IMHPAC: Child and Adolescent Subcommittee Approved Minutes: 08/14/2025

Members-Michelle Churchey-Mims, Chris O'Hara, Ray Connor, Amy Starin

Public- Tracy Cooper, Sarah Damhof, NAMI Chicago, Tony Ohlhausen, NAMI IL

DMH staff-Lisa Betz

  1. Attendance, call to order-12:34
  2. Review and approval of minutes -Unanimously approved
  3. Overview of committee goals, mission & time frames Raise up children's issues and advise DMH and IMHPAC committee.
  4. Updates from Outside Meetings related to Children's Mental Health, updates from other IMHPAC committee meetings. Discussed challenges of increased ICE presence and the impact on attendance for CMH services. Updates from BHWC and survey sent to providers to gauge interest in Parent Peer Support and MH extenders (developing curriculum for the extender position), and upcoming Chicago Parent Program RFP for new cohort.
  5. New Business-Discussed upcoming block grant meeting. Lisa clarified that upcoming block grant will focus on existing programming with realistic vs aspiration goals to ensure successfully meeting goals.
  6. Old Business/Updates-we will discuss at beginning of next meeting.
    1. Increase awareness of and access to PracticeWise and support PracticeWise training-Discussed opportunities to leverage multiple state contracts to increase access, increased parent training competencies
    2. Provide mechanisms to fund behavioral parent training interventions in traditional and non-traditional child serving settings.
    3. Increase access to flex funds.
    4. Support access to web and app based SEL resources.
    5. Support outcomes measurement using change sensitive client focused measures that can be electronically/automatically scored.
    6. Create mechanisms to fund outreach & engagement expenses.
    7. Provide mechanisms to fund dedicated supervision time for the purpose of enhancing the confidence and competence of the CMH workforce.
  7. Vote on previously proposed measures- N/A
    • Review of next steps- 
    • Michelle to send out the link for the special meeting of the larger Impact Committee regarding the Block Grant scheduled for tomorrow.
    • Michelle to move the review of recommendations to the top of the agenda for the next meeting.
    • Tracy to follow up with Nanette Larson regarding her interest in becoming an official member of the C&A committee.
    • Lisa to provide more information about cannabis tax dollars not being applicable to children and adolescents.
    • Amy to reach out to the Secretary of IMHPAC regarding distribution of materials to IMHPAC members before the Special Block Grant meeting.
  8. Public comments-n/a
  9. The committee meets virtually on the second Thursday of even months from 12:30-1:30p. Next meeting 10/9/25