Illinois State Senator Laura Fine

Senators Fine and Villa advocate for mental health workforce

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, October 25, 2021 08:43 AM

State Senator Laura Fine SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) led a hearing of the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee on Friday to listen to testimony regarding mental and behavioral health workforce shortages.

“Finding a solution to labor shortages in the mental and behavioral health community is imperative to protecting people who rely on their services,” Senator Fine said. “Mental health care is health care, and it’s important that we find a way for patients across Illinois to receive the timely, accessible treatment they deserve.”

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges, resulting in labor shortages that are affecting the mental and behavioral health workforce. These shortages could significantly impact both patients and providers as demand for mental health services continues to grow.

Advocates from the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Association of Behavioral Health, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, Illinois Partners for Human Services, the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and Thresholds testified at the hearing.

“It’s critical that we find a way to ensure the number of mental health professionals can keep up with the ever increasing demand of people seeking treatment,” Senator Villa said. “We must address this issue before it drastically affects our neighbors, friends, family or even ourselves.”

Committee proceedings are streamed live and can be viewed at ILGA.gov.

Senator Fine receives ICED’s Legislator of the Year award

Details: Category: News; Friday, October 08, 2021 03:17 PM

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SPRINGFIELD – The Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities awarded State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) with its prestigious Legislator of the Year title Thursday.

“I’ve always been a strong advocate for people with disabilities, and as a legislator I have been dedicated to fighting for their rights,” Senator Fine said. “From expanding dual credit courses for students with intellectual disabilities to ensuring representation from the disability community in statewide groups, we have made incredible advancements in our state, but the fight isn’t over.”

ICED supports state employees with disabilities and provides advice to state agencies in regards to disability-related issues of concern. The committee’s mission is to promote access, independence and opportunity for state of Illinois employees with disabilities.

The Legislator of the Year award is presented to a state legislator who has worked to advance the rights, opportunities or independence of people with disabilities through legislation.

“It is my distinct honor and privilege to accept the ICED Legislator of the Year award,” Senator Fine said. “I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure a better world for people with disabilities across Illinois.”

More information on ICED and its awards program can be found on the ICED website.

Senator Fine reminds local businesses to apply for grants before deadline

Details: Category: Press Releases; Thursday, October 07, 2021 12:30 PM

Get ready to get back to business! $5,000-$150,000 small business grants GLENVIEW – State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) encourages local businesses struggling from the pandemic to apply for the latest round of the Back to Business grant program before the Oct. 13 deadline.

Overall, the B2B program will provide $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations, such as staff and overhead costs.

“Our community is already seeing firsthand how the Back to Business grant program can help keep our small businesses’ doors open,” Senator Fine said. “Any other local businesses seeking assistance must apply for this important funding before the upcoming deadline so the 9th District can continue to thrive.”

Priority is given to businesses in hard-hit industries, in hard-hit areas, and with revenues less than $5 million, as well as businesses that have not yet received any government assistance. Eligibility guidelines are also available in: Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic.

Twenty businesses in the district Senator Fine represents have already received $1.4 million in grants. They include restaurants, hotels and a salon, demonstrating the diversity of the local small business community and how many different kinds of businesses are eligible for grants.

Learn more about the B2B grant program and start an application on the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 13.

Fine, Villivalam break ground at Molloy Education Center

Details: Category: Uncategorised; Monday, October 04, 2021 03:15 PM

State Senator Laura Fine at the Molloy Education Center groundbreaking ceremony MORTON GROVE – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) joined administrators, staff and other officials on Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Julia S. Molloy Education Center in Morton Grove.

"The Molloy School is life changing for the most vulnerable students in our district," Senator Fine said. "This expansion will allow the school to continue its incredible work of educating our children.”

“This expansion will provide students throughout our community with a quality learning environment tailored to their needs,” Villivalam said. “I am proud to stand with our youth, parents and educators that serve our community today.”

The Molloy Education Center serves P-12 students with disabilities that require services not available in their home school districts. The center is open to students across Niles Township, which includes Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Golf and Niles.

“The Julia S. Molloy Education Center has a proud history of providing high-quality instruction to meet the educational needs of the students with disabilities who have attended over the past 50 years,” said Tarin Kendrick, Executive Director of the Niles Township District for Special Education. “We are proud to be part of a community who has committed to the Molloy Renovation Project to ensure the needs of today's learners are met.”

The last addition made to the Molloy Education Center was in 1998. The new project includes an expanded gym, administrative offices, training and conference rooms, larger classrooms, functional student spaces, space for support staff and an expanded parking lot. State Senators Fine and Villivalam secured $2 million for the project as part of the Rebuild Illinois construction program.

Welcome

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I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois’ 9th Senate District. I hope you’ll find this site a useful resource in keeping up to date with what’s happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact any of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you.

It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.

Sincerely,

Laura Fine Signaure