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The April 3rd best practice training focused on legislative advocacy, current policy issues, and state-level behavioral health initiatives. ACMHAI lobbyists Liz Brown-Reeves and Kristin Rubbelke led the advocacy training session. Liz provided an overview of legislative advocacy, emphasizing the importance of grassroots engagement and personal relationships with legislators, noting that advocacy is most effective when community members are involved. Liz and Kristin also discussed the key players in Illinois government, including the roles of the Governor’s office, legislative leaders, and committee chairs, and highlighted the importance of understanding who influences mental health policy. Members were encouraged to become trusted sources of information for legislators and to use the Illinois General Assembly website to track bills and legislative developments. They explained how to interpret bill statuses, such as “re-referred to rules” meaning a bill is likely dead, and stressed the importance of strategic advocacy by focusing on priority issues rather than reacting to every bill. View the slide deck
Representative Lindsay LaPointe stressed that behavioral health is a bipartisan issue and outlined recent state efforts to improve access and affordability. She highlighted major legislative priorities, including removing prior authorization for outpatient behavioral health, improving insurance network adequacy and reimbursement rates, building out the crisis response system (988), addressing workforce challenges, and emphasizing the need for sustainable funding and continued advocacy for harm reduction and criminal justice reforms.
Ryan Rollinson, Chief of Staff at DMH - IDHS, discussed the integration of mental health and substance use divisions, workforce investments, and the Beacon portal for youth behavioral health. He addressed challenges from federal funding cuts and the need for sustainable state funding, and provided updates on 988 system performance and ongoing efforts to improve crisis response, especially in rural areas.
Senator Laura Fine provided an update on the Senate’s behavioral health committee and the legislative push for 988 funding. She outlined a 10-year plan for building out the crisis response system, emphasizing the need for responsible, phased implementation and sustainable funding sources.
April 4, 2025 – Business Meeting
On April 4th, attendees participated in the April Business Meeting, which included regular standing business meeting reports as well as several presentations.
During the Transportation Summit Roundtable, Deborah Humphrey, Executive Director of the Madison County Mental Health Board, facilitated a discussion about the transportation summit co-hosted by Madison and St. Clair Counties. The summit aimed to address barriers to accessing behavioral health services by focusing on resource mapping, stakeholder engagement, and education about available transportation services.
In the Community Reports section, Jim Russell, Executive Director of the Vermilion County Mental Health Board, highlighted the board’s success in increasing funding and the importance of maintaining strong relationships with local government. Teena Mackey, Executive Director of the Will County Community Mental Health Board, provided an overview of the formation and early work of the Will County Community Mental Health Board.
Regarding Bylaw Amendments, Amanda Teachout, Mental Health Board Manager of Hanover Township, reviewed several proposed changes on behalf of the work of the Executive Committee. These amendments were designed to reflect current practices, clarify voting procedures, committee participation, and contract review requirements. The proposed amendments for 2025 were approved by the membership.
Stay tuned for information about the August membership meetings, which will be held virtually, and be sure to mark your calendar for the in-person meeting at the Hyatt in Schaumburg on December 4-5, 2025.
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