CHICAGO – In a continuing effort to ensure every Illinoisan has access to mental health and substance abuse care, Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee Chair Laura Fine held a joint subject matter hearing Thursday with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe to discuss financial and administrative barriers facing providers.

“Identifying the challenges facing mental health and substance abuse providers is essential in meeting responsible care standards and ensuring access to treatment,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Organizations and programs struggle to further expand accessibility due to financial barriers, high staff turnover rates and the lack of proper resources. It is crucial that future funding and policies appropriately reflect their needs.”

Continuing from her first subject matter hearing in Chicago, Fine discussed the current challenges facing substance abuse, prevention and recovery providers across Illinois, including upgrading IT services, staff retention, staff salary constraints, reimbursement disparity based on a provider’s licensure, restriction for requesting funding and funding cuts.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Chair Laura Fine held a joint subject matter hearing with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe Monday to discuss funding for addiction resources and treatments.

“As health care needs continue to evolve, it is crucial that we reflect on responsible investments to address equitable access of such care,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Hearing from subject matter experts and medical providers on the impact of their services allows us to make informed plans for future investments.”

Teams of panelists shared about current health care accessibility needs across the state, and how meaningful funding could expand treatments and resources to a variety of communities. Representatives of several addiction treatment providers, including Jeremy Klamanski from the Gateway Foundation and Executive Director of the Chicago Recovery Alliance John Werning, addressed the committee, focusing their testimony on increasing funding for harm reduction supplies and access to quality care.

CHICAGO – State Senator Laura Fine secured a total of $118,000 in library and literacy grants for the Howard Area Community Center and Evanston Public Library.

“This funding invests in our youth and provides the community who utilize libraries and local community centers with necessary resources” said Fine (D-Glenview). “The services, tools, and expanded accessibility facilitated by these investments is critical to the success of our children, their families and our communities as a whole.”

The grants were awarded by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who has awarded nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state.

GLENVIEW – State Senator Laura Fine joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to announce $15 million in funding for the Job Training and Economic Development program, including more than $366,000 for the Youth Job Center in Evanston.

“The JTED program is a reflection of the plans we have to support underrepresented and unemployed individuals in the workforce so all Illinoisans have access to the tools they need to succeed in their professional and personal lives,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “I am pleased to see funding benefit the Youth Job Center in my district, and I look forward to expanding workforce possibilities for all.”

This is the second round of funding from the JTED program, awarding over $15 million to 33 organizations across Illinois. The Job Training and Economic Development program provides workforce training and wraparound services to help bolster equitable workforce recovery for Illinoisans struggling to gain meaningful employment. Funds from this program aim to address the economic impacts experienced by employers and individuals who are underemployed, unemployed or underrepresented who have one or more barriers to employment that are identified as risk factors.