Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board
July 24, 2025
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Virtual Meeting Held Via Zoom
MEETING MINUTES
Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board Members
Dr. Adrienne Adams, NorthShore/Endeavor Health
Dr. Katherine (Kate) Austman, Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services
Eddy Borrayo, Rincon Family Services
Ryan Brauns, Rockford Consulting & Brokerage
Blanca Campos, Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois
Jud DeLoss, Illinois Association of Behavioral Health
Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young, SMART Recovery Intervention Program
Angie Hampton, Egyptian Health Department
Christopher Hoff, DuPage County Health Department
Dr. Miao Jenny Hua, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Joel K. Johnson, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, Inc.
Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, Wolf Pack
Laura Lechowicz, Office of the Cook County President
Donna Nahlik, Chestnut Health Systems
Dr. Kathy Yoder, McLean County
Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board Ex Officio Members
Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, Chief Behavioral Health Officer (CBHO)
John Schomberg, Assistant Secretary for Programs, IDHS
Laura Vaught, Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Director Brendan Kelly, Illinois State Police (ISP)
Dr. Arvind Goyal, Medical Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS)
Jennifer Parrack, Chief of Programs and Support Services, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC)
Kwame Raoul, Attorney General
State Representative Patrick Windhorst
State Representative LaShawn Ford
State Senator Sally Turner
Call to Order/Welcome
Dr. Inger Burnett-Ziegler, CBHO, IDHS, called the meeting to order and welcomed the group.
Roll Call
Dr. Joanna Prout, facilitator, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., (AHP), conducted the roll call of the IORAB members. All members except Dr. Adrienne Adams, Dr. Kate Austman, Eddy Borrayo, and Dr. Kathy Yoder were present. Quorum was established.
Approval of April 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Dr. Burnett-Zeigler requested a motion to approve the April minutes. Ryan Brauns made a motion. Christopher Hoff seconded. All members who were present voted yes. The minutes were approved.
Chairperson's Welcome Remarks: Dr. Inger Burnett-Ziegler, Chair, CBHO
Dr. Burnett-Ziegler provided an update about the May 8th meeting of the Governor's Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee (Steering Committee). The Recommendation for Services not Covered by Medicaid was approved, and the Recommendation for Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) was tabled pending further legislation.
Office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul, National Opioid Settlements Update: Andrea Law, Deputy Bureau Chief, Health Care Bureau
- Ms. Law stated that the list of finalized settlements remained unchanged since the previous IORAB meeting.
- Ms. Law stated that there are two settlements related to Purdue Pharma, one with the company and one with the previous owners, the Sackler family. All eligible states have signed on to the Sackler family settlement; it is in the local government or subdivision sign-on phase through September of 2025. In addition, creditors' votes are being solicited for the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan, a confirmation hearing is scheduled for mid-November. Ms. Law expects that these settlements will be finalized in early 2026, with the Illinois remediation fund projected to receive an estimated $81-82 Million (M).
- Ms. Law stated that there is a set of 8 individual settlements with opioid manufacturers that is moving into the local government or subdivision sign-on phase which will last until the end of September or early October. Ms. Law estimates that if approved, these settlements would result in the remediation fund receiving $13M over ten years.
- Ms. Law reviewed disbursements to the remediation fund. Approximately $252M has been disbursed to date. An additional $4M, from the Kroger settlement, has been disbursed since her update at the last IORAB meeting. Ms. Law expects that an additional $40M will be disbursed this calendar year and $795M will be disbursed through 2038. This total does not contain the Purdue settlement or the settlements from the 8 manufacturers discussed earlier.
Discussion:
- An IORAB member asked if the Purdue settlement would have different terms than the master settlement. Ms. Law responded that the approved uses are expected to be the same; these requirements are incorporated into the interstate allocation agreement.
- An IORAB member asked if the list of entities that are paying out has changed since 2022. The IORAB member asked if Purdue Pharma was the only additional entity that the IORAB might expect payment from. Ms. Law responded that the list of entities has changed since 2022. The current list includes all entities that they would expect payment from. The IORAB member asked if the expected total amount of funds to be disbursed had changed. Ms. Law responded that this amount had increased as there were 5 large settlements in 2023. She stated that she can provide information about the increases in this amount separately.
Working Group Updates
Medical & Research: Kate Austman, MD, Chair
Dr. Austman was unable to attend the meeting, so no updates were provided.
Access & Equity: Joel K. Johnson, Chair
Mr. Johnson reported that the Access & Equity Working Group met on July 1st. At this meeting, they discussed the recommendation process and how to ensure that Working Group members received information about recommendations prior to meetings to facilitate productive discussions. Mr. Johnson stated that the Working Group discussed the Public Education and Awareness Campaign recommendation.
Workforce Development & Infrastructure: Blanca Campos, Chair
Ms. Campos reported that the Workforce Development & Infrastructure Working Group met on June 30th. The group discussed the recommendation process and the Public Education and Awareness Campaign recommendation. The Working Group raised concerns about the impact of federal cuts to Medicaid and the need to use remediation funds to fill resulting gaps in services. Ms. Campos stated that the Working Group also discussed a potential recommendation to help incarcerated individuals re-enter the community; however, this effort might duplicate other work.
Office of Opioid Settlement Administration Updates: Verella Olguin, Office of Opioid Settlement Administration
Ms. Verella Olguin, State Opioid Settlement Administrator (SOSA), provided an update about opioid settlement funds activities.
- Ms. Olguin summarized the 34 recommendations received during state fiscal year 2025. A total of 6 met initial criteria for funding. Of these, 4 have notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) under development, 1 is being implemented, and 1 will be presented at the current meeting. Eight recommendations are in progress. A total of 20 recommendations did not meet initial criteria; 9 would supplant funds, 6 were not general requests, 2 were funded outside remediation funds, 2 were duplicates, and 1 was withdrawn. Ms. Olguin stated that they had received one recommendation since the beginning of fiscal year 2026. * Ms. Olguin reviewed the status of approved recommendations. The following have been awarded via NOFO or other agreement: IM Naloxone and other FDA-approved Drugs to Reverse Overdose (IMNH), Opioid Abatement Strategies Effectiveness Evaluator (OASEE), Community Outreach and Recovery Supports (CORS), Treatment for Incarcerated Population, Pregnant and Post-partum People and their Families (START), Warm Handoff Programs and Recovery Services (WARM), Mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment, and BASE prevention programs.
- The Opioid Training and Technical Assistance Center (OTTAC) funds were awarded to one sub-recipient. The Capital Improvements recommendation is currently under development with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). The Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPP) NOFO recently closed and notices of intent to award are pending. The Harm Reduction (SAFE) funding has been awarded to 14 recipients.
- The Tribal Communities Services recommendation and Youth and Family Services (ANCHOR) recommendations have NOFOs in development. NOFOs for Contingency Management Pilot Programs (COMPP) and Telehealth Expansion have closed.
- The Services and Populations Not Covered by Medicaid recommendation is currently under development. More information about these recommendations and current funding opportunities can be found at the Illinois Regional Care Coordination Agency website.
Public Education and Awareness Campaign Recommendation Discussion
- Ms. Olguin presented the Public Education and Awareness Campaign recommendation. This proposal would allocate $9M over three years, or $3M a year, to implement a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign to reduce stigma, encourage recovery, and increase engagement with local harm reduction and treatment resources. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler opened the floor for discussion.
Discussion:
- An IORAB member asked who submitted the recommendation. Ms. Olguin responded that they do not reveal the submitter to promote focus on the idea and support equitable consideration. This recommendation was created from submissions from 3 entities.
- An IORAB member asked if funds would be used to directly purchase media or for the development of the media campaign. Ms. Olguin responded that this will be determined when the NOFO is developed. The IORAB member asked how the number of awardees is determined. Ms. Olguin responded that they will prioritize having all 7 regions of Illinois covered; if they do not receive applications from all regions then they will ensure that high-priority areas are covered.
- An IORAB member stated that the slide presented references harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and recovery but a description of the recommendation emailed to board referenced only harm reduction. He asked whether the slide or the document represented what they would vote on. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler clarified that the recommendation they will vote on aligns with the language on the slide.
- An IORAB member asked if this recommendation would include consideration that lack of insurance may be a barrier to people seeking treatment. Ms. Olguin responded that the intent of the proposed campaign was to link people to local services.
- An IORAB member asked how individuals with lived experience would be recruited. Ms. Olguin stated that community collaboration would be prioritized.
- An IORAB member stated that use of the term stigma perpetuates stigma and recommended that "stigma-free education" be revised to "education."
- An IORAB member stated that the recommendation language is broad and asked if they could make it more specific. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler stated to refrain from editing the recommendation during the meeting but to consider concerns during the vote.
- An IORAB member asked if this discussion would inform the NOFO if the recommendation was approved. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler responded yes.
- An IORAB member asked if they were voting on the original or amended recommendation. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler stated that there was no amended recommendation; they were voting on what was presented on the slide.
Action on Public Education and Awareness Campaign Recommendation
- Dr. Burnett-Ziegler called for a motion to vote on the approval of the Recommendation. Donna Nahlik made a motion. Joel Johnson seconded the motion. Dr. Prout took a roll call vote. All IORAB members who were present voted yes. The motion passed and will move forward to the Steering Committee.
Public Comments
- There was no public comment.
Chair Closing Remarks
- Dr. Burnett-Ziegler thanked everyone for their thoughtful discussion and stated that their feedback would be incorporated as recommendations continued through the approval process.
Adjournment
- Dr. Burnett-Ziegler asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Joel Johnson made a motion. Jud DeLoss seconded the motion. All members who were present voted yes. Dr. Burnett-Ziegler adjourned the meeting. The next meeting of the IORAB will take place on October 23, 2025, from 2-4 PM.
