Chicago to expand pilot that pays $1,500 for funerals of homicide victims, $1,000 stipends for survivors

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Chicago to expand pilot that pays $1,500 for funerals of homicide victims, $1,000 stipends for survivors

 

Mayor Brandon Johnson listens to Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, Garien Gatewood during a media event about the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund Expansion at UCAN in Chicago, June 20, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

By ALICE YIN | ayin@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune

PUBLISHED: June 20, 2024 at 12:05 p.m. | UPDATED: June 20, 2024 at 12:27 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson will increase the scope of a pilot program that funds basic needs for victims of gun violence and their families, he announced Thursday as the latest update in his public safety plan ahead of the summer.

Under the expansion, the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund will see another $6.4 million — some of that from federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars — over the next two years and expand from five to 15 community areas. There are three categories of funds: $1,000 for basic needs such as medical expenses, child care and groceries; $1,000 for relocation services to move to a safer place; and $1,500 for funeral and burial expenses.

In touting his announcement, Johnson repeatedly decried his predecessors as “stingy” toward communities on the South and West sides that needed relief from disinvestment and violence the most. The fund in question was started in 2022 under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and has since doled out aid to almost 400 victims.

“When a 7-year-old is stepping just outside their home and is gunned down, it’s an indication of failures of previous administrations who have been intentional about leaving our communities behind,” Johnson said, referencing a West Side shooting this week.

“These same communities that are experiencing violence are the communities in which pensions were raided. … This crisis did not show up with simply a bullet. This crisis showed up when previous administrations decided to give up on these communities, and they have demonstrated and shown disdain for our people.uto (225p22ing fine

Relatives of the victims of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to seek a fine against the plane maker of up to $24.78 billion and move forward with a criminal prosecution. J

For gun violence survivors to be eligible, they must live in one of 15 neighborhoods: Gresham, Austin, Chicago Lawn, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Grand Crossing, Humboldt Park, Back of the Yards, Lawndale, South Shore, West Englewood, West Garfield Park or West Pullman. The maximum amount those recipients can get is $2,000 per shooting.

For families of homicide victims aged 24 or below, Chicagoans from across the city can apply, for a cap of $3,500 per death. Applicants will work with community nonprofits who receive city funding from the Public Health Department to receive the stipends.

Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance

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The unionized construction trades offer Chicagoans a proven pathway to economic security, providing
workers with marketable skills, competitive wages, and full benefits. However, there are systemic
barriers that have historically excluded women and people of color – particularly Black individuals – from
this workforce. The result: in Cook County less than 5% of apprentices are women, and only 6% of
Chicago construction workers are African Americans. Data also shows that 2⁄3 of minority and women
apprentices drop out of union apprentice programs prior to completion.
And our communities are hurting, in part, because of these exclusionary practices. Women and people
of color, under-represented in the construction trades, are overrepresented among the ranks of the
city’s poor. The poverty rate for Black women in Chicago is nearly three times that of white men, and
more than 40% of Chicago’s young Black men are out of school and unemployed. Unionized construction
has the potential to contribute a significant number of good paying, high-quality jobs for these
marginalized groups.
The city, state, and federal governments are committing billions to investing in our infrastructure,
creating thousands of jobs. At the same time, the City is green-lighting large projects that will continue
to enhance well-resourced communities. The question is whether these public and private dollars will be
leveraged to create actual economic opportunities and family-sustaining careers for the communities
most in need.
Now is the time for the City Council to act and implement policies that provide solutions to racial and
gender inequities in the construction trades. To be effective, these solutions must include:
Implementing explicit hiring goals for women, people of color, and women of color, in addition to any
geographic hiring goals.
• The City must conduct a workforce disparity study and utilize the findings to set explicit goals
around total hours worked by race, ethnicity and gender for underrepresented groups on
covered projects.
• Goals should be updated regularly to respond to an expansion in the pipeline of
underrepresented workers.
Access to jobs for new workers through apprenticeship hiring goals.
• Apprenticeships are the entry point for diverse communities into the construction trades,
offering a learn-as-you-earn model that doesn’t rely on student loans. There should be a
minimum number of 20% of work hours performed by apprentices on City-funded projects.
• The City must publicize projections of needed workforce for projects as well as anticipated
apprenticeship openings, and advertise all job openings online.

Robust enforcement by the City.
• The City must create an Office or Division of Construction Workforce Equity to provide oversight
of contractor efforts for equitable hiring and enforcement of equity requirements.
• City staff must Review EEO plans submitted by contractors, analyze weekly payroll reports to
monitor progress and hours worked, and provide on-site monitoring of workforce training
opportunities, work assignments, distribution of available overtime, and access to properly fitted
PPE and sanitary facilities, and provide an opportunity for workers to complete a survey about
their experiences.
• Establish penalties for non-compliance including liquidated damages and enforcing remediation
plans.
Real community oversight through an advisory board.
• The City must establish an advisory board made up of key stakeholders including City
Departments, labor unions, contractors, and community-based organizations to review detailed
workforce data on active projects to evaluate compliance in hiring and retention from
underrepresented groups.
• The advisory board will advise on benchmarks, corrective action and penalties that drive towards
workforce equity.
Safe and respectful worksites that do not tolerate harassment.
• The City must require that all projects provide an industry-specific and culturally relevant
harassment-prevention and respectful worksite program to all workers.
• The City must require contractors to create and enforce strong policies that include harassment
prevention, confidentiality, and anti-retaliation.
Funding for support services to eliminate barriers to employment.
• The City must provide funding for barrier removal for new workers and pre-apprenticeship
training targeted at women and people of color to prepare them to enter the industry.
Data transparency and accountability from contractors and the City.
• The City must create a public website where performance on equity goals by project and
contractor will be shared.
• This data shall be timely provided and include work hours by race and ethnicity, gender, and
trade.
The Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Coalition, led by Chicago Women in Trades, Revolution
Workshop, the Chicago Jobs Council, the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Women Employed, has
drafted comprehensive ordinance language in collaboration with tradeswomen of color, minority
contractor organizations, and other industry stakeholders.
The Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance takes concrete action to improve access to and
retention in these careers for underrepresented groups, requires the City to provide the staffing and
resources to implement and enforce new requirements, brings all industry stakeholders together to
assist with oversight, and requires public reporting of data to provide accountability on performance.
Please contact Beth Berendsen at bberendsen@cwit.org or (312) 259-4459 to sign-on as a sponsor of
this ordinance.

Governor bill signing

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People seeking reproductive and gender-affirming health care in Illinois can now count on additional privacy protections, thanks to legislation spearheaded by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz that was signed by Governor JB Pritzker on Friday.

“In Illinois, we will not let this technology be abused and weaponized as a tool to hunt people down based on a lawful decision that took place during an appointment with their doctor,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “We have a long history of welcoming those seeking refuge in our state – and this law will help protect that important aspect of our history.”

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, Automatic License Plate Reader data – including real-time location – was previously accessible to out-of-state law enforcement with little to no restrictions. Under Feigenholtz’s law, ALPR data from drivers in Illinois is now protected from being shared with another state’s government or law enforcement for the purposes of investigating or enforcing a law regarding a person’s reproductive health care, gender-affirming care or immigration status.

Under the new law, an out-of-state law enforcement agency who seeks to use ALPR data must now provide a written declaration that the data will not be used to enforce laws that deny an individual the right to obtain lawful health care or detain a person based on their immigration status. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias worked closely with Senator Feigenholtz and Representative Ann Williams, the bill’s sponsor in the House, to introduce the legislation.

“We have witnessed 20 states systematically dismantling the right to choose in this country plank by plank,” Feigenholtz said. “As anti-choice zealots around the country continue to look for every nook and cranny to criminalize those seeking reproductive health care, we continue to protect them.”

House Bill 3326 was signed into law Friday.

* Equality Illinois…

Advocates celebrated Governor JB Pritzker’s signing of House Bill 1286, legislation that will reduce barriers for businesses serving their communities and customers by allowing for the adoption of gender-neutral multiple-occupancy restrooms by businesses, universities, and building owners who wish to do so.

Sponsored by State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) and State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), the legislation passed the Illinois Senate 35-20 and the Illinois House 63-41.

House Bill 1286 leaves decisions to adopt a gender-neutral multiple-occupancy restroom up to business and building owners as they determine how best to serve their communities and customers. For those businesses that adopt the restrooms, the bill establishes strong requirements to ensure safety, privacy, and inclusion.

HB 1286 is necessary because existing law and regulations require that gendered facilities be adopted before a gender-neutral multiple-occupancy restroom can be implemented. Thus, existing provisions prevent smaller businesses with less resources from serving their customers by adopting gender-neutral restrooms. In 2021, the City of Chicago adopted an ordinance similar to HB 1286.

* Illinois Trial Lawyers…

For nearly 8 years, rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft operating in Illinois have benefitted from a unique loophole in the law that has exempted those companies and their agents from the “common carrier doctrine”, which applies to all other carriers (buses, airplanes, trains, taxis and others) that provide for-hire livery services to passengers. The common carrier doctrine holds that these operators and their agents owe passengers the “highest duty of care” in ensuring safety of their operation, and is grounded in the recognition that passengers surrender control of their safety to such operators when they utilize these transportation services.

The enactment of House Bill 2231 removes the special common carrier exemption that was granted to the rideshare industry in 2015, and ensures that all for-hire livery operators in Illinois are held to the same safety standard.

We applaud Governor Pritzker for enacting this common-sense safety measure, and we thank the sponsors Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and Senator Rob Martwick for championing this bill through the legislative process, and the host of co-sponsors and supporters in the General Assembly that helped put consumer safety ahead of corporate profits.

Rideshare services are a convenient option for Illinois consumers, and certainly have a place in the menu of options for passengers seeking transportation services. Eight years ago, rideshare services were fledgling companies taking on an established industry; today, in many locations, rideshares are the industry. The enactment of this bill strikes an important balance of helping ensure the safe operation of rideshare companies, while allowing those companies to continue to thrive in the marketplace.

* Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition…

The Illinois Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition applauds Governor JB Pritzker’s approval today of legislation that will ensure cultural competency is part of continuing medical education for a range of healthcare providers in Illinois.

“We are a coalition of civil rights, community healthcare, and labor organizations. HB 2450 will ensure that healthcare providers are equipped with critical information and tools to deliver culturally competent care for the diverse communities they serve. Thank you, Gov. Pritzker, for approving this important legislation that keeps Illinois moving forward. We also appreciate the leadership of our legislative sponsors, Sen. Ram Villivalam and Rep. Dagmara Avelar, for their fierce championing of this important legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support.”

The required healthcare cultural competency education will support healthcare providers, such as physicians, nurses, and dentists, with the tools and information they need to effectively and affirmingly serve communities of color, people with disabilities, people of diverse faiths, undocumented individuals, LGBTQ+ people, people living with HIV, intersex people, and other communities that have been marginalized in the healthcare system. HB 2450 also provides healthcare professionals with the flexibility they need to fulfill their continuing medical education requirements. The bill does not eliminate or repeal any currently mandated topics.

In May, HB 2450 passed the Illinois House with a bipartisan 103-01 vote and the Illinois Senate with a bipartisan 52-04 vote. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2025.

* Sen. Lightford…

Recognizing staff shortages in the EMS workforce, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a new law to attract and retain EMS workers.

“The pandemic further exacerbated how vital the EMS professionals are,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “We need to expand the workforce by prioritizing recruitment and retention of highly-skilled workers.”

Senate Bill 761 works to tackle the emergency medical field workforce shortage head on by allowing more flexibility for EMS directors to use alternative staffing models and creating a task force to bring greater training, recruitment and retention to the field.

Currently, there is a shortage of EMS instructors in particular. Lightford’s law will allow people interested in becoming an instructor to bypass taking an IDPH-approved course if they have sufficient experience to become a director. This will help recruit individuals from other states by eliminating unnecessary hoops when moving to Illinois.

“There are plenty of well-trained people who are ready and willing to step up to lead,” said Lightford. “Let’s put that opportunity in reach. Helping EMS workers helps our community.”

Senate Bill 761 was signed into law Friday.

* Sen. Hastings…

The long awaited renovation to the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center will soon be underway thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“Transferring the Tinley Park Mental Health Center to the Tinley Park – Park District was one of the best decisions the state made this year,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “The Park District has a track record of working together with everyone in our community and the south suburban region. More importantly, they are capable and have a plan ready when the property is ultimately transferred to them.”

This new law will allow the Tinley Park – Park District to renovate an abandoned property into a first class recreation destination to include a sports park and recreational space for residents in the community to use.

The former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site located on a 280-acre plot of land has been vacant since 2012. The facility was the last of 12 state-owned properties of its kind when its doors were closed a decade ago. Shuttered without maintenance and nestled in the heart of the village, the state-owned property underwent an environmental study in 2019 that lead to the discovery of numerous environmental concerns, including asbestos infested buildings and black mold, among other things.

House Bill 3743 will authorize a land transfer of the presently unoccupied and unused combined campuses of Tinley Park Mental Health District and the Howe Development Center to the Tinley Park – Park District. The Tinley Park – Park District envisions transforming the long-vacant property into a hub of athletic fields, track and field facilities, a domed sports complex and open recreational space to meet the needs of the Tinley Park community and expand opportunities for neighboring communities.

Rep. Rita on the same bill…

State Rep. Bob Rita today is praising a new state law he led this year to create a new recreational and parks showcase in Tinley Park that will create exciting new opportunities for the South Suburbs.

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed House Bill 3743 into law. The bill’s passage was led by Rita in the House from his work with the Tinley Park Park District, his colleagues in the Illinois House and Senate who represent Tinley, and a large coalition of local supporters.

The bill calls for the state of Illinois to sell the rundown former Tinley Park Mental Health Center property to the Park District to move ahead with building a multi-million park and sports complex on the site. Rita also helped ensure $15 million was included in the state budget to clean up the property and prepare it for the Park District to take over.

Rita, D-Blue Island, joined supporters in Tinley in late June to call on the Governor to sign the bill into law.

“This is what the community wanted. They wanted to see a friendly, safe green space, recreational hub, for the entire South Suburbs,” Rita said at the news conference.

Rita said the site will bring people together, and draw activity to the area that doesn’t exist today. The project will serve adults and children, including those with disabilities, and attract sports tournaments and other programs that benefit the entire region.

“We have watched this site sit and waste away for years and years. It’s time to act, and this new complex is the right fit for Tinley Park and the Southland,” Rita said.

“I look forward to working closely with the leaders at the Park Board to make this a turning point for the region, and to build a recreation and park area that makes us proud for many generations ahead. Thank you to Governor Pritzker and my colleagues in Springfield for working together to support our plan.”

* Sen. Villanueva…

State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a newly signed law to allow gender-neutral, multi-occupancy restrooms to be installed in private and public businesses.

“Businesses now have the autonomy to decide how to best show up for their communities,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “The inclusivity of this law not only benefits members of the LBGTQ community, but also those with disabilities, the elderly, and people with young children.”

A 2020 law, required that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 expands on that law, allowing businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed.

Gender-neutral, multi-occupancy restrooms would be required to include inclusive signage, floor to ceiling stall dividers with locking mechanisms, trash receptacles in each stall, a menstruation supplies vending device, a baby changing station, and be ADA compliant.

“Today we have taken a monumental step to promote privacy, safety and gender inclusivity,” said Villanueva. “We are signaling to parents, caregivers and many other people across the state that their voice matters.”

House Bill 1286 was signed into law Friday.

* Rep. Ammons…

Legislation passed by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, will assist people who have been incarcerated with building new skills and advancing their higher education.

“If the goal of our criminal justice system is rehabilitation, then giving people convicted of crimes the opportunities to learn and develop new skills is absolutely essential,” Ammons said. “Incarceration without rehabilitation is simply revenge, and, in that case, we are inviting offenders to repeat mistakes that pose a threat to their communities.”

House Bill 3648, the Higher Education in Prison Act, requires the Department of Corrections (IDOC) to create a report on higher education programs within IDOC facilities. The goal of this report is to provide the foundation for up-to-date reforms that may be necessary.

The legislation received robust bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker on Friday.

“By helping people get jobs and avoid destructive patterns, this law is a victory for public safety, a victory for our justice system and a victory for incarcerated people looking to earn a second chance,” Ammons said.

* Rep. Canty…

A measure spearheaded by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, that promotes equal pay by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to include the pay scale in job postings, was signed into law on Friday.

“It’s past time we relegate unequal pay practices to times past, and this law brings us much closer to making that goal a reality,” Canty said. “Too many generations of workers, especially women, have fought for equal pay and been stymied by employers unwilling to clarify salaries. That ends now. When our kids begin their careers, there will be absolute clarity about pay scale.”

To ensure prospective employees have access to all information on their potential earnings and benefits when determining if they should accept a job, this initiative would require employers with 15 or more employees to publicly post the wage or salary and description of benefits offered for a job, promotion, transfer or other employment opportunity. It also requires employers to provide employees their current wage or salary range along with a general description of benefits upon that employee’s hiring, promotion or transfer, upon the employee’s request.

If an employer does not comply with the act, the Department of Labor would be allowed to conduct its own investigations or file complaints. Any individual who has been aggrieved by their employer’s violation of the wage and salary provisions of the act would also be able to file a complaint with the Department within one year after the date the individual learned of the violation.

“While women have historically been the chief targets of pay inequality, this measure represents progress for all workers,” Canty said. “Simply put, a more transparent workplace is a fairer workplace.”

* Sen. Morrison…

This summer is the perfect time to take up fishing or to reconnect with an old hobby, thanks to a new law from State Senator Julie Morrison that lowers the price of fishing licenses.

“Growing up near a river in Illinois, one of my favorite memories is fishing with my family in the summer,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Over the past few years, we have grown a greater appreciation for the outdoors, and I want to make sure people have easy access to grow that appreciation and love even more.”

To encourage more people to take up the hobby of fishing, Morrison’s law lowers the annual fee for fishing licenses to $5 for Illinois residents who have not purchased a license in 10 or more years. Non-residents will pay $10.

“There’s nothing better than the bond families can make grabbing a rod and reel and enjoying quality time together,” said Morrison. “From young children to grandparents, fishing is an activity all can grow to love.”

House Bill 2317 was signed by the governor Friday.

* Sen. Koehler…

With the rise of social media influencing, all someone needs to reach fame now is a cell phone. While traditional child actors are protected by the Child Labor Law, there has been nothing on the books for young social media influencers until now, thanks to State Senator Dave Koehler.

“The rise of social media has given children new opportunities to earn a profit,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “Many parents have taken this opportunity to pocket the money, while making their children continue to work in these digital environments.”

Under Senate Bill 1782, minors under the age of 16 featured in vlogs or other online content are covered under the Child Labor Law. The measure calls for the child – also known as a “kidfluencer”— to be accurately compensated.

The idea for the legislation came from Shreya Nallamothu, a 15-year-old high school student in Koehler’s district. Shreya brought her proposal to Koehler with concerns that money made by child influencers is not protected and that too many young people will fall victim to a parent or guardian taking the assets for their own use.

“When scrolling on social media, I always saw young children and families, called family vlog channels, posting videos online. After finding that users could make money off of platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, I learned that, often, these kids are made to participate in videos without any guarantee of the income generated from the content,” said Shreya. “I wanted to work with Senator Koehler to protect the money that these kids have rightfully earned.”

According to CBS News, kidfluencers with one million followers can earn $10,000 or more per sponsored post. Young children are often featured in social media content without any guarantee of the income they have earned. Because of the age restrictions on online platforms, the content is not created in the child’s name, but rather the parent or guardian who runs the account. While traditional child actors in Illinois have the Child Labor Law to safeguard their earnings, there is nothing in place for kidfluencers. Thanks to Senator Koehler and Shreya, Illinois is now the first in the nation to protect child influencers and ensure they are appropriately compensated under the Child Labor Law.

“This new digital age has given us tremendous opportunities to connect with one another, but it’s also presented legal issues that have never existed before,” said Koehler. “We need to work with our children to see the problems they face and tackle them head-on before any further harm is done.”

Senate Bill 1782 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect July 1, 2024.

* Rep. LaPointe…

A pair of bills spearheaded by state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, to connect more residents with mental health support and transform the state’s approach to children’s behavioral health are now law.

“It’s critical that we break down barriers to accessing mental health support for our kids and adults – both day to day and in times of crisis,” LaPointe said. “We should think of mental health care as health care, and continue to change policies so more people can easily pursue support across the spectrum, including annual wellness visits through their insurance.”

LaPointe’s House Bill 2847 will require most insurance plans to offer an annual mental health wellness visit at no cost and no diagnosis. Illinois is the third state to enact this kind of law, which encourages Illinoisans to integrate mental health and wellness into their day to day.

LaPointe also led the passage of Senate Bill 724, which implements recommendations from the Governor’s Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative. The new law aims to increase and streamline access to care, provide for earlier intervention, improve accountability and transparency in service delivery, and create greater flexibility for state systems to respond to the changing needs of the youth population.

“Drastically improving children’s mental health care in Illinois is a ‘must do’,” LaPointe said. “It’s unacceptable that most Illinois parents don’t know where to turn, and often have to send their children out of state for acute residential care. We have tremendous work ahead to build out our state’s mental health services, including the workforce and system navigation help, but I’m encouraged by the direction we are going and the momentum to expand access for families across the state.”

Both measures passed with bipartisan support and were signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday.

“I appreciate the strong advocacy from state Sen. Laura Fine and state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz who led efforts in the Senate to get these passed,” LaPointe said. “I also want to thank Thresholds who was the lead advocate behind House Bill 2847. These bills are the result of hard work and dedication from passionate advocates across our state who are making an impactful difference to improve the lives of countless residents. I am incredibly grateful for their partnership.”

* Sen. Aquino…

Legislation sponsored by State Senator Omar Aquino expanding licensing opportunities and procedures for internationally trained and licensed health care professionals was signed into law Friday.

“The demand for qualified health care professionals in our state will continue to grow in the coming years,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “This law creates a licensing liaison to serve as a resource for international applicants and streamline the process so we can continue to grow our health care workforce.”

Under Aquino’s legislation, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will create an Office of the Ombudsman for International Applicants. This office will employ a full-time licensing liaison for international applicants to assist applicants in answering questions and providing information on education requirements for licenses.

During the 102nd General Assembly, Aquino supported a law creating the Task Force on Internationally-Licensed Health Care Professionals to explore strategies for removing barriers to licensure for international health care professionals. The Task Force identified the need to create a full-time position at IDFPR dedicated to helping applicants navigate the process of gaining licensure in Illinois.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, international medical graduates worked on the front lines providing critical care to patients across our state,” Aquino said. “Creating a permanent office to help applicants navigate the process of re-establishing their licensure in Illinois is a small way to show our appreciation for their dedication to public health while also helping to combat the shortage of qualified medical professionals.”

House Bill 2948 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

* Sen. Feigenholtz…

To set forth concrete guidelines, supports and collaborations that will transform the way Illinois delivers high quality behavioral and mental health care to children and youth, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz championed the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act, which was signed into law Friday.

“Families of children with behavioral health challenges seeking help have faced barriers for far too long,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “The evidence-driven solutions in this plan will create a more streamlined, accessible and responsive system of care for youth in Illinois.”

The plan implements recommendations from the Governor’s Behavioral Health Transformation Blueprint that was released in February. The initiative, which set out to research the current state of mental and behavioral health issues facing children in Illinois and develop recommendations to better help families, was spearheaded by Dr. Dana Weiner and Senator Feigenholtz in collaboration with experts and state agencies that currently serve youth and families.

Feigenholtz’s law creates a centralized intake portal to manage information and provide parents with guidance and referrals to state and community-based programs they are eligible for. It also broadens the supports and placements that community-based providers can offer to youth in crisis, creates a Parent and Guardian Navigator Assistance Program, increases transparency in staffing at residential and institutional facilities and lays the foundation for a plan to provide annual mental health screenings to all K-12 students in the state. Additionally, the law establishes a Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Officer and Children’s Behavioral Health Services Team in response to the nationwide youth mental health crisis.

“The need for timely and appropriate care cannot be overstated – families and children need access to services now,” Feigenholtz said. “Soon, parents and providers will be able to rely on this legislation as a roadmap to finally get children the care they need.”

Senate Bill 724 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

* Sen. Belt…

State Senator Christopher Belt led a new law that will ensure fair compensation for teachers and protect school boards from undue financial burdens.

“Our state’s educators deserve a fair salary that keeps pace with the rising cost of living,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This shows that we care about all teachers in the state who are educating our future leaders.”

The new law will establish the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability as the agency responsible for adjusting the teacher minimum salary in accordance with annual increases in inflation rates. In addition, the law addresses concerns related to potential higher pension contributions resulting from increased minimum teacher salaries. It ensures that school boards will not be penalized for fulfilling their obligation to provide competitive compensation to teachers.

“I’ve always been a vocal advocate for education and a champion for teachers’ rights, and I’ll continue to work hard to support and value them,” said Belt.

House Bill 300 was signed Friday and takes effect immediately.

* Sen. Peters…

Recognizing the humanity of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, State Senator Robert Peters championed a new law that will end the requirement of disclosing criminal background information in certain license applications.

“There’s no need to disclose criminal background information when it can’t be used against an applicant for licensure,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Once individuals impacted by the justice system disclose this information, they often face discrimination despite rectifying their mistakes.”

Under previous law, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would consider mitigating factors and evidence of rehabilitation contained in an applicant’s record after finding that the applicant for a license, certificate, or registration was previously convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.
Peters’ law forbids inquiry into criminal history by IDFPR if the licensing statute states that criminal history cannot be used against an applicant. With this new prohibition, IDFPR would only need to perform a mitigating factor analysis in limited circumstances.

“One of the goals of the justice system is to rehabilitate individuals, not blacklist them once they are released from detention centers,” Peters said. “Second chances are given endlessly to those without justice system involvement. This same opportunity should be extended to everyone seeking to improve their lives and the community around them without judgement.”

House Bill 2826 was signed into law Friday.

* Sen. Peters…

State Senator Robert Peters’ measure establishing an annual report on the racial and ethnic makeup of applicants denied licensure by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional regulation was signed into law Friday.

“Appropriate licensure of businesses is an important stepping stone that allows businesses operate,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “We want businesses to thrive in Illinois. To make sure this is happening, we need our ears to the ground at every level to make sure we are doing everything we can to remove bias in the licensing process.”

Peters’ new law will require the Department to request and report information regarding applicants’ ethnicity, race, sex and disability. By March 1 each year, IDFPR is now required to publish a report with the demographic information it collected, the number of applications for licensure and renewal, and the number of applicants denied licensure in the preceding calendar year.

Under previous law, IDFPR was not required to collect this type of data in licensure applications.

“There comes a time when every information system, no matter how big or small, needs to be updated,” Peters said. “The system update required by this new law will shed light on areas that may need further action, such as a pattern in licensing application denials.”

House Bill 1612 was signed into law Friday.

CJC Seeks to Eliminate Employment Barrier Through Bill in IL General Assembly

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Over the last several years, Chicago Jobs Council’s (CJC’s) focus on eliminating barriers to employment has revealed that driver’s license suspensions lead to job loss and missed economic opportunities. In Illinois, a CJC survey found that 52% of respondents who had their driver’s licenses suspended for non-driving violations lost or missed out on a job opportunity because they didn’t have a license.

Through the License to Work and SAFE-T Acts, we have successfully eliminated driver’s license suspension for fines and fees in Illinois. We are building on these successes by working to end debt-driven suspensions for failure to appear. 

According to data received from the Secretary of State’s office, there are more than 100,000 people with driver’s license suspensions in Illinois for “failure to appear” in traffic court. These suspensions are often just an extension of the debt collection process for traffic tickets, and there are numerous reasons to eliminate the practice, including:

  • Like the other debt-driven suspensions, the real world impact of failure to appear suspensions is devastating to communities of color. A 2021 CJC report found a strong correlation between race and suspensions. The correlation is also consistent across all zip codes, whether or not they are majority Black or Latino. The trend is the same: more suspensions and holds the more people of color live in a zip code. The race of drivers was more influential than income level in determining the likelihood of suspension.
  • Taking away someone’s access to transportation by suspending their driver’s license makes them less able to appear in court at all.
  • In states that no longer suspend driver’s licenses for failure to appear, there is little to no evidence that suspending people’s driver’s licenses increases payment or the likelihood of them appearing in court.

CJC’s bill—HB277—is currently in the Illinois Senate and if passed, will ensure that people who receive minor traffic tickets such as speeding or not stopping at a stop sign, do not have their driver’s license suspended for failing to appear in traffic court.

To ensure maximum financial opportunity and safe transportation for our constituents and all of Illinois, we urge that the Illinois General Assembly pass legislation to end the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for failure to appear in court.

 

LEARN MORE

Spotlights on family Engamement Resources

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The School Community Network (SCN) provides resources such as these spotlights, trainings, and tools to build strong school communities focused on student learning.  SCN is sponsored by the Academic Development Institute (ADI), a nonprofit organization in Lincoln, Illinois. SCN’s work draws from ADI’s nearly 40 years of experience and extensive research in family and community engagement.

lan ahead to support family engagement in summer learning by visiting our spotlights page for links to the resources below (and find even more in our searchable databases), or plan your summer reading with the help of recent book reviews from the School Community Journal.

Summer Stride  

Learning Heroes

This website can help parents and families: “Before school lets out, ask the teacher where your child is doing well, where more support may be needed, and what you can do over the summer to set them up for success in the next grade.” It provides tools, tips, and resources to do just that, and it is also available in Spanish:

Avance en el Verano (Summer Stride)

Antes de que terminen las clases, pregúntale al maestro en qué área le va bien a tu hijo, donde necesita más apoyo y qué puedes hacer en el hogar para prepararlo para el siguiente grado. Obtén el Chequeo Académico una nueva herramienta de aprendizaje (gratuita) para el verano.

 

Discover Summer (website)

National Summer Learning Association & InPlay

“With our new summer search feature, your family can discover summer programs, both in-person and virtual, right in your community. You also have easy access to resources from leading youth organizations to keep the learning going. When we nurture and cultivate a young person’s natural brilliance and curiosity, there are positive ripple effects that last a lifetime.” Infographics and many other resources are linked.

 

Summer Learning Toolkit

Wallace Foundation

“With more than 50 evidence-based tools and resources—drawn from the work of five urban school districts and their partners, and aligned with research from RAND—the Summer Learning Toolkit helps educators deliver programs that make a real difference.” Tools include videos, tip sheets, samples, and guidance; the Summer Planning Calendar and Sustainability Tools also include detailed companion and facilitation guides.

Smarter Summers. Brighter Futures. A Summer Playbook for PTA and School Leaders

National Summer Learning Association

With this Playbook, PTAs, along with teachers and principals, will have a robust and research-based toolkit to keep youth safe, healthy, and engaged in learning during the critical summer months through a schoolwide commitment to summer fun and learning, collaboration around access to resources, and connections with families to celebrate summer learning fun.

The Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act

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The Second Chance Public Health and Safety Act is the centerpiece of the Second Chance State Initiative. It creates the Department of Returning Residents Affairs to
provide a program of holistic, individualized reentry services to justice-involved individuals. The goal of the department will be to have a holistic, person-centered,
comprehensive public health approach to public safety, restore community cohesion and create stable and healthy communities.

The new department will develop and administer the Second Chance State Program to coordinate government and not-for-profit services with justice-involved residents of the State of Illinois, utilizing a network of community-based service providers operating

in 13 hub sites across the State. It will do this by reimagining Illinois’ response to justice-involved residents by starting the provision of services upon their first interaction with the justice system, which is more impactful than upon their release from incarceration. The Program also provides services during residents’ later interactions with courts, detention centers, and prisons, and after release.

The elements of the program provided by community-led organizations will be facilitated by “navigators” who will help justice-involved residents effectively access
and utilize the available services and providers. The navigator’s role is to create a comprehensive, holistic services plan for those residents to reduce the probability of
recidivism by the resident and help them achieve a higher possibility of a successful return to their community.

The Act also creates the Returning Residents Interagency Council to identify the manner in which State officials and agencies can allocate the use of their resources to best support the needs of returning residents.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark McCombs

Public Policy Analyst, Safer Foundation
email: mark.mccombs@saferfoundation.org
phone: 708.321.0024

Community Project Funding in FY24

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The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee will again accept requests for Community Project Funding in FY24. However, the FY24 project options are substantially limited compared to the prior years. I have enclosed a list of accounts available for project requests. There are no opportunities for projects in the following areas:

• Defense;

• Financial Services and General Government;

• Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies;

• Legislative Branch; or

• State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

 

Within a few days, you can find an overview of my Appropriations process and a link to an online form to make a Community Project Funding request under the “Services” tab on my website: https://davis.house.gov/ Deadline: Based on information from the Appropriations Committee, we have set a deadline for submitting Community Project Funding requests for Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Online Form: If your organization is a government entity or a non-profit organization located in the IL-7 th District and would like to request Community Project Funding, please complete the online Project Request Form and send supporting materials to my staff person, Jill.Hunter-Williams@mail.house.gov.

Demonstrated Community Support: The Appropriations Committee made clear that
community engagement and support are crucial in determining which projects are worthy of
Federal funding. If your organization plans to apply for Community Project Funding, your
application will need to include evidence of community support, such as:

• Letters of support from elected officials or newspaper editorial boards;
• Press articles highlighting the need for the project;
• Projects listed on state intended use plans, community development plans, or other
publicly available planning documents; or
• Resolutions passed by city councils or boards.

Senate Appropriations: Importantly, the House and Senate project requests are independent. I encourage you to contact Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth to understand their Appropriations processes and deadlines for Congressionally-directed funding to give your organization the best chance of being selected for funding. Information about the Senators’
processes can be found online:

Link to Senator Durbin’s Congressionally-Directed Spending Webpage

Link to Senator Duckworth’s Congressionally-Directed Spending Webpage

 

Informational Webinar. Please join us for an informational meeting about Community Project Funding to learn about best practices for putting together a compelling application and to ask specific questions about the process. The meeting will be: • Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. CST. Register here.

Ms. Tumia (Tee-om-ma) Romero

MAOM, PH.D. Candidate in Public Policy

Chief of Staff/Chief Communications Officer

Office of U. S. Representative Danny K. Davis

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support

Member, Sub-Committee on Health

773-533-7520 or 202-225-5006

Tumia.romero@mail.house.gov

New Grant Program – IDHS and DCEO Launch First-Ever Human Services Capital Grant Program

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IDHS and DCEO Launch First-Ever Human Services Capital Grant Program

 

SPRINGFIELD – IDHS and DCEO have partnered to launch a first-of-its-kind, $15 million capital improvement projects for facilities of eligible not-for-profit human services providers located in Illinois. This is a competitive program that will make at least 60 grant awards ranging from $50,000 up to $250,000 to eligible organizations.

 

“This is a huge opportunity for human services providers across the state. For too long, too many crucial community-based organizations have been unable to invest in their capital construction needs,” said Grace B. Hou, Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services. “We are so pleased to team up with DCEO to make this long-awaited program possible.”

 

“DCEO is excited to partner with IDHS on this opportunity to provide capital grants to not-for-profits across Illinois that provide essential services to their communities,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Through Rebuild Illinois, Governor Pritzker has taken a truly comprehensive approach to funding much-needed capital projects that improve the quality of life for all Illinoisans.”

 

Application Deadline: December 30, 2022 (5:00 p.m.)

 

Application information: Detailed funding opportunity information, application materials, and technical assistance are available here or email CapitalGrant@tecsinc.com for additional information.

 

Eligible applicants: “Human services providers” means not-for-profit organizations in good standing to operate in Illinois that have provided services for a minimum of two years directly to low-income or marginalized populations in one of the core divisions of DHS— Mental Health, Rehabilitation Services, Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, Family and Community Services, Developmental Disabilities, and Early Childhood.

 

Award Information: Individual capital improvement awards will range from $50,000 to $250,000. DCEO anticipates that the term of the agreements will be one to two years ending on or around August 31, 2024.

 

Eligible projects: Capital improvements are projects, not yet fully completed as of November 1, 2022, with a purpose to physically expand or physically improve upon a facility located in Illinois and owned or leased by an eligible human services provider. Eligible activities do not include the purchase of land or a building, site selection or improvements made to a personal residence even if it is used by the human services provider to perform services. Administrative and operational expenditures are not allowable costs for this program.

 

Priority projects: Applicants that demonstrate the following will receive additional credit during the application review process if the proposed project:

  • Addresses Life Safety Code deficiencies;
  • Will lead to an expansion of services offered to clients (either expansion of current programs or introduction of new programs); or
  • Is located in or provides services to individuals who reside in either a disproportionately impacted area or a qualified census tract. See https://www.illinoisworknet.com/qctdiamap.

 

Technical Assistance: TEC Services Consulting Inc. will provide technical assistance in the form of webinars, written materials, and one-on-one communications to organizations during the application process and to award recipients during project administration. DCEO strongly encourages interested organizations to review the technical assistance materials and to participate in upcoming webinars.

About IDHS: The Department of Human Services is Illinois’ largest State agency, with more than 13,000 employees. IDHS provides residents across the State with streamlined access to human services and is home to six major Divisions: Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood, Family and Community Services, Mental Health, Rehabilitation Services, and Substance Use Prevention & Recovery. IDHS also oversaw Illinois’ Census 2020 office, and more recently established the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, Chief Behavioral Health Office, and the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The IDHS is rooted in working collaboratively with counties, cities, and communities, as well as our public, private, faith, and educational partners to make Illinois a healthy, vibrant, inclusive place to live, work, learn and grow.

About DCEO: DCEO’s mission is to support and maintain a climate that enables a strong economy for our customers – taxpayers, businesses, workers and communities – by keeping, attracting and growing businesses, maintaining a skilled workforce, and enhancing communities so that the climate here is one in which businesses, small and large, and workers, can succeed to the greatest extent possible. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity delivers impactful and efficient programs and services through offices including 13 project offices and a Regional Economic Development team.

First Black Woman Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton Makes History

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As a legacy is celebrated, a new chapter is being written. Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton became chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) at the weekend’s annual meeting, making history as the first Black woman to hold this position. This milestone comes as the NLGA commemorates 60 years of providing a meeting ground to the nation’s second in command in Chicago, the city where the organization was founded.

Members continue to uphold the tradition started decades before of convening to listen and learn from each other and foster connections to better lead in their roles while also ringing in a new era of leadership. “It is an honor and a privilege to contribute to the rich, 60-year history of the NLGA as the first Black woman to chair the organization,” said Lt. Governor Stratton. “I look forward to taking on this role and fulfilling my duties so that we, the proud members of the NLGA, can all serve our residents and make even greater impacts as leaders.”

Lt. Governor Stratton also made history as the first Black woman elected to a constitutional office in Illinois. She began her journey as a college student conducting voter registration drives and promoting education for all as part of a local school council. She also served in executive leadership roles for government agencies and became state representative for the 5th district. Lt. Governor Stratton stands on the shoulders of the women lawmakers who came before her to pave the way, and she builds on their legacies by committing to bridging gaps and expanding opportunities for all.

“Congratulations to my dear friend, Lieutenant Governor Stratton, on her historic appointment as chair of the NLGA. She is the kind of leader that pushes us forward—that inspires us to think of creative, equity-centered solutions for our greatest challenges,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “At every turn, the Lieutenant Governor acts with intention—building coalitions and forging connections. Just as she has done for the great state of Illinois, there is no doubt in my mind that Lieutenant Governor Stratton will bring about immeasurable progress within the NLGA.”

“As an active, non-partisan organization, NLGA has created a forum for seconds in command to advance opportunities for our states and our constituents” – Lt. Governor Stratton

 

 

Lt. Governor Stratton was elected by a bipartisan vote of her peers and service begins immediately and will run through August 2023. She is proud to mark this momentous occasion in the hometown of Lt. Governor Stratton and the NLGA both share and continue opening doors for underrepresented voices and perspectives. “As an active, non-partisan organization, NLGA has created a forum for seconds in command to advance opportunities for our states and our constituents,” Lt. Governor Stratton said.

“It provides all state and territorial officeholders who are first in a line of gubernatorial succession a professional opportunity to find effective ways to address new problems, foster cooperation between states and generally improve the effectiveness of our offices.” The NLGA was formed in 1962 as the professional and educational association for the elected officials who are first in a line of succession to the governors of the 50 states and five territorial jurisdictions of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Lt. Governor Stratton’s selection reflects the faith that her colleagues nationwide have in her ability to lead this vital group,” said NLGA Director Julia Brossart. Her Chairship was confirmed by all members attending the Annual Meeting in Illinois. “Throughout my first year in office, I have looked to Juliana Stratton as a role model for what an effective lieutenant governor can accomplish,” said Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos. “As the first woman of color to chair the NLGA, she will continue to inspire and empower our colleagues across the nation. I look forward to working alongside her during the 2022-2023 session.”

NLGA provides a medium for networking and exchanging essential information among officials while providing a timely discussion of topics from agriculture and transportation to housing and health. NLGA provides specific STEM education opportunities across the states. For more information on the NLGA, visit www.nlga.us

Mental Health Recovery From a Military Veteran

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Hello, my name is Abdullah Shabazz and I am a military veteran. I served in the Army for 9 years and I was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan for a total of 4 combat tours. I am diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to the vicious atrocious I experienced in combat. The purpose of this editorial is to inform you of the help I received and the steps I take to remain alive and productive today.

In 2014, I was clinically diagnosed with PTSD due to my anger outbursts and multiple trips to the VA (Veterans Affairs) mental health ward for suicidal attempts. This was the result of me releasing the anger and pain I held inside for years of not being able to truly express myself for fear of retribution from the Army. During my times in both Iraq and Afghanistan, it was highly frowned upon to admit that a soldier had a serious mental health issue.

The moment of clarity for me came into existence when my mother sat me down and gave me a harsh reality of my problems. She explained to me that if I didn’t control my anger, there would come a time when my son will be afraid to be in my presence. Not only was that a wake-up, but it provoked me to seek out help to resolve the mental health issues that I unintentionally kept hidden for years.

On December 19, 2013, my younger brother and I had a fight, where I completely blacked out and severely bit his ear. My mother kicked me out of her house (where I staying at the time) and I drove to Walmart and purchased a bottle of bleach. Next, I drove to my old neighborhood in Chicago, parked my car, poured the bleach into a coffee and I drank the entire cup. I sat in my car for about 30 minutes to see if the bleach would dissolve throughout my body and kill me.

Once time had passed and the bleach did nothing to negatively affect my body, I proceeded to drive myself to the VA Hospital and admit to the personnel there what I had done. I was admitted afterward to the mental health ward, and I remained silent for a while, not wanting to speak to anybody. One day, I attended a study class in the mental health ward, and that was the moment where I decided to finally open up and fully address the mental issues that were destroying me.

It was during this period in 2014 that I began to realize I wasn’t alone in my struggles when dealing with mental health. There were multiple factors that caused my mental health to deteriorate during that time. The things I experienced in combat were just one aspect of my anger, pain, and frustration. The loneliness, isolation, and feeling like a failure also contributed to my thoughts of wanting to commit suicide.

During this time at the PTSD clinic in North Chicago, IL is when I finally received the proper help in accordance with my mental health issues. I was given the opportunity to verbally express my problems and to not feel ashamed about it. I kept a daily journal of writing about my thoughts and feelings and creating strategies for conflict resolution. I also learned how to channel my anger from reacting explosively into calmly assessing the situation beforehand.

I also set up appointments where I was assigned a mental health counselor for one-on-one therapy sessions. In each session that I attended, I would bring up an issue and I would describe how I was able to successfully remove myself from the situation getting out of hand. The major component of how I would relieve myself of a tense moment was remaining calm and not allowing my emotions to get the best of me when confronted.

These methods of being able to regain my sense of worth and controlling my anger are something that has helped me to conquer my mental health problems over the years. I am not a finished product; for I’m continuously a work in progress. There are times I think about giving and going into complete isolation. However, I’m well aware that it is not the best method for me to utilize but instead, take advantage of the options that I myself as a military veteran have at my disposal.

I want to end by saying that I humbly pray that my testimony will encourage or inspire someone to get the help they truly need. Mental health is important to each one of us, and you should never feel alone in your struggle. There are people such as me – as well as professionals – who truly care and are here to guide you on your journey to complete your journey. It is up to you to acknowledge that you have a problem, and there is nothing wrong with seeking help. I pray that my words will become of great benefit to you. Thank you kindly, and my God bless each and every last one of you!

 

Peace and Love,

Abdullah Shabazz