Statewide Advisory Committee meet three times over three months. All meetings complied with the Open Meetings Act. Minutes and recordings of meetings of the Statewide Advisory Committee, the Regional Advisory Committees and the Technical Subcommittees can be found here.
The Regional Advisory Committees continued to plan for the implementation pilots and identified champions at a hyperlocal (subcommittee) level to initiate local level discussions and planning. Work on the implementation pilots progressed as members of the Subject Matter Experts Work Group met with PowerPhone to update their protocols to align with the Interim Risk Level Matrix. As of March 21, 2024, PowerPhone is reviewing the requested changes.
National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP) Multi-State Behavioral Health Modernization Learning Collaborative
The technical assistance from the NASHP has concluded, and the interagency group has transitioned to the work of the stakeholders and planning described below in the Strengthening and Transforming Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Illinois Act section.
Illinois State Overdose Action Plan
The Illinois State Overdose Action Plan (SOAP) is a collaborative effort across systems and stakeholders to form a strategic framework to address the overdose epidemic in Illinois. More information regarding the Illinois SOAP can be found here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=93882.
Strengthening and Transforming Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Illinois Act
The purpose of this Act is to improve the quality and access to behavioral health crisis services; reduce stigma surrounding suicide, mental health, and substance use conditions; provide a behavioral health crisis response that is equivalent to the response already provided to individuals who require emergency physical health care in the State.
The stakeholder group required of this act began meeting in December 2023, and currently meets monthly. The group is led by the Chief Behavioral Health Officer and facilitated by the Office of Medicaid Innovation. Input is being provided by a comprehensive group of stakeholders, including individuals served and their families, crisis continuum providers, state partners, municipalities, and trade associations.
