Committee on Health and Human Relations meeting, July 24, 2023
- When: Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Health and Human Relations
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/846725745
- Transcript: full text (29,854 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Health and Human Relations heard 16 public commenters, nearly all speaking in support of the Treatment Not Trauma proposal, a non-police mental health crisis response, and reopening public mental health clinics. The committee passed by voice vote a resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on expanding access to public mental health services, then held that hearing. Testimony came from researchers and advocates (Dr. Eric Reinhart, Dr. Arturo Carrillo of the Collaborative for Community Wellness, Candace Coleman of Access Living, and former New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi) and from crisis response programs in Denver, Portland, and Albuquerque. CDPH Deputy Commissioner Matt Richards said the city's CARE pilot had responded to over 1,000 calls with no use of force, arrests, or significant injuries, and that team composition is a policy decision. Members asked about reopening clinics, workforce pipelines, culturally competent care, program capacity, costs, and coordination with police and courts; no further action was taken.
Topics: Treatment Not Trauma, mental health clinics, non-police crisis response, public health funding, CARE pilot program, peer support workforce, Denver STAR program, Portland Street Response, Albuquerque Community Safety, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 7:50 Resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on expansion of access to public mental health services in Chicago: passed
- 43:41 Subject matter hearing on expansion of access to mental health services in Chicago: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (chair): Described the history of the Treatment Not Trauma proposal since 2020 and its components: reopening mental health centers, 24-hour crisis centers, expanded crisis response, and a community care corps. (45:57); Asked for a minute of silence for people killed or harmed by police during mental health emergencies. (48:07); Asked the Denver program how its STAR non-police response works with walk-in crisis centers. (2:17:13)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Asked CDPH what the hurdles are to reopening mental health clinics, which he said the previous administration had promised. (1:30:45); Asked how to rebuild CDPH with community health navigators and create employment opportunities in communities. (1:34:01); Raised alarm about suicide rates among Black young adults and declining life expectancy, and stated full commitment to the ordinance. (1:39:02)
- Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Expressed support for Treatment Not Trauma and noted constituents ask about the existing pilot program's safety record. (1:40:02); Asked CDPH for updated call numbers and outcomes from the pilot program. (1:42:02)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Drawing on her CPS counseling work, described language barriers and lack of nearby services and asked whether a citywide study of existing services had been done. (1:42:47); Asked whether there are plans to open a clinic in the 14th Ward. (1:44:31)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said there are not enough Black, Brown, and Indigenous care providers and asked about plans for culturally congruent, bilingual, and bicultural services. (1:44:52)
- Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Described the police killings of people in mental health crisis, including Quintonio LeGrier and Bettie Jones, and said the city can do better by passing the ordinance. (1:53:32)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Described her health care work and a personal experience calling 911 for a friend in crisis, and expressed support for Treatment Not Trauma. (1:55:02); Asked why the city keeps a co-responder model given CARE data showing no arrests or violence, instead of moving to a civilian-led model. (1:59:44)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked the Denver program about the number and capacity of its clinics and whether it faces overcrowding. (2:25:09); Asked about Denver's co-responder option and how dispatch call takers are trained to identify mental health calls. (2:28:50); Asked Albuquerque about data on hotspots and how departments and systems coordinate around individuals in crisis. (2:57:23)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked Denver how many patients its walk-in centers treat per year and the cost of running a clinic. (2:35:04)
- Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Asked Albuquerque whether its program does preventive work before people are ticketed, incarcerated, or harmed. (2:48:46); Asked whether Albuquerque partners with courts to advocate for people instead of incarceration, citing a young man in her neighborhood. (2:52:48)
Exchanges between members
- 1:30:03 Sigcho-López thanked the chair for convening the hearing.
- 1:40:02 Cruz congratulated the chair on her leadership of the committee.
- 1:44:52 Fuentes congratulated the chair for securing the hearing.
- 1:55:00 Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked and congratulated the chair.
- 2:37:23 Conway thanked the chair for allowing him, as a non-member, to ask questions.
- 2:57:26 Lee said Vice Chair Julia M. Ramirez questions led into her own question on coordination.
- 3:11:44 Lee thanked the chair for holding the public hearing.