Church food and beverages including in metal canisters are
not permitted cell.
not permitted cell phones must be placed on silent prior to
entering the meeting room.
entering the meeting room individuals must remain seated.
public comment speakers are permitted to stand only when
providing public.
providing public comment small handheld devices may be used
only.
only while seated and the user must refrain from inter.
interfering with the view or hearing of other individuals
individual.
individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules will
be asked to see such disruptive conduct and failure to
comply will result in their being subject to removal from
the meeting.
the meeting by the sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027
pursuant to the Chicago city council Rules of Order and
procedure rule 49 the Sergeant at Arms set.
following rules of conduct to be followed during the
public.
comment period and the duration of all committee and City
Council meetings profane vulgar.
Council meetings profane vulgar threatening abusive or
disruptive language is not permitted demeaning
discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech directed
towards other.
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior incl
including disruptive or disrespectful content during
presentations is not permitted Bann.
presentations is not permitted banners flyers or signage
are not permitted.
are not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp objects
are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color.
are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color that do
not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in our
subject to search food.
subject to search food and beverages including in metal
canisters.
canisters are not permitted cell phones must be placed on
silent.
silent prior to entering the meeting room individuals.
remain seated public.
comment speakers are per
Comment speakers are permitted to stand only when providing
public comment small.
public comment small handheld devices may be used only
while seated and the user must refrain from interfering
with the view or hearing of other.
with the view or hearing of other individuals individuals
or groups failing.
or groups failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to
see such disrupt.
see such disruptive conduct and failure to comply will
result in there being sub.
result in there being subject to removal from the meeting
by the sergeant.
by the sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027
7 pursuant to the Chicago city council rules
7 pursuant to the Chicago city council Rules of Order and
procedure rule 49 the sergeant-at-arms sets forth the
following rules.
following rules of conduct to be followed during the public
comment period and the duration of all committee and City
Council meetings.
Council meetings profane vulgar threatening Abyss.
Council meetings profane vulgar threatening abusive or
disruptive language is not permitted.
disruptive language is not permitted demeaning
discriminatory or harassing behav.
discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech directed
towards others is not permitted.
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior,
including disruptive.
including disruptive or disrespectful conducting others
present.
presentations is not permitted banners flyers or signage
are not permitted backpacks.
are not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp objects
are not permitted.
are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color that do
not exceed.
not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in
subject to search food and beverages.
subject to search food and beverages including in metal
canisters are not permitted.
canisters are not permitted cell phones must be placed on
silent prior to entering the meeting room individuals must
remain seated.
remain seated public.
The comment speakers are permitted to stand only when
providing.
providing public comment small handheld devices.
providing public comment small handheld devices may be used
only while seated and the user must refrain.
interfering with the view or hearing of other individuals.
individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules.
be asked to see such disruptive conduct and failure.
be asked to see such disruptive conduct and failure to
comply will result in there being subject to removal.
the meeting by the sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following.
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and City
console meetings profane vulgar threatening
Console meetings profane vulgar threatening abusive or
disruptive language is not permitted.
disruptive language is not permitted demeaning
discriminatory or harassing.
discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech directed
towards others is not permitted.
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior
including disruptive or disrespectful contacting others
present.
presentations is not permitted banners liar.
presentations is not permitted banners Liars or signage are
not permitted backpack.
not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp objects are
not permitted.
not permitted clear bags not tinted in color that do not.
exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in our subject to
search food and beverages.
search food and beverages including in metal canisters are
not permitted.
not permitted cell phones must be placed on silent prior to
entering the meeting room individuals must remain.
entering the meeting room individuals must remain seated
public comment speakers are permitted to stand.
public comment speakers are permitted to stand only when
providing public comment small hand.
providing public comment small handheld devices may be used
only while seated and the user must refrain from
interfering with the view or hearing of other individual.
interfering with the view or hearing of other individuals
individuals or groups failing to
who adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
disruptive conduct and failure to comply will result in
there being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago City
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order and procedure rule 4.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49 the sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment.
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and city council.
committee and City Council meetings profane vulgar
threatened.
threatening abusive or disruptive language is not permitted
demeaning discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech
directed towards other.
directed towards others is not permitted disruptive
behavior incl
behavior, including disruptive or disrespectful content
during others.
during others presentations is not permitted banners.
during others presentations is not permitted banners flyers
or signage are not permitted back.
or signage are not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp
objects are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color
that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in
our subject to search food and beverages including in metal
canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on Sill.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior to entering the
meeting room individuals must.
meeting room individuals must remain seated public comment
speakers are permitted.
speakers are permitted to stand only when providing public
comment small hand.
comment small handheld devices may be used only while
seated and the user must refrain from interfering with the
view or hearing of other.
view or hearing of other individuals individuals or groups
failing.
failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
disrupt.
disruptive conduct and failure to comply will result in
their being subject.
there being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49 the Serge.
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following rules of khand.
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment period and the Dior
during the public comment period and the duration of all
committee and City Council meetings.
committee and City Council meetings profane vulgar
threatening Abyss.
Disruptive language is not permitted demean.
discriminatory or harassing Behavior.
discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech directed
towards others is not permitted.
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior,
including disruptive or disrespect.
including disruptive or disrespectful content during others
presentations is not permitted banners Liars or signage are
not permitted backpacks large bags.
not permitted backpacks large bags and sharp objects are
not permitted clear bags.
not permitted clear bags not tinted in color that do not
exceed 12.
exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in our subject.
exceed 12 by 12 by 6 in will be permitted in our subject to
search food and beverages including in metal canisters are
not permitted cell.
not permitted cell phones must be placed on silent prior to
entering the meeting.
entering the meeting room individuals must remain seated.
public comments speakers are permitted to stand only when
providing.
providing public comment small handheld devices may be
only while seated and the user must refrain from
interfering with the view or hearing of other individuals.
individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules will
be asked to see such disruptive conduct and failure to
will result in there being subject to removal from the
meeting by the sergeant-at-arms.
Good morning. I am chairperson Rosana Rodriguez San.
It is 1116 on Fe.
It is 1116 on februari 28 2024 and this meeting on the
Chicago City council's committee on.
Chicago City council's committee on health and human
relations will now come to order.
So they were discussing the following items. Uh number 1.
So they were discussing the following items, uh number 1 the
approval of rule 45 report from our meeting.
approval of rule 45 report from our meeting on februari
13th.
and number 2
And number 2 subject matter hearing aid Point progress
report.
report on the treatment, not trauma working group.
Before we begin I would call the role.
Before we begin I would call the role to establish quorum.
Alderman Robinson
pre
Preston alderman. Yansi
not Preston Vice chair Ramirez
uh Vice chair M president alderwoman Gutierrez
not present othermen Lopez
No, Preston Other Woman Coleman.
Not present Other M. Lope
not present Other M Lopez
sexual Lopez is pre
Lopez is Preston alderwoman Fuentes?
no, Preston, um Alderman Ramirez Ros
Alder
Is present um Alder woman Cruise.
Other Woman cruise is not present. Uh, Alderman Lawson.
not pre
Not Preston Elder woman man. I hope and words.
uh Elder woman Haden
um and Sh Sanchez is present there are
Um and Sh Sanchez is present. There are 7 members present.
We have a quorum.
Are there non-members present that would like to be
recognized?
Um Alderman Lawson has request has requested remote
participation citing.
participation citing, uh, rule 59. Can I get a motion to
approve the remote?
approve the remote participation of aldermen Lawson?
uh
Uh, so moved by other but by
Uh, so moved by by by the woman Ramirez. Um, uh,
Every Everybody. Um
every Everybody, um, uh in agreement signify by saying I
oppose name
in the opinion of the share the eyes.
in the opinion of the share the eyes have it Alderman
Lawson is now being contact.
Lawson is now being contacted Tower forum.
um
now we are going to move into public.
now we are going to move into public comment the period is
limited to 30 minutes and each.
limited to 30 minutes and each speaker is limited to 3
minutes we have
minutes. We have 13 speakers signed.
minutes. We have 13 speakers signed up today, and I will be
calling the speakers in.
calling the speakers in random order.
Um, we are going to start with Mr. George Blake Moore.
several people are waiting for your apology from
Several people are waiting for your apology from uh this
last.
Can you cancel that need this meeting Within?
Can you cancel that need this meeting within 30 minutes
anyway trauma?
Who's been traumatized?
mental
Mental Health
mental health is well.
and black people was traumatized when
And black people was traumatized when they was enslaved in
America.
traumatized walking while black jogging while black
Traumatized walking while black jogging while black living
white black and and a white man.
while black and and white men are predominant country. They
They've been traumatized Patty Hearst fell in love with our
enemy now, I'm traumatized to a certain extent see all of
these.
these young hispanic. People are here and you uh, uh, uh,
you got them out here.
so
So maybe black people were so traumatized that.
know how?
to inform and engage their people
So it's very important Mental Health.
So it's very important mental health health is wealth
Mental Health.
mental health and and black people have are still.
mental health and and black people have are still being
traumatized by the police department.
traumatized by the police department on first.
a last high and First 5
all type of issues mental issues that we have I would
All type of issues mental issues that we have I would expect
this place to be packed.
with black people so evidently
With black people so evidently black leadership have
failed. So those people who are in saying that
advocating for mental health.
advocating for mental health and and uh,
advocating for mental health and and uh people Mr.
Blakemore has been traumatized when there's a white
fountain.
fountain bound South and then there's 1 for black just that
idea if he just traumatized me.
It's just traumatized us and I think Jeremy you're doing a
beautiful.
beautiful job, uh bringing your young people out.
beautiful job, uh bringing your young people out here, but
but who failed?
but who failed the black?
ultimate
especially in mint
especially in mental health you have fail young lady
because your people are not here. You will fail Young.
Your people is not is not here. So 3 in birth those 2 black
sisters that came.
sisters that came last week when you canceled that meeting
within 30 minutes they had to pay for parking.
so so again
for leadership
Uh when I came I said look at all these.
Uh, when I came I said look at all these Hispanics look at
them. Look at them. You're doing your your job advocating
for your people. We're not doing I'm not doing mine.
advocate for mine or our
so it's very important.
so it's very important Mental Health.
and
And what trauma means something have happened to the man?
And what trauma means something have happened to the mind
the mind is not functioning?
the mind is not function as it should so, thank you again.
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore the second speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore. The second speaker is Andrea
Ortiz.
Good morning. Hello. My name is Andrea Ortiz, and I was
born.
and raised on the south side of Chicago, and I'm currently
the director of organizing for the Brighton Park
neighborhood Council on the southwest side. I'm here in
support of treatment at.
support of treatment at trauma as well as continued
support.
to see a steady funding to set up a good foundation as the
working group is working to put forth a found.
working group is working to put forth a foundational plan
to have Citywide expansion of our centers that are greatly
needed.
With the DNC coming to our city. All eyes are on Chicago.
We have a moral responsibility.
We have a moral responsibility to show the country that we
should and can.
should and can fund necessary resources.
need.
This isn't the time to pull back. This is the time. We push
our Progressive values to the front.
The mayor included the reopening of 2 public.
The mayor included the reopening of 2 public mental health
centers in this budget and it is time for Chicago.
centers in this budget and it is time for Chicago to show
everyone in the country. What a city that's investing in is
communities looks like we need
communities. Looks like we need to make sure there will be
enough support for all.
enough support for all Chicagoans during the DNC and that
we have our 2 public Mental Health Centers reopen and ready
to serve.
to serve Chicago in 247. We need to reinvest in our public
care infrastructure. Meaning we need to expand
care infrastructure. Meaning. We need to expand all of our
public services to ensure free and accessible mental health
care for all Chicagoans. I'm grateful for all their person
Rosano rodrig.
Rosano Rodriguez Sanchez for her unwavering fight to see
its TNT through also great for grateful for all the other
people.
people who continue to stand in support of treatment at
trauma. Let's get this done the right way. Thank you.
Our next speaker is going to be from the online.
participants. Uh, we have Jenn.
participants. Uh, we have Jenni Schaefer.
Hello.
We can hear you. Go ahead. Okay, great. Hi, my name is
We can hear you. Go ahead. Okay, great. Hi. My name is
Jenny safer. I am a district council member.
Jenny safer. I am a district council member in the 19th
Police District. Um 1 of the things.
Police District. Um 1 of the things that is most important
to our district C.
to our district council as a whole is really advocating for
increased Mental Health crisis response in the 19th.
district and really across the city. Um, we're lucky that
we have a care team that operates in the district. Um from
the from the data we've seen so far the care team has had
no use of force and no arrests.
and we have really
And we have really been sharing about this information. Um
at our monthly meetings with the community and there's a
wide range of support.
wide range of support from both community and police.
these teams, um are operating throughout the city.
Um, the police have indicated that they're able to do a
warm.
warm handoff to a care team and that person in crisis is
able to get the type of services that they need while
they're then able to get back, uh onto the patrol and
continue their duties. So we really are excited.
continue their duties. So we really are excited to advocate
for the expansion of care through treatment, not trauma, um
and work with you guys.
another thing that I've been spending some time doing
Another thing that I've been spending some time doing is
really understanding the landsc.
really understanding the landscape of mobile Mental Health
crisis.
crisis, um Community Based organizations and what they're
offering and what I've been noticing is that we are doing a
really good job of ramping things up and getting some um
exciting programs going.
exciting programs going but they're still lacks a
tremendous organiz.
tremendous organization, um like abroad organiz
tremendous organization. Um, like abroad organization. What
I've noticed in the 19th district is we have several
different.
different Community Based organizations who are able to
respond but
respond, but they're only able to respond in certain zip
codes. Um, and there are many um different zip codes that
have many different phone.
have many different phone numbers to call so you have to
make sure that you're calling within the the phone number
that is within.
that is within the ZIP code that you are. Um,
that is within the ZIP code that you are, um, experiencing
the crisis. So it's it's seems that even from me who's
trying to get inside of it and understand it better. It
seems that there's a this organization.
I really want to help um work.
I really want to help um work for and advocate for an
expanded unified vision.
expanded unified Vision that covers all Chicago 24.
expanded unified Vision that covers all Chicago 247. Um,
and I am excited to work with you.
and I am excited to work with you guys and with the
treatment, not trauma. Um, Co Within
treatment, not trauma. Um, Co within to make this a
reality. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments our next speaker.
Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Vanessa
Dominguez.
so sorry, I
So sorry I saw far away. Um, can I go ahead and start?
Yeah. Hi everyone. Good morning. My name is Vanessa and I'm
a youth organizer with the Brent Park neighborhood C.
a youth organizer with the Brent Park neighborhood Council
and I'm here in support of treatment not trauma. I have
seen and experienced how difficult it has been.
seen and experienced how difficult it has been for myself
loved ones the young people. I'm in community.
loved ones the young people. I'm in community with to
access and find care and support need.
access and find care and support needed for mental health.
We know the way inade.
We know the way inadequate access to mental health support
impacts people's lives. It is a story. We are all too
familiar with
Young
young people don't receive the mental health support. They
need in their communities.
need in their communities and oftentimes in their schools.
Let's remember when clinics were shut down. So were schools
students.
students are met with punitive measures become disengaged.
and are pushed out of schools.
when youth become disengaged
Due to lack of support.
Due to lack of support there are further criminalized by
their school and the City.
their school and the city all of this when really what we
should be meeting them with is love care and access to
long-term sustainable.
long-term sustainable Mental Health
the formation of this working
The formation of this working group for treatment not
trauma was a huge Community win.
trauma was a huge Community win and it is because of those
folks that paved the way and those that are still fighting
for this that we need to ensure. This is set up for Success
from the outset and fully funded. We need to ensure that we
open up all of our centers.
open up all of our centers and have a Citywide non police
crisis response.
We need to stop relying on the privatized and non.
centers for mental health care because we've seen time and
time again that these are inaccessible.
the collaborative published a report on the trauma-informed
centers of care late last year and the findings were not
new.
new the nonprofit sector for mental health services have
long lists and are not affordable.
imple
Implementation strategies are the most important in any
policy.
policy to ensure its success. We need to make sure we get
this right.
this right and give Chicago and treatment not trauma.
We have an opportunity to make a significant impact for all
Chicago.
Chicagoans, but especially those that have seen year after
year.
year Cuts in their neighborhood resources. We urge this
working group to prioritize the establishment of a strong
Foundation.
foundation for the treatment of trauma model including
clear.
clear measurable goals adequate support systems and
sustainable funding. Thank you.
Thank you our next speaker from the virtual. Uh speakers is
going to be Ian McCollum.
Hello. Um, thank you for giving.
Hello, um, thank you for giving me the opportunity to
speak. Um, I wanted to express my excitement.
speak. Um, I wanted to express my excitement and enthusiasm
for the treatment not trauma model.
for the treatment not trauma model in my day job. I provide
legal services to people with mental.
legal services to people with mental illnesses often who
have been formerly incarcerated or are currently
incarcerated. Um, and I think treatment not trauma is an
important step toward a society that does not criminalize
mental illness. I'm so grateful to the city council and
mayor for taking up this cause and of course the chairwoman
chairwoman, uh for leading the cause. Um, I wanted to speak
to the importance of rebuilding public mental health
infrastructure, uh for too.
infrastructure, uh for too long. We've relied on nonprofits
like the 1 I work at to administer Services. Um, I've
worked in nonprofits for several years and there are great
people with great idea.
people with great idea great ideas here, but the uh,
nonprofits are over cap.
nonprofits are over capacity and not capable of doing this
work. They rely on
work, they rely on grants and uh philanthropy and
creates a cycle of money chasing that
trauma, um the people of Chicago
electing Brandon Johnson and re-electing our Progressive
Alder people. So I wanted to ask the working group and the
city council and the government of Chicago to keep in mind
that while building our own public systems will be more
challenging.
challenging uh than the old model of resorting to
nonprofit.
care. It is a worthy Challenge and it's the best way to
achieve the results we want. Thank you.
thank
Thank you for your comments. Uh, our next speaker is
Timothy Johnson.
Good morning. My name is Tim Johnson. I'm speaking on
behalf of the UIC community research.
Ive a group of faculty and graduate students in the
department of Sociology at UIC last spring in collaboration
with the collaborative for Community Wellness we embarked
on a research project and which we interviewed Chicagoans
who have direct experience of Chicago.
who have direct experience of Chicago's Mental Health
crisis response system and our recently released report
titled. We got to stop Criminal
titled. We got to stop criminalizing mental illness
experiences with Mental Health crisis response.
experiences with Mental Health crisis response in Chicago.
We provide an account of our findings.
Time and time again our respondents described to us.
Time and time again our respondents described to us trauma.
They experienced as a direct result.
Chicago's emergency response systems.
Chicago's emergency response systems police involvement in
crisis response escalates crisis sit.
crisis response escalates crisis situations often resulting
in police officers becoming physically violent with
Chicagoans in need of treatment.
Chicagoans in need of treatment 1 respondents.
Chicagoans in need of treatment 1 respondents on a cold
winter night by police conned.
winter night by police conducting a wellness check
respondents consistently.
respondents consistently referenced the need to manage
police responses during their own.
police responses during their own Mental Health crisis to
prevent police violence. 1 respondent told us even when I'm
in that state. I know that I need to be good to the police.
because I know they can really mess me up.
this fear of police violence prevents many Chicagoans from
accessing help at all 1 mother declared definitively. I
would never ever call unless my son's life was threatened
even if my life was threat.
Even if my life was threatened. I wouldn't call 911 because
they're going to send police.
they're going to send police that's going to make
everything worse.
everything worse Chicagoans deserve access to treatment for
themselves and their loved ones without fear of police
violence. They deserve a dedicated
the report also documents respondents pract
for accessible community-based high-quality public.
Health Care 1 respondents.
Health Care, 1 respondents the closure of mental health
clinics on the South Side saying people relied on that
clinic. It was a great place and they took it out of the
community like they always do it is high time that the
city of Chicago correct this historical pattern of
disinvestment in Mental Health Services Chicagoans need
access.
accessible publicly funded Mental Health Care. The current
system is failing because our facilities are inaccessible
for many in our community who need care.
our report amplifies the voices of those most impacted by
Chicago's current Mental Health crisis response and Care
System. They are speaking with remark.
System. They are speaking with remarkable Unity urging this
committee to enact a non-police emergency response system
and invest.
and invest in public health centers. The time is now
need treatment in Chicago, not trauma. I implore you to
listen to those Chicagoans most impacted.
listen to those Chicagoans most impacted by our failing
system and Institute the changes they demand. Thank you.
thank you for your comments our next speaker from the
virtual participants. Is Caitlyn ogrady.
Yes. Hi. Good morning. My name is Caitlyn Grady. I'm a
licensed clinical social.
licensed clinical social worker and I hold a PHD in social
work for.
work for the past 7 years. I have been involved in
coordinating community.
coordinating community-based research efforts through the
collaborative for Community Wellness.
Our research has focused on understanding barriers to
mental.
Mental Health Service access in Chicago and exploring.
Community Vision for expanding Chicago's public Mental
Health infrastruct.
health infrastructure.
the treatment not trauma policy working
critically important step for building out the city's
public.
public mental health infrastructure in a way that is
aligned with community.
aligned with Community needs.
We know that there's a dire need to.
We know that there's a dire need to reopen the closed cdph
public Mental Health.
In our collaborative 2023 assessment of non.
in our collaborative 2023 assessment of nonprofit providers
who received City funds to deliver Mental Health Services,
we found that service access.
we found that service access is severely limited through
privatized providers.
of the 65 agency locations in our study sample we
Of the 65 agency locations in our study sample. We found
that only 5 Auburn services without access barriers related
to costs Insurance documentation status and weight times of
1 month or longer.
locations.
appointments with mental health therapists at least a
month.
in advance is only offering sessions once every 5 weeks.
weeks these findings indicate that the vast majority of
Chicagoans do not have access to barrier free Mental Health
Services through privy.
Services through private high providers public Mental
Health Centers play.
Health Centers play a critical role in facilitating service
access.
We also know that Chicagoans are asking for.
health infrastructure that consists of both prevent.
Services through the cdph public mental health centers.
Services through the cdph public Mental Health Centers and
emergency support through non-police crisis.
emergency support through non-police crisis response teams.
between October 2022
Between October 2022 and April 2023 are collaborative
survey.
surveyed 652 Chicagoans and found that 77.
surveyed 652 Chicagoans and found that 77% of respondents
believe that police should not have a role.
believe that police should not have a role in responding to
mental health emergencies.
Instead, they asked that the city investment compassion.
Instead, they asked that the city investment compassionate
person- centered system of care or mental health
professional.
professionals and peer support Specialists with shared with
experiences.
experiences can provide deescalate.
experiences can provide deescalate crisis and connect
individuals with long-term.
individuals with long-term accessible affirming Mental
Health Services.
In line with Community recommendations we need to invest
in.
in non-police Mental Health crisis response teams and
reopen the cdph public Mental Health Centers to ensure that
free long-term preventative.
free long-term preventative and follow-up services are
available to all Chicago.
available to all Chicagoans regardless of socioeconomic
background insurance.
background Insurance status or documentation status.
A collaborative is also coordinating a series of listening
sessions.
sessions across the city to learn more about Community
Visions for public Mental Health.
Visions for public Mental Health Services.
data from our listening sessions to
Data from our listening sessions to date reinforcing
importance of both investing in.
importance of both investing in non-police models of crisis
response investing in Long.
response investing in long-term preventative Services that
are easily accessible to Chicago.
are easily accessible to Chicagoans in their moment of
need.
Our city has a historic opportunity to build a public
mental health system that util.
mental health system that utilizes a compassionate
person-centered approach to
centered approach to address Mental Health crisis and
facilitate access to the long-term mental health supports
that all Chicagoans deserve. Thank you. Thank you for your
comments. Um, our next speaker is Mr. Sim.
Hey, how's it going? Good morning. Good.
Hey, how's it going? Good morning. Good morning. Good
morning.
um
It's amazing. Wow, I got
It's amazing. Wow. I got a lot to talk about. Um, so my
nephew is named.
nephew is named Jermaine Baptist.
um deals with mental illness
I got a niece named.
I got a niece named Crystal who deals with it all so
that 1 of them being treated at Trilogy. Um, it's a health
facility located off Morris Avenue on the north side of
Chicago.
I think my nephew has.
I think my nephew has been in maybe 6 or 7 of these mental.
health facilities where they simply stabilize them and
release them.
Um, I got a video up here. I want to see it.
So this video?
So this video is uh illustrating my
Finding my nephew on Howard Street.
Finding my nephew on Howard Street amongst like 6 other
individuals where they was going to jump on them.
individuals where they was going to jump on them, which put
me in a fit of rage.
um
Um pick my nephew up took him home.
I get him home. I'm trying to get him to chill out.
But I'm not.
But I'm not a clinician.
I don't know what he dealing with. Really. I just know that
he dealing with something.
Um, they stabilize and kept them for maybe 3 days.
Which they always do give them a shot.
Which they always do give them a shot some new shot. They
got exposed to the last maybe a month.
got exposed to the last maybe a month or whatnot and then
they
But how do they repeat if they're not being?
Um instructed on how to do that.
Um instructed on how to do that and not being properly
cared for they've given up.
cared for they've given up a social worker and that social
worker. Maybe got like 500.
worker. Maybe got like 500 or 200 or maybe even 80 people
that they dealing with.
that they dealing with on a case load.
So what?
So what special attention does my nephew get?
So he just once again swept under the rug or placed into a
like a big.
like a big meat pile with a whole bunch of individuals
dealing with what?
dealing with what he dealing with.
Um, they want to take police.
Um, they want to take police out of this.
I think they might want to re um.
I think they might want to re um reassess that I'm going to
show I can show y'all the video. I'm a big guy my nephew
getting bigger than me.
and when they
And when they on these drugs they gain weight.
So that's so imagine dealing with that 240.
So that's so imagine dealing with that 240 pounds 200
pounds at that.
Well trained or not. Well trained just fighting you because
you want to help them.
but they don't know that you want to help them because
this video, my nephew was screaming. I don't want
back to no f****** facility. You put me.
back to no f****** facility. You put me there mad at me and
I'm a good fighter, but I'm thinking about having to fight
my nephew in this house. I know I ain't gonna come out
unscathed so I can imagine a mental health worker trying to
go in there and deal with your man. Hey what I don't know
what y'all going to do.
but I think that
But I think that maybe we could 2 side this coin.
But I think that maybe we could 2 side this coin so that it
better works for the people.
Not like he said what they getting paid they get paid.
money. So they allocate the funds put them.
money. So they allocate the funds put them in their
pockets. Send the people on
got to revise that I want to help because my my
Got to revise that I want to help because my my nephew is
beautiful intelligent wonderful except.
beautiful intelligent wonderful except for when he leave
these facilities.
where I be where I feel like they poison him so
Thank you so much for your comments. Um next speaker is
Annie wani.
Good morning. Uh, my name is Anni wani and today?
Good morning. Uh, my name is Anni wani and today I stand
here not only as a representative of our community and as
treatment at trauma organizer with the Biden Park
neighborhood Council, but as someone who has been rejected
for services many times and as a mother who and I want to
see her voice struggle finding support if they ever needed
it's imperative to reflect on the Journey of the treatment
how trauma campaign has embarked in prioritizing meant.
health, uh wellbeing, but also prior.
health, uh wellbeing, but also prioritizing accessible and
free Mental Health Services.
Our city has come a long way in recognizing the import.
of mental health. We've shattered barriers challenge.
misconceptions and extended a compassionate hand to those
in need.
in need but we will not get distracted with our progress as
a Grassroots.
a Grassroots movement and finally having to stay in this
working group. There's so much ground to cover in many
lives to touch.
today, I urge you to consider the
Today, I urge you to consider the pivotal role of a strong
foundation in TNT's mental.
foundation in TNT's mental health initiatives. We stand at
a Crossroads Crossroad.
a Crossroads Crossroads where the decisions we we make can
either fortify our efforts or push us backwards.
The model proposed by TNC is not just a blueprint. It's a
LIF.
Lifeline for our community a testament to our commitment
that every person no matter their zip code their
immigration status.
immigration status their housing situation or social
economic status Des.
economic status deserves to be treated with dignity respect
and ultimately be careful. It's our Collective
responsibility as a society to care for 1 another and TNT's
model is a step forward to ensuring everyone has that
Central to this model is the establishment of 24 hours try.
triage centers a Beacon of Hope for those in the darkest
hours.
Hours of their struggle these centers Are Not Mere FAQ.
facilities. They are sanctuaries for Soulless where
individuals can find Refuge support and the care they
desperately need regardless of the hour or circumstance.
Imagine a city where No Cry for Help goes unanswered where
every individual knows that they are not
battle. Imagine the lives we could save
transform and the ripple effect of compassion that
Echo beyond our city limits.
We have the opportunity.
We have the opportunity to to show the nation what it means
to invest in.
to invest in our communities.
with our hearts and our dedic
With our hearts and our dedication to the well-being of
every citizen Chicago again.
every citizen Chicago again will be under National eyes for
the Democratic National Convention.
the Democratic National Convention this August wouldn't it
be nice to have those 2 centers reopen and 24 hours
available?
We should Stand United in our commitment to building the
city where comp.
city where compassion knows no bounds where Hope Springs
Eternal and where every voice no matter.
Eternal and where every voice no matter how faint is heard
and honored. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments our next.
Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Dalia
Aragon.
Good morning, everyone. Uh, my name is DAL.
Good morning, everyone. Uh, my name is Dalia Aragon. I am
the director of housing health and safety work at North
River commission, which is a small nonprofit.
northwest side of Chicago in Albany Park, which is where
I'm from.
uh, most importantly
Uh, most importantly I am a sister who has lost her brother
to gun violence and has seen firsthand how hard it has been
to navigate that process without the appropriate access to
Mental Health.
I after losing my brother.
I after losing my brother my family started a small
nonprofit called.
nonprofit called isos of Hope to raise awareness on the
traumatic impacts of violence and have since supported
hundreds.
hundreds of families who like me have lost a loved 1.
I'm here in support of treatment at trauma because I have
seen how.
seen how dis difficult it has been for myself my family.
members. My brother's friends his teach.
members. My brother's friends his teachers our neighbors,
but also all the other people like me and my family who
have already.
have already been impacted by violence who are walking
around.
around with a trauma.
Through my work in the community as a community work.
Through my work in the community as a community worker. Um,
I have also seen how the pandemic has helped many community
members. Take their Mental Health.
members take their mental health more seriously, but I have
also seen firsthand that there is in no way or shape the
capacity to meet the need and the demand for the services
required.
It is time to invest in the people of Chicago.
We have a unique opportunity to make a significant impact
for cowen's by ensuring the framework and
allocated to the treatment of trauma model.
allocated to the treatment of trauma model our
comprehensive and most importantly.
comprehensive and most importantly community-led.
It is important to have.
It is important to have people.
Who have been impacted Firs?
Who have been impacted firsthand and community members who
are committed?
To this work to inform the process.
I am here today to urge the working group to prioritize.
I am here today to urge the working group to prioritize the
establishment of a strong foundation for the treatment.
establishment of a strong foundation for the treatment of
trauma model including clear measurable goals.
trauma model including clear measurable goals Equity
support systems and very important.
support systems and very important sustainable funding.
but most importantly Equitable Community voice from all the
people of Chicago. We are truly in a pivotal moment.
point in time where we can ensure that we set a system in
place.
place that will make Mental Health Care Equitable and
accessible.
accessible for too long. It has been privatized or we have
relied on small nonprofits to carry out the work.
But the data has proven time and time again that they do
not.
not have the required capacity or the Frameworks in place
to serve.
to serve the people of Chicago.
implementation strategies are extremely important in any
policy to ensure its success.
I am excited to work with this.
I am excited to work with this working group, but also
urged them to prioritize.
urged them to prioritize independent analysis and
decision-making.
and to ensure that the model is Guided by evidence-based
practices and the collective input of stakeholders
thousands of Chicago.
thousands of Chicago and have shared that mental health is
a social deter.
a social determinant to their health and that Mental Health
Access is a prior.
Access is a priority to them. We need to make sure that
get this right and that we give the Chicago wind.
get this right and that we give the Chicago wins.
Equitable and accessible treatment, not trauma. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Emily
piff.
Hi my name.
Hi, my name is Emily pif. I am a Community member of the 2.
Ward and I'm also a Community member of jcua the Jewish
Council on Urban affairs.
Council on Urban Affairs. Um, I'm here today to speak in
support of treatment, not trauma.
support of treatment, not trauma and reiterate much of what
many other people have.
many other people have said already and I want to thank the
represent.
representatives and the working group for listening to the
community's concerns. So treatment not trauma is obviously
something that a lot of community members have gotten
behind and a lot of community organizations. It's
definitely something that's being led by the people.
definitely something that's being led by the people because
the people are who's being truly affected.
the people are who's being truly affected negatively by the
lack of Mental Health Services.
lack of Mental Health Services in the city that are
accessible afford.
accessible affordable to everyone so speaking.
accessible affordable to everyone so speaking in support of
treatment, not trauma. There's a few things I'd like to
bring up. Um, the working group gives treatment not traum.
a really positive opportunity to
Start a strong Foundation. Um, this is something that
Chicago would be um, starting a foundation from this isn't
something we have seen in many other.
something we have seen in many other cities. We could be a
national leader. So it's really important that Chicago.
has
um that Chicago takes this place of leadership and shows
all other major cities and everyone in the country that
this is something we value we value our citizens health
um also I think it's really important that this is
Um also I think it's really important that this is a public
entity. This isn't run by nonprofit.
entity. This isn't run by nonprofit or private Health, um
organizations because we've seen the lack of funding and
infrastructure for these um, private organizations to
provide mental health care.
provide Mental Health Care. Um, and really the only way we
can ensure that it's funded and it is run like a structure
of government.
of government is for it to be a structure of the public
government. So I think that's something very important that
we keep this a public.
we keep this a public um governmental
organization
and I also wanted to press on the urgency of this happening
sooner rather than later as people have mention.
sooner rather than later as people have mentioned. We have
the DNC in Chicago this summer. This is going to be putting
Chicago on a national stage and if we have something, um as
robust as treatment, not trauma and as supportive of our
community members that will be really posit.
community members that will be really positively affect
reflected on the city on the represent.
reflected on the city on the representatives that we've
elected and the government workers. So overall, I'm
reiterating what every person here today.
reiterating what every person here today has said that
treatment not trauma is very important.
legislation that needs to be um priorit
legislation that needs to be um, prioritized for our
community and to ensure the safety of all people in Chicago
regardless of being able to afford or access Mental Health
Care privately. So thank you and we are here today.
Care privately, so thank you and we are here today in
support of treatment, not trauma. So, thank you. Thank
for your comments. Um, our next speaker is Mara limb.
sorry, hi, my name is Mara and I'm a longtime Advocate a
dedicated Ally and I've invested my soul in advocating for
basic human rights.
I also live with multiple non-apparel.
I also live with multiple non-parent disabilities. You
can't see my disabilities. Can you?
Just like you can't see someone's mental health condition.
This serves as a crucial reminder, especially for police.
I stand here today because I received.
I stand here today because I received critical mental
health support during.
health support during crisis and this can't be a 1-time fix
fix.
Though. I'm alive today the Fight Continues daily to stay.
Though I'm alive today. The Fight Continues daily to stay
healing is a long-term journey and ongoing support.
crucial.
Last year I stood right here.
Last year, I stood right here and voice support for
treatment. Not trauma, and I want to thank
treatment. Not trauma. And I want to thank everyone who
fought for this.
I'm looking at some of you right now.
I'm looking at some of you right now when we say treatment,
not trauma we
not trauma. We demand care empathy voluntary participation.
individualized approaches and collaborative care.
individualized approaches and collaborative care not
police.
I've witnessed my fair share.
I've witnessed my fair share of police responses to Mental
Health crisis, and it's never been helpful. Never.
the last thing you
The last thing you need is someone without compassion
showing up banging on my door.
showing up banging on my door in uniform with cuffs and a
gun if we're already struggling.
gun if we're already struggling and need help to stay
alive. Why would this response?
alive. Why would this response Inspire any hope?
the word de
The word deescalate might as well be a myth. I don't care
if CPD has.
if CPD has CIT training or not, even when
specifically for a CIT officer. There's been no.
specifically for a CIT officer. There's been no difference.
No 1 should be hurt or soft or killed because they live
with these conditions.
Police and their use of force is not an effective resp.
to mental health period let alone a crisis it.
to mental health period let alone a crisis. It just isn't
mental health workers are the real.
mental health workers are the real heroes here not please.
And for those that think police are the answer, please
remember that not all people who?
remember that not all people who need help are violent or
dangerous.
Our current system isn't working and as our mayor said
before.
before that before he was elected No, 1 should suffer due
to the lack of Mental Health Services. This is just 1
reason why.
reason why we fought tirelessly for change.
now, let's expand our City's Mental Health Resources and re
reopen our public mental health centers.
reopen our public Mental Health Centers. 247
The time for change is now.
The time for change is now let's choose treatment. Not
trauma now want everyone to remember that. You're not
alone. You are enough.
alone. You are enough and it's okay to not be okay if you
take away.
take away 1 thing I say today.
take away 1 thing I say today if you're in a mental health
crisis, please.
crisis, please reach out to 9888 not
crisis, please reach out to 9888, not 911. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is.
Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Cheryl
Miller?
very tempted to start saying chuga chuga chuga chuga
Good morning, everyone. My name is Cheryl Miller. I am the
public health Justice organiz.
public health Justice organizer at stop Southside together
organizing for.
organizing for power.
I am here.
You wouldn't guess it but I'm here in support of treatment,
not trauma.
Um because I have also seen how diffic.
Um because I have also seen how difficult it has been for
myself.
family members friends community members to find mental
health care
the formation of this working group for
The formation of this working group for treatment not
trauma was a huge win for the campaign.
trauma was a huge win for the campaign and it is imperative
that the TNT.
that the tinti working group approaches the implementation.
of this model with a fresh perspective.
We've heard promises time.
We've heard promises time and time again. We need to get
this right.
this right to meet all of Chicago's.
this right to meet all of Chicago's needs.
I implore the working group to make sure that the previous
administration's deck.
administration's decisions are seen as Lessons Learned.
administration's decisions are seen as Lessons Learned and
not an in and not influence the recommendations the working
group will.
group will have I urge this working group to Prior.
group will have I urge this working group to prioritize
independent analysis and decision-making.
independent analysis and decision-making ensuring the
implementation of this model is Guided by evidence-based.
practices and the collective input of stakeholders
thousands of Chicago.
thousands of Chicagoans have shared that Mental Health
Access is a priority in 2022.
Access is a priority in 2022 a referendum was placed in the
6 20th and 33rd wards that had
6 20th and 33rd Wars that had overwhelming support to
reopen.
reopen our
public Mental Health
public mental health centers with no fewer than 20 90% of
Voters in any Precinct saying yes.
Voters in any Precinct saying yes reopen our Mental Health
Centers. It is time that we give Chicagoans treatment, not
trauma and thank you all for listening to me.
Thank you for your comments. Um our next.
Thank you for your comments. Um, our next speaker is Ronald
Jackson.
all the new people
No, no, no, no, no, no.
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No I still here
before.
here before, uh to all the new people welcome aboard to the
city council. I believe there's only 2 older.
city council. I believe there's only 2 older persons that
were here. Uh, since I've been fighting this fight and
that's Rosa and Hatton.
that's Rosa and Hatton, uh to all of the new oh,
look at there look at there, uh and a by
Look at there look at there, uh and a Barren over there.
Yes. Okay. My name is Ronald Jackson.
Yes. Okay. My name is Ronald Jackson also known as cowboys
spelled with a K. But guess what? This ain't my first
rodeo?
Back in 2012. No, let's go back to 2011 in front of Romney
manual.
manual a lady suffered from Mental Health.
manual a lady suffered from mental health stood up and said
ROM if you close my clinics I will die.
Ellen morally
After Brown closed her Beverly.
after Brown closed her Beverly Clinic
a few weeks later
Helen Morley was found dead. They believed that it was.
heartbreak syndrome.
Glenn Ford
a a a a person that sought mental health treatment from 1
of the clinics. He constantly said it took a whole damn
year just to hear my body.
year just to heal my body a whole damn year just to heal my
body and guess what?
body and guess what right now 22 years later. He's still
waiting to get his body healed. He ended up.
waiting to get his body healed. He ended up having to leave
Chicago and go to uh, California because every time he had
an episode they would call out the SWAT teams. Come on,
Chicago.
Chicago right now. You have a public Mental Health
Network that doesn't even have a psychiat.
Network that doesn't even have a psychiatrist on board.
you have
You have a you have all of the infrastructure of talking
about.
about reopening a mental health.
about reopening mental health clinics when in essence the
fact that you have right now.
fact that you have right now are under staff.
and
And the Department of Health itself is drastic.
And the Department of Health itself is drastically under
staff. The police department is understaffed. I am a member
of the uh,
of the uh mental health Advisory Board to the city of
Chicago through the mental through the uh Department of
Health. Guess what?
the idea
The idea of us sitting here and having these conversations.
back and forth in order for another mental.
back and forth in order for another mental health clinic to
be opened the public Mental Health.
be opened the public mental health, uh, Advisory board has
to is in that conversation. You'll see me again when you
start talking about making your interim commissioner.
commissioner of the uh, City's Department of Health
because we cannot bring in fresh.
because we cannot bring in fresh blood. We cannot bring in
intelligence.
intelligence through a failing already system.
right now
Right. Now the department of health is more like the
Titanic.
Titanic has already sank, and we're trying to re
it. We cannot we I repeat we cannot keep doing the same
thing.
over and over again having a new faces put in front of me
and expect a different outcome. That's what insanity looks
like.
like and unless we get to treatment not trauma.
like and unless we get to treatment not trauma on the real
and say
is going to
Thank you for your comments, uh the time.
Thank you for your comments. Uh, the time for public
comment has expired, but we only have 2 more speakers. So
I'm going to allow the the last.
I'm going to allow the the last 2 speakers to come to the
mic. Um the next
mic. Um, the next speaker is Dr. Terren.
Hi, thank you for having me.
Hi, thank you for having me here. Um, I'm Dr. Terren
shirmal. I represent the Dr. Cloudy HR in softech.
shirmal. I represent the Dr. Cloudy HR in softtech, uh
company. Um, I'm the uh, clinical strategy officer or um,
the vice president of clinical strategy. Um, I'm not going
to take too much time, but
I really want everyone to focus. Uh, I am participating in
in supporting the panel.
in supporting the panel and I'm on the panel for TNT.
we uh support the treatment on trauma we support
we uh support the treatment on trauma. We support many
different counties and different states and we've used
technology to connect um different
technology to connect. Um different Hospital Systems
psychiatric hospitals.
psychiatric hospitals, um behavioral health programs
inpatient outpatient County.
inpatient outpatient County Jail systems, um schools
juvenile,
juvenile homes, um without the interoperability and
interoperability is the connectivity and able
communicate with different systems. Um, we're not able to
get access to care for folks.
get access to care for folks in uh for Behavioral Health
uh, we need to
Uh, we need to spend the time to figure out how we're going
to connect. Um, we've worked on these Solutions before um,
and you know, there's another opportunity.
and you know, there's another opportunity to work with the
emergency rooms to make sure that we can get patients.
emergency rooms to make sure that we can get patients, uh
appointments and of them coming back to the emergency rooms
over and over.
over and over, um, a few things that you know, we need to
look as defin.
look as definitely funding. Um,
we should put a
We should put a fund for folks that don't have insurance or
can't afford their.
can't afford their deductibles or co-pays. Um, we need to
uh have access to care immediately. Um, you know, a lot of
our counselors they have time on their calendar a lot of
cancellations.
cancellations happen, um with this population, um, and so
getting direct access to these calendars, which is what we
do.
do, um gets these Council
do, um gets these counselor, uh, schedules full and
appointments might be available the next day, um instead of
waiting uh right now,
waiting, uh right now at 6 weeks to get a a counselor and
weeks to get a psychiatrist and then uh,
programs, you know working with the school systems.
give access to care, uh, you know if we can have
give access to care, uh, you know, if we can have uh
approval from the parents, uh,
approval from the parents, uh consent in the beginning of
the school year, um the students
the school year, um, the students could reach out and get
counseling on their own.
counseling on their own and with all this we got to include
wraparound Services, uh, if you don't have housing,
not able to get care, um, you'll be back.
system over and over
and I know we were talking about C.
and I know we were talking about CIT programs. Um, we've
seen uh, great.
seen uh, great, um improvements when uh, the CIT program
works.
works with uh, EMS and Fire Department.
works with uh, EMS and fire department. Um, they're
clinically trained and uh, it it's just
clinically trained and uh it it's just a better outcome and
they're able to identify and get access. Um, a lot of our
CIT programs and other states have access to uh, EHR
system.
Dr. Cloud EHR where there are no what uh, what medications
they're on. Uh, what
they're on uh, what they need and uh, where which programs
they belong to so thank you again, and we appreciate
treatment.
treatment now trauma.
Thank you for your comments our last speaker.
Thank you for your comments. Our last speaker. Is Cia
Kathy.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Sonia.
Kathy, and I'm a policy and an analyst at.
Alternatives is a nonprofit that supports Chicago.
Alternatives is a nonprofit that supports Chicago youth to
build safer communities through a combination of
restorative justice and Behavioral Health Services. The
students Alternatives works with our Primm.
students Alternatives works with our primarily black and
brown and live in places that have inadequate mental health
treatment.
I am standing with the treatment not trauma campaign.
demand the city reopen the public health centers invest
public health care that is accessible to everyone and to
expand nonpf police.
expand non-police crisis response programs across the city.
though it might push our imagination to
Though it might push our imagination to Envision a
comprehensive response team to Mental Health Services.
comprehensive response team to Mental Health Services to
Mental Health crisis. I would like to share to remind this
committee that the ambulance and EMTs were only first
implemented in 19.
implemented in 1967 the Freedom House am
implemented in 1967 the Freedom House Ambulance Service the
all black team of paramedics.
all black team of paramedics who pioneered the profession
only from 1968 to 197.
only from 1968 to 1975 were established in Pittsburgh, and
they did so because they found that their neighbors were
not calling Health Services because they were afraid of the
police. It was only 50 years ago. And now we live in a
world where duh, you obviously want somebody who's trained
in CPR to respond to a someone having a heart attack in the
same way meant
same way mental health is physical health. There is no div.
division between the body and the mind that we like to
Envision.
Envision and that is why obviously
it's just it's just so like
It's just it's just so like duh. You would want somebody who
is trained.
is trained in mental health to respond to.
is trained in mental health to respond to a mental health
crisis, right? And it's really important.
Like I understand that in my role as a policy analyst I am.
Like I understand that in my role as a policy analyst I am
deeply aware of the difficulties that come.
implementing this policy. However, the treatment not trauma
program has the potential to save lives of many people
people that I personally know and have lost because
don't have people adequately trained in these things I urge
this
urge this working group to prioritize the establishment of
a strong treatment.
a strong treatment not trauma model, which should have
clear.
clear measurable goals adequate support system.
sustainable funding this cannot be just another policy in
the policy term that we constantly see I
urge this working.
urge this working group to prioritize independent analysis.
and decision-making ensuring the implement.
and decision-making ensuring the implementation of this
model is Guided by evidence.
model is Guided by evidence track based practices and the
collective input of stakeholders.
the formation of this working group was hu a huge win for
treatment not
treatment, not trauma campaign. However implementation
strategies are important in any policy to ensure its
success. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments at the time. A lot of Republic
comment has expired.
comment has expired we conclude the public comment period
thank you to all.
thank you to all our speakers. I would like to note that
the committee rece.
the committee received 12 written comments for from the
public that were sent out.
public that were sent out to the committee members via
email. Um, I want to acknowledge for the purposes of role
call.
call elder woman Fuentes Elder woman Gutierrez.
woman cruise and non-member Elder.
woman cruise and non-member Elder woman Nicole Lee. Um, I
also uh want to ask for a motion to allow.
also uh want to ask for a motion to allow Alderman yansi to
participate remotely through uh, rule 59. Can I get a
motion for his room of
uh, so moved by Other Woman
uh, so moved by other woman Gutierrez, uh, all those in
favor signify by saying I
oppose say name.
In the opinion of the share of the eyes have it alderman.
Yansi is being added to the role.
um
our first item of business is the approval of the rule 45
report from our februari 13 meeting. Can I get a motion to
approve the februari?
approve the februari 13 2024 rule 45 report other?
approve the februari 13 2024 rule 45 report Other Woman
Cruise so moves. Um,
Cruise so moves, um, all those in favor signify by saying I
although suppose say name in the opinion of the chair the
eyes have it. We will now move on to the next item.
which is a midpoint progress report on the treatment of
tra.
trauma working group today. We will hear about the
structure.
structure goals and values of the treatment of trauma
working group.
working group the current status of the working group the
community engagement.
community engagement process and next steps.
um before we go into um, the the content of the hearing I
do want to say that I am
very hopeful and very excited for what we're discussing.
here today, uh treatment, not trauma.
here today, uh treatment not trauma has been a a huge
project.
project that has been backed by community that was
originated in community that came from the fight The
Fearless fight.
Fearless fight, uh to reopen the public mental health
clinics in Chicago.
Um, and now we are reimagine.
Um, and now we are reimagining what a comprehensive model
that cares for people can look like a public.
that cares for people can look like a public comprehensive
model of mental.
model of mental health care for our city. Um, so we are
incredibly excited that we have been able to take this, um
this work to this point. Um, and and I'm very excited also
to hear um, where
to hear um where we're at and to get um questions from my
committee members and no members, uh to help us.
committee members and no members, uh to help us shape the
work ahead.
I want to start by asking.
I want to start by asking um my colleagues to introduce
them.
themselves so that um members and audience.
themselves so that um members and audience know who is
here. I'm going to start with yuumi.
here. I'm going to start with yuumi and then we will move
through the box.
Um, good afternoon everyone. My name is Yumi griggsby
chief.
of policy for the administration.
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Gary.
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Gary Gatewood deputy
mayor of community safety for the administration.
Good afternoon. My name is Jen Johnson. I am the deputy
mayor of Education Youth and Human Services and
it over to our colleagues in the Box.
Good.
Good afternoon, Jacob noodleman first Deputy budget.
director.
at Richard's Deputy Commissioner
At Richard's Deputy Commissioner for Babel Health at the
health department.
Good.
Good afternoon, Noreen Hashem. Javani director of gender
base.
based violence and health policy on the mayor's office
policy team.
Um CL.
Um clario Guzman. I work in the mayor's office for
Community engagement.
Good afternoon, Ally lickerman.
Good afternoon, Ally lickerman senior policy advisor in the
mayor's office of community safety.
Good afternoon, Mariano. Sorrya first.
Good afternoon, Mariano. Sorrya, first Deputy of Human
Services in the education Youth and Human Services.
Services in the education Youth and Human Services team in
the mayor's office.
Good afternoon.
good afternoon, Tiffany patent Burnside senior director of
Crisis services with the Chicago Department of Public
Health.
Good afternoon, everyone Alicia Warren assistant
commissioner for mental health.
commissioner for mental health with the Chicago Department
of Public Health.
Good afternoon, Candace Coleman access living.
Good afternoon latr.
Good afternoon, Latrice Moore Chicago Fire Department
assistant commissioner.
Hello everyone, Dr. Arthur Karo.
Hello, everyone, Dr. Arthur Karo, uh, Brandon Park
neighborhood Council and the collaborative for community.
Wellness.
Michelle Woods Deputy Commissioner from the Bureau of asset
management from the Department of Fleet and facility
management
Good afternoon. Been am.
Good afternoon. Been Amino managing Deputy Commissioner for
DHHR.
We have everyone here. Thank you.
We have everyone here. Thank you everybody for being here
today. Um, we are now going to uh engage with uh, a
presentation. Um, that will include a
presentation, um that will include a recap of the treatment
of trauma working group ordinance.
Uh working group update that covers the areas.
engagement overview of community engagement strateg.
alignment on values alternative crisis responds.
alignment on values alternative crisis response and
clinical service expansion.
Good.
Good afternoon, everyone as I mentioned, my name is Yumi
griggsby chief of policy.
mayor Johnson's vision
mayor Johnson's Vision, uh for a better stronger safer
future is 1 where our youth and our communities have access
to the tools and resources. They need to thrive.
our mission is
Our mission is in partnership with all Chicago and informed
by data.
by data we aim to correct systems and practices that have
created.
created in inequities for too long. We aim to repair.
created in inequities for too long. We aim to repair past
harms that have contributed to purposeful disinvestment.
harms that have contributed to purposeful disinvestment and
inclusion. We aim to Usher.
inclusion. We aim to usher in a new era of inclusive
effective governance that creates a better stronger safer,
Chicago.
So why is the administration prioritizing treatment not
tra?
trauma?
mental health and psychological distress are serious issues
facing Chicagoans. In fact, 75% or 143.
facing Chicagoans, in fact, 75% or 143,200 adults facing
psychological distress.
psychological distress are not taking medication or
receiving care from a health.
receiving care from a healthcare provider.
We need more.
We need more dedicated city-funded Health Mental Health
Services.
services and resources to address the needs of Chicago.
the treatment not trauma campaign
Is consists of a coalition of community members?
people social workers and Youth
people social workers and youth and this demonstrates a
desire to see a city with funded?
desire to see a city with funded robust public Care Systems
and a Citywide resp.
and a Citywide response program the crisis of Mental Health
the primary tenants of this community-driven campaign are
to open new city.
to open new city run Mental Health Centers higher community
care workers.
care workers expand non-police mobile.
care workers expand non-police mobile crisis response and
improved dispatch infrastructure.
improve dispatch infrastructure and to provide sustained
funding for treatment, not trauma.
funding for treatment, not trauma and to integrate the
tenants of T treatment. Not tra.
tenants of T treatment. Not trauma into cdph is broader
Community Health initiatives.
So, how do we get here?
We introduced the in september of 2023.
We introduced the in september of 2023 the treatment not
trauma working group ordinance, which called for amongst
other things and expansion of access.
other things and expansion of access to mental health
services, including mental health centers.
services, including Mental Health Centers and crisis
response services.
The treatment not trauma working group ordinance.
October 4th, 2023 and establish.
October 4th, 2023 and established a working group to
develop recommendations regarding provisions.
develop recommendations regarding provisions of mental
health services, including alternative response.
Clinical Services to go further into the goals and
deliverables the members the community involvement, so
in the meeting requirements alternate over to noran Hashem.
Jawani, who's the director of gender.
Jawani who's the director of gender-based violence and
health
Good afternoon, everyone.
Good afternoon, everyone, um on this slide over here.
going to walk you through some of the requirements that
were passed in ordinance 2012300.
were passed in ordinance 202300000041. Which establish
treatment not trauma working group.
the working
The working group has been charged with developing a
suggested frame.
suggested framework and roadmap for the city to expand
Mental Health.
mental health Clinical Services nonpf police response for
Behavioral and Mental Health crisis and community.
Behavioral and Mental Health crisis and Community awareness
of available Mental Health Resources. A report is to be
delivered to the mayor by Mae 3.
delivered to the mayor by May 31st 2024 that includes
recommendations that are considerate of the following
factors.
factors 1 budget expansion to Capital and facility needs 3
Staffing recruitment.
Staffing Recruitment and Retention strategies for
input 5 state and federal legal.
input 5 state and federal legal and Regulatory parameters
and 6.
and 6 metrics to guide implementation and success.
The working group is comprised of represent.
Chicago Department of Public Health.
Chicago Department of Public Health fire assets information
and services.
and services Human Resources. The mayor's office the
of budget and management and the office of emergency
management and Communications.
Integral to our work has been Community engagement. This is
also part of the ordinance the working group is
also part of the ordinance. The working group is required
to consult with at least 10 Community mem.
to consult with at least 10 community members when
determining recommendations, I'm
determining recommendations. I'm pleased to share that our
current Community consult list includes nearly 40
individuals and we have expanded our Outreach to an all of
Chicago approach and has been and have been conducting
Community meetings listening sessions in partnership with
our community members.
Finally, we are required to meet at least 3 times.
finally, we are required to meet at least 3 times before
May 1st 2021 as
May 1st 2021. As of today. We have Matt as a full working
group twice. There are additional meetings that my
colleagues and I will further.
colleagues and I will further um that have further hosted
that we will walk you through.
that we will walk you through momentarily.
on this next slide
On this next slide our team wanted to highlight that the
scope and Milestones that we have.
scope and Milestones that we have developed for our work
plan has come from a variety of sour.
plan has come from a variety of sources.
First we have conducted Jam.
First we have conducted Jam board exercises in partnership
with community.
with Community consults clinicians and residents. These jam
boards are available on our micro site, which my colleague
Claudia Guzman will will share shortly.
Claudia Guzman will will share shortly in addition to
strategy sessions our team has
strategy sessions. Our team has holds open Office hours to
continue discuss.
continue discussions in between working group meetings. We
are in very close contact and consultation with our
community consult mem.
community consult members we meet with them 1-on-1 and sub.
subgroups in community meetings and through surveys.
Finally. We are referencing data and research from white
papers public and community.
And more to consolidate the information.
and more to consolidate the information and identify our
approach within the working group to together. These
resources are guiding the development of the recommend.
recommendations that the working group will set forth.
I will now pass it to my colleagues Claudia Guzman
community.
Community liaison and director on the mayor's office
Community engagement.
Community engagement team to double click on our community
engagement strategy.
engagement strategy thus far. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon.
Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone, um as mentioned, my
name is cly Guzman. I work in the mayor's office for
Community engagement. Um, and I'm a company here also by 2
of the community members.
of the community members and Community councils, um that
I've had the pleasure of working closely with um, we have
Arthur carrijo from the collaborative.
Arthur carrijo from the collaborative of for for Community
wellness and brand Park neighborhood Council and Candace
Coleman from uh, who's a community strategy specialist in
Access living.
Um integral to the working group and so development.
Um integral to the working group and so development of the
report is our engagement component. Um,
report is our engagement component, um, as in we had
already mentioned and part of that component is
relationship that we are building with the collaborative
for Community Wellness.
for Community Wellness, which is 1 of the people powered
mechanisms.
mechanisms behind the treatment not trauma campaign. Um,
because of this important relationship a member of the
mayor's office, usually me, um has regular meetings with
members.
members of the collaborative to let them know where we are
in the process.
in the process and together their feedback of of the
process that we are undertaking, um along with a regular
check.
check-ins with the collaborative group we have is already
mentioned. Um, I think at this point over 40 Community mem
members, um, who we refer to as our community,
consults that have been um identified
Consults that have been um, identified, um based on the
requirements of the TNT Orden.
requirements of the TNT ordinance, um to provide uh, the
consultative support and feedback.
for the development of the report
For the development of the report, um, the community
councils were identified through the collabor.
councils were identified through the collaborative through
cdph and through community.
cdph and through Community Partners. Um and these
Community councils represent grassroot leaders organiz.
Community councils represent grassroot leaders organizers,
um labor cbos academic contact experts and healthcare
providers.
um and then members of the TNT team, um,
um, and then members of the TNT team, um, having engaged
and are going to continue to engage with the community
councils from as as already mentioned from
participation in subgroup meetings 1-on.
participation in subgroup meetings, 1-on-1 meetings between
community members and the TNT team and participation in
larger context specific.
larger contact specific Community Council meetings or by
joining me. Oh, sorry.
too close
To close my phone. Sorry or by joining meetings at the
community members, uh may be hosting that they'll talk a
little bit more. Um, the ordinance requires that we have 10
Consultants.
Consultants with community members along the process.
to say that we have already surpassed that as mentioned we
have over.
have over 40 Community consults. Um,
have over 40 Community consults, um, in addition to the
communities consults, we have other part opportunities.
people to leave back. Um, uh to we have we are having 2
Citywide meetings. We already had our first Citywide
meeting it was in January 30th and
meeting it was in January 30th, and we had representation
of over 14 of 14.
of over 14 of 14 words at that meeting. Um, and our
Wide meeting will be at the end of the March.
working closely with Alders to increase representation from
all the other words, um another opportunity for
all the other words. Um, another opportunity for community
members to leave feedback is through the listening s
that are being hosted by the collaborative. Um, I
talk to much about those listening sessions. I'll let them
do the talking. Um, but just wanted to um recognize that as
an opportunity, um an ongoing way for
an opportunity. Um an ongoing way for people to engage is
through our micro site. We do have a treatment on trauma
micro site.
micro site, um that you could access easily um through
through the city website and on there we have slide decks
of a past meetings. We have we put our notes. Um, we have
meeting notices and we also have the history of the
treatment at trauma campaign and the history
of the mental health centers. Um, there's also
opportunity to leave feedback on our micro site as well.
Um, I just asked for for a little patience
person team and we don't put those we
Them up, but sometimes it takes a few days. So just ask for
patience there. Um, and lastly we're working with CD.
creating a survey um that we hope to get
awards that focuses on collecting.
police response, uh subgroup. Um, currently the
collaborative has a survey that they are collecting on
clinical expansion. They're going to synthesize those
results and um, we'll be giving it
which will give to the working group. So we are working to
create a knot.
As well and then from there I'll pass it over to Aro.
No.
Hello.
Good afternoon. It's
Good afternoon is team members of City Council?
My name is Dr. To Cairo.
My name is Dr. Cairo. I'm the deputy director for housing
balance prevention.
balance prevention for Brighton Park neighborhood Council
and 1 of the co-leads for.
and 1 of the co-leads for the collaborative for Community
Wellness.
I'm a licensed.
I'm a licensed clinical social worker and I hold a PHD in
social work.
the collaborative for Community Wellness, which I
representing here today is comprised of community leaders.
representatives from nonprofit organizations.
political organizations mental health practitioners academ.
academics and many others. Who care about Mental Health
Access for Chicagoans as a human, right?
What?
do
Do Chicagoans and working group members want?
to building a crisis response system in our city?
This is a central question that our coalitions have.
to answer when we first introduced the council order.
This Very Committee in 2020.
at the
At the time we had an Administration that was dead set.
At the time we had an Administration that was dead set on
creating a police Centric crisis response system.
creating a police Centric crisis response system called the
co-responder model.
at a time when multiple municipalities
At a time when multiple municipalities they had experimented
with this form of crisis response. We're
walking away from this model.
the previous administration set forth to implement this
model after years of closed door meetings after the police
murder.
murder of laquan McDonald and controll.
murder of laquan McDonald and Colonial aguer.
These were black.
These were black young black men dealing with Mental Health
crisis.
And they came up with a recommendation.
And they came up with the recommendation of formerly
centering crisis response around.
centering crisis response around police involvement.
Doing so by adding.
Doing so by adding paramedic and social and behavioral
health workers.
health workers to a police response.
But back to the question here at hand.
What do Chicagoans want when it comes to building a crisis
response?
response system in our city?
in 2023 our Coalition conducted the first of its
In 2023 our Coalition conducted the first of its kind St.
Citywide survey asking Chicago.
Citywide survey asking Chicagoans what they would like to
see a Chicago builds a Citywide crisis response program.
Over 3 quarters of respond.
over 3 quarters of respondents said that they only the only
meant
mental the only mental health professionals not the police.
should respond to Mental Health crisis.
an even larger majority 94% said that peer support
Specialists someone with lived experience should be part of
crisis response teams.
finally
respondents agreed
the crisis teams should connect the person in crisis to
longer term Services after.
longer term Services after our Mental Health Emergency is
resolved.
these include long-term Mental Health Services support
These include long-term Mental Health Services supports for
individuals who have experienced family or Community
violence.
violence Medical Care housing services employment.
violence Medical Care housing services employment and other
educational assistance supports as well as Financial.
support for those individuals in crisis.
Today, we have a new Administration.
that
That is open to new possibilities that is ready to listen
to.
to Chicagoans and to working group members.
So understand what Chicagoans want?
This Administration has established a guiding.
This Administration has established a guiding set of values
based on accessibility equ.
based on accessibility Equity being trauma-informed
focusing on.
focusing on Community Education reducing barriers to
hiring.
coordinating support providing quality Care.
engagement and creating a permanent system.
engagement and creating a permanent system that provides
long lasting presence in community.
long lasting presence in community and builds alternative
response teams.
that do not rely on police as part of our
That do not rely on police as part of our first response
ecosystem.
These values align with our values as a collaborative.
These values align with our values as a collaborative and
we are excited about the possibilities that exist to build.
out Chicago's public mental health infrastructure.
out Chicago's public mental health infrastructure in a way
that truly prioritizes community.
that truly prioritizes Community needs the facilitate
access to preventive and crisis response services that are
accessible to all Chicagoans.
Chicago is uniquely positioned.
Chicago is uniquely positioned to expand its public mental
health infrastructure in a way that begins to establish the
permanence of care for areas of the city.
permanence of care for areas of the city that are deserts
when it comes to long-term preventative.
when it comes to long-term preventative Services and triage
support.
our research of service accessibility through a
trauma-informed centers of Care Network was inspired by
this by the severe limitations that we see as social
workers.
as we try to
As we try to support people who are continually trying to
receive.
receive mental health support and are not able to access
that care.
when our collaborative assess Services access accessibility
through a trauma-informed centers of care, we found that
the vast majority of Chicago.
the vast majority of Chicagoans did not assess barrier-free
Services through these private providers.
private providers As We Know
Private providers as we know are dealing with many
challenges and cannot address.
challenges and cannot address the needs of the entire city.
This is why we must invest in the public Mental Health
Centers to ensure that all Chicagoans have options for
accessing mental health supports.
accessing mental health supports in their moment of need.
So that we can provide.
So that we can provide more possibilities for care in areas
of the city that need.
of the city that need it the most providing people real
choices.
We currently have 5 public mental health centers.
We currently have 5 public Mental Health Centers and mayor
Brandon Johnson has budgeted for 2 Edition.
Brandon Johnson has budgeted for 2 additional centers in
this fiscal year.
in alignment with the priority of community engagement the
treatment of trauma working group is here to ensure that
the process.
the process for reestablishing public Mental Health Centers
and building out Chicago's public mental health
infrastructure is informed by Community needs and
recommendations.
creating possibilities
Creating possibilities for triage support is important.
instead of cycling people through hospitalization crisis
after crisis without providing the proper follow-up support
and allowing people to fall to the cracks.
our collab
Our collaborative is also hosting a series of listening
sessions.
sessions across the entire city to help inform key
recommendations.
recommendations for the working group.
These listening sessions allow.
These listening sessions allow Chicagoans to share the
perspective on accessibility.
perspective on accessibility division for public Mental
Health Centers the public Mental Health.
Health Centers the public Mental Health Services that they
provide and their vision for mental health.
provide and their vision for Mental Health crisis response.
while we are
While we are in the early phases of synthesizing data.
Seems to date highlight the importance of investing in non
police mobile.
police mobile crisis response.
Investing in public Mental Health Services that are
long-term and life.
listening session participants have also emphasized the
long-term preventative Services must be holistic resources.
that enhance social supports in order to promote emotional.
well-being and to provide the proper preventative support.
to prevent crises from happening in the first place.
We are inviting Chicagoans to participate in the upcoming.
listening sessions that will be happening tonight in North
London.
Lawndale and running through March 8th.
Lawndale and running through March 8th this year.
all the information
All the information can be found on our website.
collaborative for community wellness.org
you can find information for the listening sessions as well
for as well as for our survey.
findings from
Findings from this research will add to the various reports
conducted so far.
conducted so far that have found the need to reestablish a
robust public infrastructure of care that Chicagoans can
rely.
rely on for support in the same way that our residents
already.
already benefit from our City's libraries our parks.
public schools and our city colleges.
in addition to our collaborative community
In addition to our collaborative community-based research.
We've also conducted literature reviews.
We've also conducted literature reviews of crisis response
models across the entire nation.
by far
By far the most impressive and comprehensive system that has
made the biggest impact.
has made the biggest impact in another.
metropolitan area has
Metropolitan area has been the Albuquerque Community safety
department.
Which has diverted more than 33,000.
Which has diverted more than 33,000 calls from the city's
Police Department.
We are excited to have Maria Reese anel.
the director of Albuquerque Community safety as part of the
working group
at the July health and human relations subcommittee.
at the July health and human relations subcommittee hearing
she gave very important testim.
she gave very important testimony testimony and was able to
answer questions in that hearing.
I like to highlight a few key aspects of their program that
were shared with us in order to help us Envision. What can
be done here in Chicago?
the City of Albuquerque which
the City of Albuquerque, which is also under consent decree
decided to take bold steps to establish the Albuquerque
Community safety department.
The department is a city.
The department is a city that City level a mayoral level
City Department.
City Department managed and operated by the city.
similar to our current Mental Health Centers here in
Chicago, which is something that Albuquerque actually does
not have
the Albuquerque Community safety department staffs 130
public employees making the department a robust.
public employees making the department a robust third First
Response Department that is available to all residents
throughout the city available by calling.
throughout the city available by calling 911 or through
311.
the Staffing for crisis response in their model is not
limited to behavioral health workers instead. They hire
former teachers.
former Teachers Community leaders and people with lived
experience to support people in their time.
experience to support people in their time of crisis.
these
These staff also work under the department.
of and the program of violence interrupt
of and the program of violence Interruption violence
Interruption is a important part of their crisis response
system as well.
And it focuses on reducing gun violence.
our synthesis
Our synthesis of findings from our literature views the
community.
community based research initiatives have common
culminated.
In our treatment not trauma white paper.
this white paper available on our website is where we
outline recommendations for building out public Mental
Health infrastructures.
health infrastructures that is grounded in research.
and evidence
our recommendations focus on reopening the public Mental
Health Centers as the home.
Health Centers as the home base necessary for expanding non
police crisis response.
police crisis response teams throughout the city.
Just as the City of Albuquerque found that a Diverse
Staffing model.
Staffing model is instrumental to to their support for
Community res.
Community residents and crisis. We envision Chicago
establishing a community.
establishing a community care Corp.
comprised of community members with lived experience
as well as being on the Forefront of Service delivery for
both preventive service and crisis.
both preventive service and crisis response support as
staff of Chicago's.
staff of Chicago's public Mental Health.
Department
finally, Chicago
finally Chicago has an opportunity to course, correct?
And set a new direction for building a viable sustainable
infrastruct.
infrastructure.
that can provide support for all residents of the
That can provide support for all residents of the city.
We must act with the urgency of the moment.
Take bold steps to build a foundation.
Take bold steps to build a foundation to meet the needs of
Chicagoans in every neighborhood.
We need to build a system that can meet the demands not
only for Crisis Support, but also prevention and follow.
intervention in our public sector that can.
intervention in our public sector that can help the people
who are currently fall into the cracks. Thank you.
Uh, good afternoon. So now we'll talk.
Uh, good afternoon. So now we'll talk a little bit about
the expansion of a non-police resp.
the expansion of a non-police response. Right? So the
expansion of a non-police alternate crisis.
expansion of a non-police alternate crisis response is a
mayoral priority. We want Behavioral Health and mint.
health experts providing services to those.
health experts providing services to those who are facing
crisis to take the pressure off our first
crisis to take the pressure off our First Responders far
too often people have touched and discussed how we are
asking our Public Safety agencies.
asking our Public Safety agencies to carry too much. This
work is an example of how we can shift.
work is an example of how we can shift some of those
pressures and responsibilities.
Um, this is not just us speaking hyper.
superintendent also supports treatment, not trauma as
understands that officers should not be responding to
Mental Health crisis.
Mental Health crisis when you have access to resources that
are available in communities.
our teams have been working on both the
Our teams have been working on both the short-term and
long-term expansion for what alternate responses.
long-term expansion for what alternate responses look like
and I want to highlight that the members of The Altar
response subgroup who are working on these plans are those
departments that are already implementing our altern.
response pilot.
with making recommendations that are not only
With making recommendations that are not only Visionary but
also implementable. Um, so at this point I'll pass it over
to my colleague our senior policy.
to my colleague our senior policy advisor. I'll elect them
and so she can share more details about the work that's
been happening in the alternate Response Group.
the accomplishments that we've been able to uh, get done.
far.
Thank you to the chair, uh and committee members. My name
is Ally. Lerin I use she her pronouns and I'm a senior
policy adviser.
policy adviser and the mayor's office of community safety.
I have the privilege of facilitating.
I have the privilege of facilitating the alternate response
subgroup as well as working with our care.
subgroup as well as working with our care team for
ordinance the mayor and city council.
ordinance the mayor and city council charged us with
developing a suggested framework and roadmap for the city
to expand non police response for behav.
to expand non police response for Behavioral and Mental
Health crisis. We've been working diligent.
Health crisis. We've been working diligently with City
stakeholders from cdph.
stakeholders from cdph cfd oemc 2fm DHR and The Clinical
Services subgroup.
Services subgroup as well as Community consults Advocates
and our part.
and our partners at other levels of government to begin
building out recom.
building out recommendations that as the deputy mayor said
are
Visionary and implementable
through meetings with City staff Community consults and our
steering committee. We came to agreement.
steering committee. We came to agreement on the following
scope for our work that you can see on the screen.
The treatment not trauma working group wreck.
The treatment not trauma working group recommends the city
of Chicago build out permanent alternate responds.
of Chicago build out permanent alternate response services
to meet Behavioral Health needs the care provided should be
trauma-informed holistic and rooted in the needs and
experiences of its users.
experiences of its users their families and communities.
Our report will provide both.
Our report will provide both a vision for Citywide
alternate response as well.
alternate response as well as detailed recommendations for
how the city can move towards this goal.
how the city can move towards this goal over the next 3
years.
to build out these recommendations we've engaged with
stakeholders in a really wide range of ways. We've held
subgroup meetings with our city staff.
subgroup meetings with our city staff to discuss best
practice learn from existing program.
practice learn from existing programming and discuss how we
can improve and grow alternate response. We've engaged with
our community consults to vision.
our community consults to Vision learn from their expertise
and get feedback from those who have an ear.
and get feedback from those who have an ear to the ground.
We've heard presentations from our state part.
We've heard presentations from our state partners and
Advocates to ensure we are coordinating with cess
Advocates to ensure. We are coordinating with cessa and
9888 implementation and subsequently.
implementation and subsequently presented an update on
treatment not trauma at the cessa state advis.
treatment not trauma at the cessa state advisory Council.
I've held open Office hours for City staff to Foster
collaboration across departments and give subgroup members
extra space to share ideas and ask questions. I'm
participated in the community meeting that the working.
group held last month among other things.
To date we've discussed scope situations community.
to date we've discussed scope situations community members
think could warrant Behavioral Health response how
build off the groundwork laid by care facilities and
our work connects to Clinical Services looking forward.
We're going to be digging into operational details.
We're going to be digging into operational details through
both subgroup and departmental meetings engagement with
Obi.
OBM. We are beginning to come up with more concrete
recommend.
recommendations that recognize the strengths and
challenges. We've identified.
we've identified and then we'll run them through feedback.
Loops that include both City staff.
Loops that include both City staff and our community
members.
and with that I'm
And with that I'm excited to pass it to Tiffany patent
Burnside sin.
Burnside senior director of Crisis services at cdph who
will share.
will share more about the history of alternate response
programming and how cdph has engaged in the TNT alternate
response of subgroup.
Good.
Good afternoon, and thank you for um having us uh, my name.
is Tiffany patent Burnside. I am a licensed clinical
social.
worker and the senior director of Crisis services for the
Chicago Department of Public Health. I was born and raised
in Chicago and over the past 2 and a half years, I've
worked to stand up and support Chicago's response.
Behavioral Health crisis known as crisis assistance
response and engagement or care pilot program. I serve on
the alternate response subgroup with representatives from 5
other City departments.
other City departments cdph provides information and data
to support the working group as they consult with
community.
and develop recommendations on how to expand a non-police
response for behavior and Mental Health crisis.
care provides 3 services
Care provides 3 Services first, we provide a pre- response
where mental health clinicians.
where mental health clinicians join staff at the city's 911
Center to assist and identify behav.
Center to assist and identifying appropriate behavior
related calls for the team.
related calls for the team second. We have 3 different
in-person resp.
in-person response models.
Third we have the post.
Third we have the post response which is all about.
Which is all about engagement.
Which is all about engagement follow-up where teams can
provide referrals to community res.
provide referrals to Community Resources provide care
coordination and Non-Emergency transport.
over the
Over the 2 year pilot, we've seen great successes and
learn.
many lessons from september 2021.
many lessons from september 2021 to November 2023 care
responded to 1,272 911 call.
responded to 1,272 911 calls had 913 follow-up encounters.
with less than 1% of cases resulting in arrests or use of
force. This success was the result of the partnership
across many Department.
across many departments and the mayor's office and
demonstrator demonstr.
demonstrator demonstrates that alternate response teams can
safely resp.
safely respond and resolve 911 calls.
safely respond and resolve 911 calls for Behavioral Health
crisis.
taking the time to Pilot this program all
from and with Chicago's Public Safety department.
from and with Chicago's Public Safety departments work with
evaluators like the University of Chicago.
evaluators like the University of Chicago Health lab and
Harvard government performance lab partner with other
cities supporting each other to grow.
cities supporting each other to grow and improve these
responses Nation.
responses Nationwide and gain experience to build from some
techn.
technical insights. We've been able to bring to the sub
subgroup include 1 the necessary.
subgroup include 1 the necessary collaboration across
multiple departments with respect for differences in
leadership structure Reg.
leadership structure regulations policies and
organizational cultures.
organizational cultures expanding alternate response will
require new ways of working across departments.
require new ways of working across departments alternate
response will also need to have clear dispatch protocols
and information sharing coord.
and information sharing coordination across the office of
emergency management and Communications Chicago Fire
Department.
Department region 11 Office of Public Safety
Administration.
Department region 11 Office of Public Safety Administration
the Chicago Police Department and
mayor's office for Community safety
the pilot demonstrated that alternate alternate response
teams.
teams can safely and effectively resolve 911 calls with
Behavioral Health components under the mayor's Guidance.
The city will be phasing out the police.
The city will be phasing out the police involved
multi-disciplinary response teams this year though
continued collaboration with the Chicago.
continued collaboration with the Chicago Police Department
will be critical to the ongoing.
will be critical to the ongoing success of this program.
This will also include a transition.
emergency medical technicians or EMT
health department.
The alternate response model is dependent on
and resource sharing to facilit.
and resource sharing to facilitate seamless coordination
from the dispatching of teams.
from the dispatching of teams to coordinating
transportation to reduce.
transportation to reduce fragmentation of support to
clients. The program is heavily reliant on train.
Responders and licensed mental health clinician.
Responders and licensed mental health clinicians. Both
professional workforces are in high demand.
professional workforces are in high demand and limited
Supply the mayor
Supply. The mayor's office is working with supporting
departments to develop plans to expand ours we can coverage
coverage and geographical coverage based on availability of
res.
resources and Staffing achieving our staff.
resources and Staffing achieving our staffing goals will
require intensive collaboration with the Department of
Human Resources office of budget management.
Human Resources office of budget management and Community
stakeholders Alders.
stakeholders Alders and mayor's office to attract mental
health professionals.
health professionals in the face of a nationwide mental
health Workforce.
health Workforce shortage all of these programmatic
developments.
developments will be subject to the oversight and
Regulatory approval.
of region 11 Medical
of region 11 medical directors and the Illinois Department
of Public Health EMS division
Thank you again for the opportunity.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share our
contributions to the alternate response subgroup. We look
forward to continued collaboration with this body.
forward to continued collaboration with this body our
fellow departments. The mayor's office and
leaders to ensure that individuals experiencing.
health crisis or substance use overdose.
health crisis or substance. Use overdose are assisted by
teams of behavior health professionals. Thank you.
Thank you so much Tiffany. Good afternoon.
Thank you so much Tiffany. Good afternoon chair Rodriguez
Sanchez and committee members. Thank you again. I'm
Sanchez and committee members. Thank you. Again. I'm Jen
Johnson the deputy mayor of Education Youth and Human
Services. I'm really excited to move this TNT work.
Services. I'm really excited to move this TNT work forward
and I'm going to introduce the update around Clinic.
Clinic service expansion as a part of TNT, so
Clinic service expansion as a part of TNT. So if we could
go to the next slide
You know the teacher in me can't help but share this word
cloud.
cloud that my team put together which visualizes some of
the input that we garnered from our most recent Community.
engagement session attendees were asked to share their
personal experiences related to needing Mental Health
Behavioral Services and they were asked what matters
them in receiving those services. And so this word
really represents that Community input as you can see
unsurprisingly mental health is the largest word, but the
second largest is people and so in many of the responses
people came up and so we wanted to share this to really
re-emphasize that we are trying to have a people centered
approach to this Mental Health
approach to this mental health expansion.
when you further review the word cloud you'll
When you further review the word cloud you'll also notice
just really the complexity of the VAR.
just really the complexity of the variety of words and
responses that really describ.
responses that really describe various aspects of our
mental health ecosystem. There are words related to trauma
and the needs to be addressed.
and the needs to be addressed barriers to regarding
services.
Services people in need and people doing the work as you
just heard from Tiffany this input drives home the need for
a tailored affirming and responsive approach to supporting
individuals their families and in community.
individuals their families and in community, so I consider
I encourage you to consider this word cloud.
I encourage you to consider this word cloud as a reminder
that every part of this process has to be people centered
next slide.
the steering committee for TN
The steering committee for TNT is using this definition as
our framework for clinical.
our framework for clinical service expansion. I'm not going
to read the paragraph to you, but I'll highlight a couple
key points 1 is that we are squarely focused on increasing
access to direct Clinical Services, which is a key priority
in ten.
in tenant of TNT and then Additionally the improved
coordin.
coordination and communication of those Services as we all
agree. All residents should have access to Mental Health
Services and fully understand what services are available
and they should be able to easily navigate those Services
when a chicagoan is exper.
when a chicagoan is experiencing a mental health crisis. We
need to ensure that our system is clear and as easy as
experiences of users their families and communities. We
anticipate that this plan will require a multifaceted
approach to the recommendations and a variety of modalities
of service the work of the
of service. The work of the subgroup is to review all the
information data and ideas and it will inform what's
possible in this year's.
possible in this year's 2024 expansion and what the plan
will be for the next.
will be for the next 3 years. Um, I'm proud to pass it over
to Mariana asora who is my first Deputy of Human Services.
to Mariana asora who is my first Deputy of Human Services
and she's facilitating the subgroup and she'll share
additional information.
Thank you.
Thank you deputy mayor.
Good afternoon. Again, my name is Mariano. Sorry, I'm the
first Deputy of Human Services.
first Deputy of Human Services in the mayor's office under
the education Youth and her.
the education Youth and her Human Services team, and I'm
truly privileged to be able to be part of.
truly privileged to be able to be part of this work as
you've heard the charges to.
you've heard the charges to develop a suggested framework
and roadmap for the city to expand Clinical Services and
Community engagement.
Community engagement like our colleagues and Alternate
response.
response space. We have convened City stakeholders,
including the Chicago.
including the Chicago Department of Public Health Fleet and
Facilities Management.
facilities management office of budget and management and
the Department of Human Services.
the Department of Human Services as well as Community
consults and Advocates. You've heard our scope from the
deputy.
deputy mayor, which is a result of the alignment.
deputy mayor, which is a result of the alignment and
between steering committee.
consults and the sub working groups as well as
Consults and the sub working groups as well as reviewing the
data and reports that have been provided.
The timeline will be in the report will be.
The timeline will be in the report will be for 3 years with
a consideration for uh the next 5 years.
and similar to
And similar to alternate alternate response Partners our
engagement.
engagement has included office hours subgroup meetings.
Community consults department meetings the sub.
Community consults department meetings. The subgroup has
met monthly since December. Um, there have been 2 Community
consults with a to date.
consults with a to date with specific questions around
Clinic service expands.
Clinic service expansion, and we've also partnered with our
alternate response.
alternate response, uh, subgroup to really understand what
the clinical needs will be for uh alternate
the clinical needs will be for, uh alternate response. We
will also have another Community Council which is already
scheduled for mid-march. You'll hear more about that.
through our micro site and other methods,
through our micro site and other methods. Um, we'll also
learn from the data received as a result of the
collaborative's listening session and Survey of community
members. We'll use both local and National Data.
members. We'll use both local and National Data and models
as well as intentional Outreach to folks with clinical
experience and live.
experience and lived expertise.
We look forward to continued.
We look forward to continue to engage towards informing the
report and will.
report and will intentionally ask the following questions.
What is the thing that is most needed. What is
What is the thing that is most needed? What is true today?
What additional factors must we cons?
What additional factors must we consider? What's the
current landscape and who is still missing in the
conversation?
conversation all in effort to provide a framework?
Of what is possible and where we what direction we want to
go?
That will be aligned with the charge and ultem.
That will be aligned with the charge and ultimately expands
responsive Clinical Services.
responsive Clinical Services and ensures the community
members know how to access those.
members know how to access those services.
I'm really excited.
I'm really excited to be able to continue to do that work
along.
alongside all of you.
Thank you. I'm now going to pass it over to assistant
Commissioner of mental health at C.
Commissioner of mental health at cdph Alicia Warren to
discuss a little bit of the information and data that we
have that will work towards.
have that will work towards informing this process.
Thanks, Mariana. Good afternoon. My name is Alicia.
Thanks Mariana. Good afternoon. My name is Alicia Warren. I
am the assistant Commissioner of mental health at Chicago.
Department of Public Health a licensed clinical social.
worker and a proud Chicago resident for over 15 years.
I'm honored to be supporting so many people doing.
I'm honored to be supporting so many people doing mental
health work and mental health. Advocacy that have gotten us
to this.
to this point today. Thank you all.
I serve on the Clinical Services subgroup along with the
represent.
representatives from the office of budget Management
Department of Human res.
Department of Human Resources Fleet and Facilities
Management and multip.
Management and multiple. Mayoral offices to provide data
analysis.
analysis and expertise.
Our purpose is to provide.
Our purpose is to provide data to the working group as they
create recommendations.
create recommendations on how to expand city-run mental
health Clinical Services.
health Clinical Services in 20124 and Beyond
1 important way that cdph is supporting the working group.
1 important way that cdph is supporting the working group
is by providing data to support decision-making.
cdph takes data from over 50 be
Cdph takes data from over 50 behavioral health indicators
and makes them publicly available.
and makes them publicly available on the Chicago Health
Atlas.
I'd like to share.
I'd like to share this example up here.
of an analysis of Mental Health
Of an analysis of mental health care and need distributed
throughout the city based.
throughout the city Based on cdph data that you can all
find on the Chicago Health Outlet.
find on the Chicago Health Atlas.
the map shows the rate of
The map shows the rate of unmet mental health treatment and
those exper.
those experiencing serious psychological distress.
the scale ranges from 33.4% of adults in the community area
uh
Uh in the with the light green areas to up to 100% of
adults.
adults in the darker blue.
for this purpose
For this purpose unmet mental health treatment is defined
as individual.
as individuals reporting that they are not currently taking
medication.
medication or receiving mental health treatment from a
doctor or other health professional related to any mental
health condition.
health condition or emotional problem that they may be
experiencing.
Beyond distribution an interesting takeaway is that the need
persists regardless of available meant
need persists regardless of available Mental Health
Services?
It's crucial to understand.
It's crucial to understand the needs and all of their
complexities in order to best.
complexities in order to best meet those needs with
location and programming.
This information is just 1 example.
This information is just 1 example of the types of data.
That cdph is providing to.
That cdph is providing to help the working group identify
Community areas with the greatest need.
Community areas with the greatest need for services as we
know Mental Health Care is Nu.
know Mental Health Care is nuanced.
coupled with inter departmental partnership
Coupled with inter departmental partnership. We will allow
the working group and steering committee to locate the most
impactful locations possible to open new.
impactful locations possible to open new clinics and expand
services in a data driven manner. Thank you all for your
time and attention.
Hi, everyone.
working Jacob doodleman a
Working Jacob doodleman a first Deputy budget director good
afternoon in fiscal.
afternoon in fiscal year 2024 as part of the 68 million
mental.
mental health budget our commitment to these initiatives
was underscored.
was underscored with an allocation of nearly $40 million
towards treatment focused programs prioritizing care over
tra.
trauma.
this substantial investment reflects our dedication
supporting the mental health well-being of our communities.
supporting the mental health well-being of our communities
as we transition into preparing the mayor's FIS.
2025 budget recommendations in the coming months. We are
committed to maintaining open and inclusive dialogues
throughout this process ensuring that the voices of all
stakeholders are heard and valued.
in our efforts
In our efforts to sustain and expand these crucial programs.
We are actively exploring.
We are actively exploring various funding Avenues and
working to enhance our Partnerships.
working to enhance our Partnerships with federal state and
philanthropic entities to broaden our impact and build
sustainable revenue streams.
our overarching goal remains to Foster accessible and
effective mental health support systems that Empower human
flourishing.
flourishing and thriving communities together. We will
continue to Prior
continue to prioritize mental health as in enteral
component to our budget. Thank you.
As we close our presentation for today. I want to turn your
attention to the last 2 slides here on this slide.
see the link for the TNT micro site as Claudia mentioned on
this site you can access up.
this site. You can access upcoming meetings schedules
previous meetings slide decks.
previous meetings slide decks and leave us open feedback
that we will take back to the working.
that we will take back to the working group. If you'd like
to get in contact with our team the best way to do.
to get in contact with our team the best way to do so is to
email that email address up on the screen.
and finally, um for our
And finally, um for our committee members present here and
for our Alders.
for our Alders, um, we did want to leave you with a
request.
request, um on this slide what you'll see is
Of course, we'd like your help with um publicizing.
of course, we'd like your help with um, publicizing and
elevating our micro site because that is that 1 Stop Shop
where folks can get information on where treatment not tra.
trauma is currently. Um, and we'd also like your assistance
with promoting and attending 1 of our listening sessions or
Community meetings that are coming up in March. Um, you can
access the list of that schedule.
access the list of that schedule also on the micro site.
Thank you every
Thank you so much to all the speakers. Uh now we're going
to open it up to.
to open it up to questions, uh from our colleagues
committee members.
committee members and non-members, uh, who might have
questions who might have feedback. Um, I know that many of
us,
us experience a lot of issues in our words, uh, a lot of
times we want to be able to help and we don't really have
the means to be able to do that. So any questions that you
have or feedback, uh would be greatly appreciated as we
shape, uh this work,
uh, otherwise
Thank you chairwoman. Um.
my first time at uh at this meeting and
My first time at uh at this meeting and um, really wanted
to be here to hear the updates. So thank you for all.
to be here to hear the updates. So thank you for all the
hard work. Um on the part of everybody.
hard work, um on the part of everybody. So forgive my
ignorant questions if these have been asked or are basic in
any way, but um,
first time listen
First time listener here. Um, what's the the sample size
for the surveys that you guys have taken? I'm just trying
to get a sense of the size and scope you you mentioned
results from different.
results from different, uh different surveys that have been
done.
I made a whole list of questions. Sorry and there are no
particular order. No, that's okay. I I think we will
actually there's a few different surveys that we are
conducting. There's 1 that we're doing through the mayor's
office. We can go back and provide.
office. We can go back and provide you with that
information because that is still going to be its kind of
coming up. It's going to be launched soon and that's in
partnership with Chicago Department of Public Health, um
separately,
separately our collaborative folks are also launched and
have launched a survey Arturo. Can I turn it to you to
provide that information? Thank you for the question. Um,
so the survey that I referred a reference in
statement regarding, uh, what people wanted what she
for questions response. Uh, we had a total, uh, we survey
a total of 652 individuals across all Ward.
a total of 652 individuals across all Wards in the city of
Chicago.
Uh, this is the second.
Uh, this is the second uh survey of this type. Um, uh, the
other 1, uh, we also surveyed somewhere around I want to
say 400 respondents also representing.
say 400 respondents also representing, uh, uh, uh
Chicagoans from every Ward to assess.
Chicagoans from every Ward to assess what the mental health
needs were separate, uh from crisis responds.
needs were separate, uh from crisis response. So both of
those I could make available to you through the chair.
would be great. And if that's has a sort of Ward by
breakdown, I know I'm interested in my word, but I'm sure
my colleagues would be interested in theirs as well sure.
We could work with you to to find more localized data for
you. That'd be great. Um, okay.
you. That'd be great. Um, okay and then on the listening
sessions how many listening?
sessions how many listening sessions have been conducted
thus far? I know you have more
So we've uh held 4 so far, uh, the first was in uh, um, the
greater.
greater lawn public Mental Health Center, uh, the second
was in the
I'm just racing through them all in my head. Uh.
And the Edgewater sorry.
And the Edgewater sorry the Edgewater location. Uh, we just
had 1 at the king.
had 1 at the King Center. Uh, we were hosting 1 today.
in proximity to the north London mint.
in proximity to the north London Mental Health Center, uh,
just up the street on uh,
I don't have the address.
I don't have the address in front of me, but it will be uh
posted on our website. So
posted on our website so you can access it there. Uh, we
have the Sasha.
have the Sasha Chicago Library, uh, uh being hosted.
Wednesday. Um,
and then and Roseville High School, Roseville.
Thank you, of course or else about High School. Uh, and
then finally we will have our virtual.
then finally we will have our virtual listening session to
make it accessible for all those who couldn't attend.
and be present at the in person ones. That's great. Also,
I'm sorry Alder woman we can also provide
I'm sorry Alder woman, we can also provide um information
about the mayor's office Community engagement.
about the mayor's office Community engagement LED, um
sessions, uh to you through the share, please um, because
I'd love to be able to share that we all do newsletters.
That's something that I think you know more
in the better. Yep. We had 1 in January and they'll be
another 1 coming up. Excellent. There's also the micro site
that we would love your help in uh sharing I can do that.
Um, sure sure. I have a few more is it okay if I keep
going, okay.
um
so I know we
So I know we 1 of you mentioned. I'm sorry, there were so
many I didn't take note of who?
many I didn't take note of who is saying it. So, um someone
talked about
someone talked about uh, the comparison to other programs
in other cities. I know you mentioned Albuquerque I was
here for that hearing and I did. Uh, I do remember the the
woman being um dialed in Via Zoom. Um, what sort of
criteria are we using to evaluate the sort of efficacy of
effectiveness of these programs? All right. I went to
Pollock.
policy school. So you'll forgive the questions.
Um, Matt
Um Matt Richards Deputy Commissioner for Behavioral Health
so on.
So on the alternate response program, the city's alternate
resp.
response program. There's a couple of things so 1 we have
an evaluation from the University of Chicago Health lab and
there's 2 parts to that evaluation. So there's a process
evaluation that that it was really looking at our first 2
years.
years Lessons Learned From doing qualitative interviews.
with all the Departments, uh staff.
with all the Departments, uh, staff patients Etc. That was
really intended to help us identify ways. We could be
increasingly effective from a more of an organization.
implementation perspective the second part of the
evaluation.
evaluation is a quantitative evaluation and health lab is
finishing that right now, um, uh, they have a data use
agreement with the city and we're looking at outcomes like
does alternate response.
does alternate response reduce cyclical reduced cycling
through 911. Does it reduce use of force?
through 911. Does it reduce use of force arrest? Uh does
improve longitudinal well-being for people that are
program. Those are the types of things. We're looking at.
We're also a part of the Harvard.
We're also a part of the Harvard performance lab.
so that is uh
So that is uh, we were really honored to have been selected
as part of the second cohort of cities around the United
States.
States that are implementing these alternate response
models. Um, and there's a lot of best practice sharing that
happens there. And as as Dr. Carrillo said, we're part of a
movement of cities around the country that are really
contributing to this body of evidence that shows that you
can do this in a new way. It's safe. It's best practice and
And so we're happy to contribute it to that body of
evidence.
evidence, right? Thank you for that. Um just a follow-up on
that question.
that question about what this currently looks like in terms
of tracking. I know you mentioned sort of longitudinal. Um,
outcomes for for individuals are
outcomes for for individuals. Are we
what sort of communication I don't know that you can answer
this from a privacy perspective, but just sort of in the
aggregate. Um, if someone um
if a call is received by the care team, um and
if a call is received by the care team, um, and the the
person that they're call that they're responding to. Um,
Has had calls sort.
Has had calls sort of multiple times, you know, are we
talking to their health?
talking to their health providers sort of outside of just
the the crisis?
the the crisis response. Are we talking to Medical Teams?
I'm just wondering how far how far we're tracking people
and you know where the the sort of Continuum of Care
extends to
that's a great question. So I'm gonna have Tiffany patent
sin.
senior director of Crisis Services who manages the team
explain how that work.
explain how that works. Thank you.
for your question it takes
For your question, it takes a second. There you go. Thank
you, uh for your thoughtful.
you, uh for your thoughtful question, um initially when we
come into a crisis, we do not have that information in the
beginning.
beginning that part of the work happens in our follow-up or
post.
post crisis, uh work so we've already
post crisis, uh work. So we've already done crisis
deescalate.
deescalate an individual to a place of some semblance.
stability where now we can drill down and find out what
needs are done. The needs assessment is conducted during
the time of the assessment and so we're collecting that
information.
information to find out if they have a primary
provider if they have a psychiatrist where they're getting
their medications if they have insurance things that we
would need to be able to coordinate systems and offer.
referrals, that will be actionable.
Great. I'm I'm glad to know that that's you know in the in
the works and in.
the works and in the plans because I think it's so
important otherwise
important. Otherwise, all we're going to be doing is
responding to the same crises over and over if we're not
following up. Um,
Okay, 2 or 3.
Okay, 2 or 3 more.
I'm sorry like again first time but I tell me when to stop
if I'm going like wait, go ahead. Okay, um.
Staffing let's talk about Staffing for a second. I know.
someone um, someone mentioned sort of we acknowledge that
the Nationwide shortage in uh,
the Nationwide shortage in uh providers, um in the in
clinicians what?
clinicians, what are we doing to make sure that we're going
to be able to be fully staffed?
um, because I know that there's
Um because I know that there's challenges today so, you
know in so much as I know we need more.
know in so much as I know we need more mental health
clinics. I'm real concerned about um ensuring that we're
uh, we're Staffing these sufficient.
uh, we're Staffing these sufficiently
we're concerned too alderwoman. And so we expect to
continue deep collaboration.
continue deep collaboration with DHR with our cdph team.
We're going to need.
We're going to need your help and your support. Um really
in making uh, when the positions are posted available
really help.
really helping promote. Um, we are going to be in
competition like we have to acknowledge that there is a
challenge we think that because what we're doing is
innovative because what we're doing has been piloted and we
have data to support it that we can attract. Um, really
great community members, you know, we we
coalition of community members behind us who I I know will
be closely monitoring and supporting um, and
these opportunities but really
Going to be about um, this collaboration and the depth of
connection.
connection to our communities, but we recognize it's going
to it's going to be a challenge, right?
to it's going to be a challenge right? Um, and I know there
were there was a mention of altern.
were there was a mention of alternative, uh alternate
supports through peer supports Health prom.
supports through peer supports Health promoters and a
different variety of modal.
different variety of modalities. Um, just a suggestion, you
know, you may have already thought of this but you know
with the with the peer supporters and these are these are
people who are self-identified want to help in these
situations. Um, we should be thinking about how we we
onboard them into the field. Um create Pathways for them to
actually become licensed, um practitioners because I you
know, I I think these are all self-identified people so
whatever we can do to um,
to grab those people while we
To grab those people while we can and just get them in the
system. Um, and so that they can be licensed or to look at
other ways to to have people who maybe are not fully
accredited, you know.
accredited, you know, crisis responders or you know,
Behavioral Health clinicians. Um, what does that sort of
junior level look like, um as being part of the team
Um, that wasn't a real question.
Um that was in a real question, but that was just a
comment. I'm getting to the last 1 um What's the timing
right now? Um, what?
right now? Um what the anticipated time of opening the
these 2 Mental Health?
these 2 mental health clinics
Do we have any sense of that? I mean we're working through
what is feasible with our um colleagues in OBM DHR 2fm and
then we also want to make sure that it's informed by the
working group. And so we're trying to do research and and
have information.
have information so that we can provide options. Um, but
not go so far ahead of the working group.
Thank you.
Thank you for answering all of my thank you for being here
El.
Elder woman. Um, do I have any other questions from?
members?
Otherwise
Thank you chair. Thank you for this really informative.
Hearing and thank you for everybody for test.
hearing and thank you for everybody for testifying I
appreciate all the work that
Appreciate all the work that Chicago is doing um, we have
to catch up.
to catch up to other cities. Actually we can lead we know
that.
that at the state level. This is already happening and I'd
like to see that connection. Um,
like to see that connection, um that are laid out for us.
Um, I
I'm Edgewater and
I'm Edgewater Andersonville in uptown and we are um post a
a murder of a young
A Murder of a young um Public School
student Devin Gibson and
Um, we're struggling, you know, we're strug.
Um, we're struggling, you know, we're struggling everybody
is struggling many people have struggled.
is struggling many people have struggled across the city
with um gun violence and
For me and for my community.
for me and for my community really want to understand how
We are doing something different for our young people.
We are doing something different for our young people if
we're really centering them and thinking of schools.
particularly as Network.
Um, and so I appreciate the conversations that are ongoing
with you all about what?
with you all about what we're doing. Thank you for
providing those services.
providing those Services. I um
I would like to.
I would like to know more about how we are.
following albuquer
following Albuquerque's, um
path
Path forward especially as we're talking about. Um
path forward especially as we're talking about um violence
prevention and how it works in with the treatment.
prevention and how it works in with the treatment not
trauma, um model. Um,
I know that we we have talked about so much.
I know that we we have talked about so much today. But um,
I think that when we're
thinking about who
Thinking about who we're centering. Um and on the top of
my mind are are the students.
and uh
our public school students particularly
um
and not just on the streets but in
And not just on the streets but in the schools and also how
they get to.
they get to schools, you know using public transit.
they get to schools, you know, using public transit. Um, I
um also took the training at um,
at the at the Academy at the police academy and it was um
you know, it was stunning to me because we had to go
through um scenarios and the first scenario that we went
through was a somebody who
Well firstly it was.
well firstly it was an ally and uh, um, there was on the
second floor somebody with a bat waving the bat around and
and you could see him he's out of control, but the sister
was the 1 who called and the scenario. Was that her
brother?
was the 1 who called and the scenario was that her brother
schizophrenic and did not take his medication.
and so going through that. Um,
and so going through that, um training and then going
through the briefing it was it's really um stunning to
how coordinated we have to be.
how coordinated we have to be, you know at every level, um,
especially as it feels like,
especially as it feels like we're playing telephone so much
of the time.
of the time so, um, I know that was a lot, but can you
of the time so, um, I know that was a lot but can you can
you comment on any of those things? Definitely? Um, you
know, first of all, I just want to acknowledge that you
know, we are trying to think of how these ecos.
support are coordinated and connected so
right that we have to think about how
really are libraries which become a center.
really are libraries which become a center for um, Chicago
and seeking shelter and
support
Support Parks all of these pieces fit together, right? So
it's not just mental health clinic. So I want to
acknowledge that um, and I want to say that, you know, we
continue to have um dialogue with the Chicago public
schools because we do expect the trends. We hope to expect
that the trends of hiring up additional clinicians
counselors and schools continues, but as you know, the
school district is facing um budget
school district is facing, um budget challenges and so
we're going to need your support to work through those
challenges to ensure that the mental health support.
Services that are provided in our schools continue.
become more robust. Um, the other piece I can say is that
we um, absolutely are thinking about
we um absolutely are thinking about just our standard
operating procedures and coordination based on what we've
experienced. And so um Dy
experienced. And so, um, Deputy Mayor Gatewood and I teams
are working very closely to continue, you know 1 of our key
tenants, which is coordin.
tenants which is coordinating and better what we already
have um, because we have a lot of systems of support, but
sometimes we're just not talking to each other as
effectively and efficiently as possible.
so thank you for
So thank you for that question. Um.
so as you all know the mayor released this, uh
safety plan and in that not only does it include.
safety plan and in that not only does it include the work
of treatment not trauma, but it also includes expanding
Street Outreach and violence Interruption, but
we've launched 20 initiative teams, right and 1 of the big
pillars of this work is that
pillars of this work. Is that collaboration between systems
because we know Street Outreach.
because we know Street Outreach alone doesn't do it Mental
Health Services alone. We're looking at housing economic
opportunities all of these things coming in together and to
deputy mayor.
Deputy Mayor Johnson's Point really looking at the
resources we have in the community. We have a team that is
actually starting the day that's looking at some of the
communities around the city do do.
communities around the city. Do do a scan of what the city
is funding what the County's funding with filantrop.
funding with the state is funding so we can better
coordinate.
coordinate those resources. Um, we also look at the
that some of those Street Outreach workers and violence.
Interrupters face from some of the trauma that they see on
the daily and
the daily in a regular basis. So what's it mean to get them
some of the support that's necessary and to a deeper level
of collaboration.
of collaboration with some of our street Outreach
organizations.
organizations working to develop stronger CAD.
stronger Partnerships with our police departments through
professional.
professional understanding so law enforcement understands
that the work that CVI is doing
Is working hand in hand with prevent?
is working hand in hand with preventing violence, but also
not only taking that from our partners in law enforcement
also sharing that through our government Partners as well.
So people have a better sense of better understanding of
how we actually use Street Outreach. I think we've come
into a place where we're getting close to a place where
we're trying to deploy Street Outreach like we would deploy
C.
and then that ends up putting the strain on that system so
having a better understanding of folks in government on how
Street Outreach Works along with all of the other pillars
that we're moving together at the same time. I think helps
us collaborate and help.
us collaborate and helps us deliver better services and
support to the folks who are in need. So we're excited
about that work.
about that work moving forward. We're excited about that
collaboration that is needed. Um, you know, and and I give
you a deeper, uh point on collabor.
you a deeper, uh point on collaboration today at 2 oclock.
We'll have the juvenile.
We'll have the juvenile temporary Detention Center here in
the building. Um,
the building, um for our community safety cabinet meeting
to talk deeper.
to talk deeper around just that level of collaboration do
you have young folks who are in there who need Services we
have a city. I mean, it's just we have 33 agents. It's 3
agencies in the city. We'll have a lot of them near to meet
with the county to think about that partnership. We've
already had Cook County Juvenile Probation come in and
think about that partnership.
think about that partnership the public defender's office
the state attorney's office. So we're doing our parts
internally. They have the government system.
together and once we get those rolling really
Together and once we get those rolling really how we
intertwine some of our partners in Street.
intertwine some of our partners in Street Outreach some of
our partners in Mental Health Services youth organ.
our partners in Mental Health Services youth organizations
all really coming together moving in the same direction. So
this is what we do on a daily basis and excited.
conversation that happens at 2 oclock.
That's terrific. I'm so glad to hear that and I
uh, I want that to be success.
uh, I want that to be successful. I want um our office to
help.
help in any way that we can I think that
many
constituents in my neighborhood do not understand the role
of
a of these um Street Outreach workers
A of these um Street Outreach workers and I think that has
to be um lift.
to be um lifted up a little bit more. I don't know what we
can do.
can do to to do that because
people ultimately
default to more police presence and I I think that
most most people don't know what a street Outreach.
most most people don't know what a street Outreach worker
does and um, how
does and um how youth are really involved in that and it
was you know this whole process.
was you know, this whole process has been um,
with the community Town Halls that we've had and
With the community Town Halls that we've had and with your
help to bring um, you know represent.
help to bring um, you know representatives from the mayor's
office there.
it
It it it is it's actually impress.
It it it is it's actually impressed me so much that so
many. Um, who
many, um who came from the mayor's office came through the
street Outreach work program and because of their life
experience, they they were really able to um,
You know contribute.
you know contribute to the community meeting in a way that
You know contribute to the community meeting in a way that
um helped.
to to
To to reset you know the path.
forward and um, so I appreciated that very much and I
like that to happen more.
um
Um because I think repetition has really needed right now.
And uh, and we need a a better path forward.
Thank you for your leadership on.
Thank you for your leadership on thank you Elder woman. Do
I have any other questions from?
uh members of
Uh members of the committee comments feedback.
Wish list. No.
Oh Byron, okay, Al.
Oh Byron, okay Alderman section Lopez.
thank you, and I just
Thank you, and I just and I I'll be brief. I just want to
um, thank all the all the organizers.
um, thank all the all the organizers and all the people who
have come to testify it and have fought for treatment of
drama. Also want to um, thank the chair.
drama also want to um, thank the chair other person Rodrigo
Sanchez for championing this important.
Sanchez for championing this important effort.
and of course I
And of course, I want to thank Mayor Johnson for um
empowering the committee to work together to achieve.
empowering the committee to work together to achieve this
important goals for the sake of the city of Chicago. Um, it
was asked about this. I want to make sure that as you know,
I respond publicly about why is has taken this long, right?
and
I think that's a good question, but it's not a question that
I think questions the commitment or the prior.
I think questions the commitment or the prioritization of
this group, but rather the lack of collabor.
this group, but rather the lack of collaboration that we
saw in the past, and I know that
saw in the past and I know that there are a lot of voices
out there that continue to question and critique.
out there that continue to question and critique, but we
have a plan.
have a plan and I think this plan is the work of day of
years.
years of advocacy commitment.
years of advocacy commitment to mental health for the city
of Chicago for Youth and the rez.
of Chicago for Youth and the residents who make our
beautiful city the B city of broad shoulders. So I just
want to um, thank you.
want to um, thank you all of you for um for working and
look forward to continue this collaborative approach you
can count on my support for treatment of trauma or
Community looks with hope um, the success of this work and
to the working group and to everybody here. Let's work.
together to make it happen is being too long indeed, but if
it's not or all it was not our desire I
it's not or all it was not our desire, I thank you
chairperson for fighting.
for believing and to for inspiring others to continue to
believe that they are better ways and we will get this
done. So thank you again and I look forward to make this a
reality looking forward for this exciting work in the
future. Thank you. Again. Thank you so much chairman. I
truly believe that we are on the verge of creating
something really.
something really transformative for this city, and I'm very
proud.
proud of of the work that has been done.
proud of of the work that has been done so far, um with
there being no further business.
there being no further business before the committee. Can I
get a motion to
Elder woman Gutierrez so moves here. No objections. So order
the meeting of the committee on health and
is now adjourned.