Dupage Policy Journal

The July 19 Mental Wellness Fair hosted by Sens. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) and Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville drew the derision of AWAKE Illinois.

“Way to continue using our children as pawns in your political games,” the group posted on Twitter. Though the event was held 4 to 7 p.m. after students were dismissed, the group took exception to the use of a high school facility.

In Springfield, the state Senate recently passed a measure that would expand behavioral health care resources across the state.

Working hand and hand with the Chestnut Health Systems in Granite City and Centerstone in Alton, state Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is largely credited by the Senate Democratic Caucus with getting the measure over the finish line.

"Building on efforts by Chestnut Health Systems and Centerstone in Alton, the Senate approved enhancements to our behavioral health care resources across the state," Crowe wrote in a May 31 Facebook post. "I commend our Metro East organizations for taking a proactive role in providing quality health care services to Illinois residents, and I’m honored to have been able to support their initiatives."

Crowe’s mission started as far back as in April when she penned a letter to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services imploring the agency to invest in the development of a pilot program for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. The initiative was included in Senate Bill 2294, which was recently passed by the Senate.

“Following the pandemic, the availability of quality mental health and addiction services is more critical than ever,” Crowe said in a statement. “Implementing a new approach to treatment will help facilitate a more accessible, community-centered health care system in disadvantaged areas.”

Used in 40 other states, the CCBHC model provides behavioral health care service to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay.