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Monthly NEWSLETTER

January 2024

National Mental Wellness Month

To further promote mental health awareness, January is designated as National Mental Wellness Month. Below are some useful resources to promote mental wellness in your own communities.

Resources

Link to Mental Health America - Living Mentally Healthy webpage

Link to Mental Health First Aid - 5 Ways to Support Mental Wellbeing

Link to NIH Emotional Wellness Toolkit

Link to Lyons Township Mental Health Commission Healthy Habits Flyer

DSP Certification

Thanks to everyone that responded to the announcement regarding DSP Certification. The I/DD Committee meeting in March will feature presentations by member organizations highlighting the work they are currently doing/have done on Certification Programs.

Presentations by:

Dalila Alegria, Executive Director, Inc Mental Health Alliance
Deborah Humphrey, Executive Director, Madison County Mental Health Board
Lynn Canfield, Executive Director, Champaign County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Boards

We encourage any member interested in this topic to please join the I/DD Committee meeting on March 12, 2024 at 10am. Join Zoom Meeting, here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84307178273?pwd=aytzdkpsOGJrOWNUeXdBRjR4TDJhQT09

Additionally, the Membership Committee will include a roundtable discussion at the April Membership Meeting to have a broader discussion on this topic – including workforce development/retention and other incentive programs.

Virtual Forum Opportunity:

Youth Mental Health Crisis: Introducing Digital Mental Health Resources in Schools

January 29, 2024

12 pm-1:30 pm

Cost: Free to Attend

Surging mental health demand among youth and a chronic clinician shortage has resulted in a capacity crisis requiring innovative solutions in schools. Last year the Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) presented an overview of the needs in schools and the emerging digital and supplemental tele-behavioral mental health vendor field for student services.

Panelists:

Brenda Huber, Ph.S.,ABPP, Doc-B

Dr. Kathryn Bangs, Egyptian Health Department

Michele Lansing, Distinctive Schools

Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski, Gllyn Ellyn School District 41

Terry Murphy, Digital Innovation in Healthcare, Cornell University

For more information, download the brochure, here.

ACMHAI Committee Meetings

Membership Committee: January 23 at 10:00 am
Children's Behavioral Health: January 25 at 10:00am
Legislative Committee: February 20 at 9:00 am
I/DD Committee: March 12 at 10:00 am

2024 Spring Legislative Calendars

Senate Calendar

House Calendar

Speaker:

Jamie Haley, LCSW

Department of Health Social Work

UI Health

ACMHAI Professional Development Webinar

February 20 at 12PM

Psychiatric Advance Directives: Empowering Control Over Mental Healthcare

The presentation will provide information on specifics of various psychiatric advance directives/legal designations, with particular focus on the topic of increasing utilization of Psychiatric Advance Directives (Declarations for Mental Health Treatment). POA, PADS, and Guardianship will be discussed. Information will also be provided on the current systems for involuntary commitment/treatment, current PAD utilization and research, and current systems barriers to effective utilization.

Check out ACMHAI's YouTube page to view past archived webinars, here.

Latest News

New to 988: The Partner Toolkit is Now Searchable

DDD Communication January 12, 2024

Opioid Abatement Strategies Effectiveness Evaluator Funding Opportunity

DDD Communication – Office of Inspector General Update

DDD Communication – January 1 Wage/Rate Increases

IDPH submits proposals to improve public health

Gov. Pritzker Announces Heidi Mueller as Next Director of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Smart Alert- Community Outreach and Recovery Support Funding Opportunity

December 2023 Legislative Report Government Strategy Associates

DDD Announces Approval of Adult DD Waiver Amendment

Report reveals Illinois schools are well on their way toward phasing in universal mental health screening for students

View Latest News

GPS speakers provide insight and inspiration to help ALL thrive. Events are FREE, virtual and open to residents in Chicagoland and beyond!

Programs are offered for parents and professionals at noon & 7pm in multiple languages.Check out the brochure for the Glenbard Parent Series 2023-24 season! Go to GlenbardGPS.org for the schedule and program links. Please share with your networks!!

https://www.glenbardgps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GPS-Brochure-23-24-PDF-single-page-format.pdf