ILLINOIS MENTAL HEALTH PLANNING AND ADVISORY COUNCIL
Special Meeting - Mental Health Block Grant
MINUTES
August 15, 2025 - 1:00pm
- Council Member Attendees: Amy Starin, Amy Zabel, Chris O'Hara, Jacob Meeks, Jessica Gimeno, Joan Lodge, Matt Fishback, Michelle Churchey-Mims, Nanette Larson, Ray Connor, Ron Melka, Scott Block, Sue Schroeder and Thane Dykstra.
- Other Attendees: Courtney Aidich, Lisa Akers, Director Albert, Allison Jones, Ambrosia Branson, A. Auerbach, Anne Tyree, Ayla Karamustafa, Ashley Bae, Lori Batty, Ben Rudolph, Bethany Beachum, Lisa Betx, Blana Campos, Jacob Bradshaw, Dwyer Candace, Cathryn Savino, Chris Kadow, Chris Knoper, Christina Ancira, Christine Kahl, Chrystal Cantrell, Shari Coley, Dan Walsh, Daniel Delgado, Derek Pieper, Deshara Shells, Donald Dew, Dr. Tracy Cooper, Dr. White, Erika Freeman, Shanna Frank, Stephanie Frank, G. Munoz, Gavin Young, Grey Pandora, Victoria Gwiasda, Heather Drew, J'Arnay Harris, Jake Rosko, Jean Xoubi, Jen Hanson, Jennifer Garner, Joseph Rochford, Joseph Trotto, Karen Cook, Katie Rigley, Katie Grindstaff, Katie Nicholson, Kendra Kennedy, Kim Fear, Allie Lichterman, Linda Hanson, Lois Tanner, Lori Carnahan, Madelyn Bell, Maria Clark, Marian Lopez, Matt Mollenhauer, Darius McKinney, Megan Schultz, Melina Lenhard, Mickensy Ellis-White, Mindy Buecking, Molly Pilgreen, Todd Moody, Dawn Mumey, Natalie, DeGrechie, Denise Nolden, Payton Champley ,Christina Smith, Brock Dunlap, Nic Pleske, Rhianna Bunch, Rafael Rivera, Ryan Rollinson, Sabrina Nicholson, Juana Salgado-Hernandez, Sandy Prange, Sharon Post, Sibil Kuruvilla, Stacie Kemp, Stacy Brown, Jason Stamps, Stephanie Barisch, Stephene Maxwell, Sterling Gildersleeve, Steve Lindahl, Tania Diaz, Tasha Lawson, Taylor Sutton, Teressa Perdieu, Tiara Sims, Tom Riley, Tony Ohlhausen, Trenda Hedges, Vauna Hernandez, Vawnshekia Brown Oklah, Vicki Rose, Christina White, Carrie Wilcox, women Liberating Women, Bryan Rogers, Lynn Lu and M. Lawrence.
- Convene and Welcome: Meeting called to order by Sue Schroeder 1:00pm
Christina Smith DBHR provided purpose for IMHPAC Special Meeting and goals to accomplish. Attendance of council members was taken by secretary.
- Overview of FY26-FY27 Mental Health Block Grant Application Instructions
Christina discussed changes for DBHR, one week period to make comments and additional recommendations. Citizen log in for WebBGas. Will be used to review plan. Christina provided overview of webBGAS system. https://bgas.samhsa.gov/Module/BGAS/Users
User name: citzenil, password: citizen Overview of Draft FY26-FY27 Mental Health Block Grant Application Priorities:
- Whole person vision for health
- Bold, coordinated state action
- Commitment to data and evidence
- Health information technology
- Sustainability
Required Populations:
- Children with SED
- Adults SMI
- Older adults with SMI
- SMI or SED in rural areas and those experiencing homelessness
- Individuals who an ESMI
- Individuals in need of BH
History and content overview given regarding the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act-federal funds must be used to provide MH response to mass violence. An overview of the application, the questions and responses were reviewed during the meeting. Enacted into law 2022 to provide funding to address mass shootings and other threats to communities.
Vicki Gwiasda Administrator for children and youth of DBHR partnered with firearm violence and UIC to help with pilot project. To create a common framework to address mental health needs of impacted by a mass shooting to help those communities heal from that trauma. Focus is on Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) communities. Created Community Response & Engagement Workgroup (CREW). Goal to ensure that MH has a permanent seat at the table when responding to those communities. Includes a MH Response Network comprised of trusted community members and a Navigation Model-working with network members to follow up and ensure communities' needs are met. This model has shown success and BSCA funds will allow pilots to continue through September 2027.
Planning Steps:
Step 1-Christina Smith provided an overview of Adult and Children's MH System
Step 2 Needs Assessment:
Identify needs and gaps to deliver quality care and preventative services. Includes the state of Illinois Behavioral Healthcare
Nic Pleshe- provided an overview of the planning tables covering priority areas and annual performance indicators and objectives for each performance indicator. Strategies are how to meet and achieve the objective. Annual performance indicators are used to determine if we have met our goals and targets.
Table 1: Overview of Priority Areas for FY 26-27
Priority Areas:
Crisis Services: SMI/SED, other
- Maintain 988
- Increase MCRT capacity to support 911 and 988
- Expand use of Engagement Specialists
- Integrate SUD support into Living Rooms
Early Serious Mental Illness (ESMI)
- Administer annual awards to fund network providers
- Integrate best practices in Coordinated Specialty Care models (CSC) into First.IL
- Provide oversight and TA to ensure fidelity to the CSC model
Children and Adolescents
- Increase awareness and accessibility of BH tools and referral pathways
- Support the adoption and implementation of developmentally appropriate EBP.
- Expand school-based BH resources and training for educators and families
Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)
* Maintain and support statewide implementation of evidence-based supported employment.
Recovery Support and Wellness: SMI/SED, other
- Increase the number of Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) and Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS)
- Expand training opportunities for CRSS/CPRS applicants and credential holders
- Provide training and technical assistance (TA) to provider organizations employing peer recovery specialists.
Community Integration/Olmstead Implementation: SMI
- Transition up to 400 additional Williams Class Members (WCM) and 455 Colbert Class Members (CCM) annually before the sunset of the Consent Decrees (total: 855/year).
- Provide open market rental units and 24-hour supervised residential settings/clusters to transition residents (WCM from SMHRFs statewide, CCM from Cook Co. nursing facilities) to safe, affordable, community-based housing with needed supports.
Criminal Justice Involved: SMI, SED and ESMI
- Provide an alternative to incarceration for youth with SED and link them to community-based services that address their unique needs and strengths.
- Maintain and increase the number of outpatient mental health agencies providing competency restoration services in the community.
- Promote and increase the use of outpatient commitment pathways to mental health care.
Table 2. overview of MHBG State Agency Budget FY 26-27
Table 4. MHBG State Agency Planned Budget
Table 6. MHBG Other capacity building/systems development Activities
Special Requests for Feedback
- Creative ways to strengthen Needs Assessment
- Creative ways to better serve older adults with SMI
August 18-August 22nd extended comment and review period via webBgas system
- Council Discussion and Feedback:
Chris O'Hara requests information be posted or for IMHPAC secretary to circulate the information. DBHR confirmed that slides can be distributed to all council members to provide input and feedback.
Michele Churchey-Mims commented "lots of information glad the information will be shared with council".
Joan Lodge shared information on active membership of the council currently has 37 members. By laws indicate that The Council shall have at least 45 and no more than 55 members. Nanette Larson reported that the Development Committee is in desperate need of member participation as well as membership of the full council. Any individuals interested in becoming a member of IMHPAC please send your interest and CV to Nanette directly at Nanette.Larson@illinois.gov.
The slides will be posted to the IMHPAC web page and council members will receive a copy of the slides including directions to webBgas system.
Trenda Hedges-glaring miss. Peer run organizations are missing and have been missed in the BG. Trenda reports that she feels that this is a gap and would like to be given consideration.
- Motion to adjourn: 2:30pm Michele Churchey-Mims and seconded by Chris O'Hara
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Lodge, IMHPAC Secretary
