# Committee on Health and Human Relations meeting, July 22, 2024

- When: Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 12:30 PM (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](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/health-and-human-relations)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/985964822
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/985964822.txt) (19,274 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, chaired by Alderperson Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, heard eleven public commenters, including advocates for a Medicare for All resolution, parent leaders asking for more mental health resources, and residents raising other concerns; two speakers were removed by the sergeant-at-arms for disruptions. The committee approved the Rule 45 report from its July 12 meeting. Most of the meeting was a presentation by the Mayor's Office, CDPH, OBM and community partners on the Mental Health System Expansion Working Group report, which makes 40 recommendations to expand public mental health clinics, move the CARE alternate response program to a fully non-police model, and raise public awareness. Officials described opening clinics in Pilsen and Roseland, co-locating services at a library, about 45 new mental health hires in 2024, and plans to double CARE teams by the end of 2024, while members asked about hiring, coverage, coordination with 988, budget projections through 2027, and domestic violence calls. No vote was taken on the report.

Topics: mental health system expansion, non-police crisis response, CARE teams, mental health clinics, 988 coordination, mental health budget, opioid response, Medicare for All, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [12:49](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=769) Public comment
- [47:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=2879) Rule 45 report from the July 12 meeting: passed
- [48:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=2900) Presentation on the Mental Health System Expansion Working Group report and recommendations: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/33) (chair): Asked for silence and said anyone who could not keep quiet would be escorted out so the committee could work. ([35:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=2126)); Said the report results from more than a decade of organizing, thanked community leaders, the mayor, CDPH and her staff, and dedicated the work to a person who died in police custody. ([48:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=2927)); Called the work an exercise in imagination and thanked those involved before opening questions. ([1:23:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5024))
- [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (alderperson): Asked for details on hiring numbers and the geographic coverage expected from doubling CARE teams by the end of 2024. ([1:24:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5095)); Said expanding CARE to evenings and weekends would be most helpful, and asked how the opioid peer response team has performed. ([1:28:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5293)); Asked how the city is coordinating with state-funded crisis teams and 988. ([1:30:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5408))
- [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (alderperson): Asked whether the budget projected through 2027 would fund a full 24/7 system and why it shows little increase from 2026 to 2027. ([1:37:50](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5870)); Asked whether projected savings to other departments from prevention and reduced police involvement were included. ([1:40:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6055)); Asked that CARE expansion not remove teams from existing districts such as the 19th District, said he supports adding teams, and thanked the chair. ([1:44:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6272))
- [Byron Sigcho-López](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25) (alderperson): Asked for details on implementing clinic services in Pilsen and the Lower West Side, including youth access. ([1:46:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6380)); Said he supports the non-police response model and asked for data on early results of 988 and rerouting calls. ([1:49:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6545)); Said the state should help fund this work and urged the governor to address CPS funding needs. ([1:52:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6764))
- [Carlos Ramírez-Rosa](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/former/ramirez-rosa) (alderperson): Recalled the community's protest of the Logan Square clinic closure and said he wants CARE teams expanded to the 14th, 17th and 25th police districts. ([1:54:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6844)); Said Milwaukee Avenue business owners he surveyed cited help with behavioral needs as a top need. ([1:54:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6883)); Said the budget gap shows the city will need to use the corporate fund and that this should be a basic function of government. ([1:55:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6941))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Welcomed coordination with libraries and schools and asked that the 48th Ward be included in CARE expansion. ([1:57:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=7026)); Noted domestic violence is a top 911 call type in her ward and asked how offices and police are being trained on the new response options. ([1:59:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=7151)); Asked to collect success stories so residents, including immigrants hesitant to call 911, know the system includes them. ([2:07:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=7658))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:37:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=5861) Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson said Alderperson Maria E. Hadden had already asked half of his questions.
- [1:45:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6326) Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson thanked the chair for her work on the plan.
- [1:45:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6337) The chair responded to Alderperson Bennett R. Lawson by asking members to testify on the value of these resources when the plan comes to City Council.
- [1:46:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6364) Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López thanked and commended the chair for prioritizing mental and behavioral health.
- [1:53:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6837) The chair thanked Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López.
- [1:54:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6844) Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa thanked and commended the chair for the report.
- [1:56:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6989) The chair thanked Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa.
- [1:56:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=6996) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked and commended the chair.
- [1:56:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=7007) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said she agreed with every word Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa said.
- [2:00:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0?t=7222) The chair responded to Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth question by describing the 'no wrong door' approach.

## Documents

- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1f4c2b63-7803-4e28-a273-8c9a78528e24.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/416d532d-0edc-4d5f-a24a-ea8ef10b2b0c.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/D68EBF70-E042-EF11-8409-001DD8306DF0 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt