CESSA Protocols and Standards Subcommittee Meeting - Approved Minutes 10/16/2025

Time: 2:30-4:00 pm

via Zoom

Call to Order/Review of Official Notices (Jessica Gimeno)

Jessica Gimeno called the meeting to order
Jessica Gimeno reviewed OMA Official Notices
Jessica Gimeno reviewed the agenda

Roll Call (Sarah Ferguson)

Members present: Blanca Campos, Jessica Gimeno (as designee for Candace Coleman), Alicia Atkinson, Allie Lichterman (as designee for David Albert), James (Jim) Hennessy, Justin Houcek, Pete Dyer
Members absent: Bobby Van Bebber (Designee: Brian Kieninger), Brent Reynolds, Drew Hansen, Rachel Ahart
Quorum is present
Meeting called to order at 2:36 pm

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes (Cindy Barbera-Brelle)

Allie Lichterman made a motion to approve the October 2, 2025, minutes; Jim Hennessy seconded the motion
Members voted to approve: Blanca Campos, Jessica Gimeno (as designee for Candace Coleman), Alicia Atkinson, Allie Lichterman (as designee for David Albert), Jim Hennessy, Pete Dyer
Members voted to abstain: Justin Houcek
Motion passes to approve October 2, 2025, minutes

State Updates (Allie Lichterman)

DHS and Crisis Hub partners continue to meet monthly/in-person with HFS and their academic partner (Office of Medicaid Innovation)
- Last month, began discussing dispatch, how it currently works for MCR, how it is changing related to CESSA, and how MCR dispatch works for CARES/HFS
- Currently aligning internally with HFS; plan to continue meeting and ultimately include stakeholder feedback; more updates are forthcoming
- To learn more about HFS CARES, reach out to Allie Lichterman

Crisis Hub Updates (Dr. Mary Smith)

No updates

Pilot and Implementation Updates (Dr. Mary Smith)

Total Response and Priority Dispatch: Weekly and bi-weekly meetings continue with MCRTs/pilot participants
Centerstone: Weekly meetings
APCO: Continuing to work with a small group of APCO users
- Protocol approval: Waiting on final protocol approval from both EMD Medical Directors for the APCO sites
- Protocols have been submitted to Vendor to update

CESSA Implementation Milestones (Dr. Mary Smith)

Same slide shown at the October SAC meeting; describes implementation milestones from October 2025 through June 2027
We need an average of 22 PSAPs per quarter to implement CESSA
We are expecting to phase-in first cohort starting in December
Ongoing work on updating protocols to incorporate info for Levels 2 and 3 of the Illinois Risk Level Matrix
- Building learnings from the pilots into the protocols
Working with first cohort sites to update their policies and guidance documents
- PSAPs need to ensure that their policies and guidance comport with CESSA implementation
We will request approval of the revised protocols from the EMD Medical Directors
Working with Total Response and Priority Dispatch to update protocols/response types
PSAPs in the upcoming cohorts will need to update CAD systems to test changes made, as well as their landscape survey to show what responses are available in their jurisdictions
We will launch our learning management system so all the agencies in the cohort can complete the required training on-demand at their own pace
After launching first cohort, we will repeat this process every quarter through June 2027 with an average of 22 or 23 PSAPs per quarter

Discussion

Jim Hennessy: When you talk about revised policies and guidance docs, what are those specifically? Was that the IRLM and preamble, or is something forthcoming? And will we get to review the revised protocol language next month?
Mary Smith: When PSAPs and MCRTs implement CESSA, they have to update their own policies and procedures to comport with implementation. The new sites don't currently have the CESSA transfer procedure as part of their standard policies. Each site needs to address standard operating procedures; we aren't writing their internal guidance documents or changing their protocols for them, but we have guidance to help them. An example is the dedicated telephone number used by telecommunicators to transfers calls to Centerstone for 988 crisis counselors or to pass the call to MCRT. PSAPs have to program that 10-digit number into their phone systems, so that's something to be updated.
Jim Hennessy: Do we have any policies that have incorporated the new IRLM from any of the centers that could be used as an example of what a policy might look like?
Mary Smith: We're still working with the vendors to revise the protocols so I would say no, no one yet has changed their policies and procedures from what they did in the pilots, and the new sites just started so they haven't changed anything yet. Some of the pilot sites may have developed policies and procedures, and they may be willing to share that information.
Allie Lichterman: It would be great if we could have templates to refine over time.
Jim Hennessy: Many people don't use law enforcement protocols, so it's not something that a script card would be the protocol for them to go through the workflow to get to 988. I was thinking about what the policy might look like, to incorporate the guidance from the IRLM into your phone answering procedure or however the PSAP has their policy set up. It would be interesting to see how PSAPs incorporate that language, which the dispatchers don't use, in a policy document that would reflect the IRLM.
Mary Smith: I'm not sure you would see that in their policies, because with Total Response, the questions are built into their protocols along with some screens that provide additional info, such as how unusual behavior is defined, etc. So,it won't necessarily be in a policy; it's just their protocols that telecommunicators work through. They won't have to know anything about the wording of the IRLM. Similarly with Priority Dispatch, the work we've been doing with those users looks different. They took determinant codes and related it to different levels of the IRLM. I don't think they would see the info from the IRLM specific to the levels or acuity in their policies.
Jim Hennessy: If they don't have law enforcement protocols, are they not part of the pilot or a cohort? I understand EMD protocols are part of it, being used for all of them. Is there anywhere that doesn't have law enforcement protocols for suspicious person or the other ones? Is there any dispatch center that is incorporating CESSA without the use of law enforcement protocols? How are their policies written to meet the spirit of the IRLM?
Mary Smith: All the Total Response protocols are available to folks who contract with Total Response. So, they have access to both EMD protocols and law enforcement protocols. With Priority Dispatch, if PSAPs are not using law enforcement or Protocol 41, we aren't expecting them to go out, purchase, and use those protocols. For CESSA implementation we're going forward with whatever the PSAPs have.
Jim Hennessy: So, if you're Priority Dispatch and you have EMD protocols but not law enforcement protocols, the only workflow/document would be that protocol from the EMD? I was curious is anyone had any policies about that.
Alicia Atkinson: Some of the pilot agencies have shared the policies they wrote internally and have been using throughout the pilot. The plan is to share those with the implementing PSAPs. I can share those samples with you. Ideally, the PSAPs share with each other and learn from each other during implementation.
Allie Lichterman: I want to highlight that last part. We are encouraging PSAPs to not only ask us questions but learn from each other. PSAP to PSAP talking about what's going on.
Mary Smith: The weekly meetings were helpful for that sharing, and those will continue.

CESSA Implementation Sites Cohort 1 (Alicia Atkinson)

List shown of Cohort 1 PSAPs and corresponding MCRTs
- PSAPs in Cohort 1 are all using Total Response or Priority Dispatch
- At least one PSAP for every EMS region, except Region 11 (Chicago)
They received a notification email that they were selected on October 3 and attended an informational meeting on October 15. Topics included:
- Overview of CESSA
- Expected impact on operations and procedures
- High-level procedures for 911, 988, and MCRT
- Training requirements
- Data collection and reporting requirements
We are hosting two drop-in Q&A sessions over the next two weeks for Cohort 1 sites

Discussion

Jim Hennessy: Can we get that recording?
Alicia Atkinson: The slide deck was shared with all attendees. We haven't discussed what we can share about the cohort's implementation; that's a conversation we have to have.
Mary Smith: We ran out of time and received questions in the chat; we will be responding.
Allie Lichterman: Jim-was there anything specific you wanted to know about how it's going?
Jim Hennessy: I've received some feedback from the cohort, that some don't feel ready, so I'm curious if that's being brought up in the meetings and how it's being addressed.
Alicia Atkinson: The focus of the informational meeting was to share information and start to address those concerns. If PSAPs have major concerns, please reach out. I am happy to answer any questions. I've spoken with about nine of the PSAPs already. Some had specific questions, and some wanted overarching information. Please reach out.
Allie Lichterman: Jim, please let me, Mary, and Alicia know if you're hearing a lot of the same question, because we can provide you with relevant resources to share and review.
Mary Smith: We put together a lot of information throughout the pilot that we can share with the new PSAPs/MCRTs. This is new; we are going to provide as much support as possible. PSAPs to be phased in, working with each to make sure they are comfortable pre-launch.
Jim Hennessy: If my center was in the cohort, because of what happened in our county with PSAP representation in our RAC, we haven't set up how we are going to fit MCRT into our community and crisis continuum. I think that process, for us, is going to take a long time. I feel like the legislation is pretty flexible in how you want to set up the workings of the actual co-response in your community. Personally, I would want to get it done in a way that all the stakeholders are invested. Kind of like the regions that presented at the SAC, where everyone is involved and working together to fit it into their continuum.
Mary Smith: I think it's important to have that conversation, particularly with the RAC and SRC. This is one way to start that conversation about what CESSA will look like in your area.
Jim Hennessy: Right, but that takes time. Reaching out to the RAC, getting on the agenda, getting your SRC started and stakeholders involved, etc. I don't know how many PSAPs have gone through the process; I'm curious how many have the same concerns I would.
Mary Smith: We have PSAPs who have worked through this, participated in the pilot. Would it be helpful to have them come talk about what their work has been?
Jim Hennessy: I don't know if it's what the work has been, but that's helpful. It's more I don't know if everyone went through the process. The SRC chart doesn't look like many did and many may not know about CESSA's flexibility to come up with your own system.
Allie Lichterman: This is partly why we sent the readiness survey to see who is further along. We can do more to provide support because it has to be done by July 1, 2027. It isn't feasible to start everyone at once, so we have 23 per quarter, and also at the same time we want people to be prepared. Being realistic, full culture change and systems change is going to take time. But I'm hearing that there's room to provide more support to those PSAPs who haven't been brought into a cohort yet. In some areas, MCRT and 988 have been operating for many years, so we can show PSAPs they don't have to start from scratch.
Jim Hennessy: In Region 7, the Southland SRC is getting it together, having good communication, being ahead of the curve. But for the rest of Region 7, I don't know how much participation is involved. We're trying to get a SRC started. I don't know how many people are in that same boat: we do want to implement this in a way that is right for our community, and we might want to handle it differently. It will take time, to get everyone in Will County agreeing about how MCRT should work here. Say you want a co-responder model, or if you have your own system, you can add that as long as it meets the legislation. It's not just transfer to 988 then MCRT. Maybe there are communities that want to have an officer with the mobile response for situations on the line. I've heard of agencies having telehealth supports. It seems like there's some flexibility to find what works for you.
Allie Lichterman: A couple things. Correct, CESSA doesn't say no to co-responders or other things; it only requires that a non-law enforcement response can and is sent for certain types of calls. In an ideal world, MCRT and other first responders can call each other. MCRT covers a small portion of acuity spectrum. The chart that shows the spectrum of law enforcement to alternative response, there's a lot in between that. It won't be perfect at first, it's just a start. We do still have some time, but also a statutory deadline. It's scary that it won't be perfect, but we can continue to build on it as time goes on.
Jim Hennessy: I totally understand that perspective. I just feel like we're not alone in the fact that we have a lot of work to do.
Allie Lichterman: I guess the question is-what can we do to help people start that work? I can feel your urgency, and what would help other people feel that urgency?
Alicia Atkinson: I want to add on. As long as there's forward movement. This happened in the pilot. Some agencies have a large staff and required more time for the training. Every PSAP is different with where they are in readiness process. As long as there's forward movement, centers realizing the deadline, and getting information out there.
Allie Lichterman: We will continue to have learning opportunities. It's difficult to accept that it won't be perfect. But people who work in crisis know how to pivot more than anyone.
Mary Smith: We are aware that the resources are different within each area, so we have to work with what we have right now.
Alicia Atkinson: I'll give a shoutout to Heather Butler and Brandon Miller, who are giving a CESSA presentation at the IPSA conference about how their region/agencies prepared.

Next Meeting Dates (Cindy Barbera-Brelle)

Meetings are held virtually 2:30-4:00 PM on the first and third Thursdays of each month starting in August 2025, unless otherwise noted.
- Next two meetings: Thursday, November 6 and Thursday, November 20
Note: The meeting scheduled for January 1, 2026, will be rescheduled for January 8, 2026

Public Comment

None

Adjournment

Jim Hennessy motioned to adjourn the meeting; Alicia Atkinson seconded the motion.
Voted to adjourn: Blanca Campos, Jessica Gimeno, Alicia Atkinson, Allie Lichterman, James Hennessy, Pete Dyer
Absent for the vote: Justin Houcek
Motion passed. Jessica Gimeno adjourned the meeting at 3:27 pm.