CHICAGO – The Senate held a joint hearing Monday to discuss the vast disparities Illinoisans face in access to treatment for addiction and mental health disorders. State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) advocates for prioritizing mental health through a holistic approach.

“It’s crucial that we examine the intersections of mental health, bias and incarceration rates,” said Van Pelt, chair of the Senate Public Health Committee. “One in five people shot and killed by the police suffered from mental illness. People who should be getting treated for their illnesses are instead being abused, killed and locked up. We must begin to look at these issues differently.”

CHICAGO – To analyze the issues in mental health and substance abuse, Senate Public Health Chair Patricia Van Pelt, Executive Chair Mattie Hunter and Health and Human Services Chair Julie Morrison will lead a joint Senate committee hearing Monday morning.

“Mental health is a sector of public health that is often overlooked in Black communities,” Van Pelt said. “It is important that we shine a light on the trauma-enforced issues and start the conversation around trauma-informed care.”

“Advancing solutions in behavioral health is one of my biggest priorities,” Hunter said. “Nothing matters if we don’t prioritize our mental wellbeing. It’s crucial that we promote mental health awareness, especially in the midst of the pandemic.”

CHICAGO – Wednesday, a grand jury indicted a former police officer involved in the March shooting of Breonna Taylor, but on charges of wanton endangerment. None of the three officers involved in the shooting were charged for Breonna’s death, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is infuriated.

“This is one of the grossest acts of injustice I have seen in my lifetime. This decision made by the grand jury suggests that the walls of Breonna’s neighbors mattered more than her life. Further, this decision is proof that the system is deeply flawed, and so broken that there is no accountability for the people who murdered Breonna Taylor in her own home.

“So again, our cry, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ has fallen upon deaf ears. Again, we have seen those who are supposed to protect and serve take life and evoke fear. But we will not stay silent. We will keep marching, we will keep demanding equality, and protesting peacefully.

“And I will not stop fighting until there is no longer a need for hashtags for those who have lost their lives unjustly. Breonna Taylor’s life mattered, and I pray for peace for her family and loved ones.”

CHICAGO — The second wave of Business Interruption Grants opened Thursday, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is urging eligible businesses to apply.

“As more types of businesses reopen, they, too, are in need of support,” Van Pelt said. “I know these grants won’t solve everything, but it will provide businesses with a chance to recuperate from all the loss they have suffered.”

The second round of BIG funding builds on $49 million in grants awarded statewide in August, where businesses received $10,000 to $20,000 to help with expenses like payroll costs, rent, utilities, equipment, and other possible unexpected costs to relieve the effects of the pandemic. 

This time around, a variety of businesses will receive anywhere from $5,000-$150,000 each, with $220 million in total allocated funds available for statewide distribution.

For heavily distressed industries, such as indoor recreation facilities and amusement parks, $60 million has been specifically allocated to ensure they are not overlooked. Additionally, $70 million has been set aside for businesses located in disproportionately impacted areas (DIA), or low-income areas that have experienced high rates of COVID-19. Businesses located in the 60612, 60624 and 60651 ZIP codes are included in the DIA list. A full list of eligible ZIP codes can be found here.

Eligible businesses are encouraged to apply here.

CHICAGO – Chicagoans reentering the workforce face new challenges, given the record high unemployment rates caused by the pandemic, which is why State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) wants people to be aware of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Second Chance Program.

“The Second Chance Program is exactly that: a second chance,” Van Pelt said. “It provides opportunities for people who have been struggling to find work and for people looking to turn their lives around.”

Through the Second Chance program, professional services such as trainings, education, mentoring and networking opportunities are provided to people returning from prison, victims of abuse and others who have a harder time finding employment.

This holistic approach equips those reentering the workforce with the skills necessary to support themselves, which is a crucial step in decreasing recidivism. Over a thousand Chicagoans have participated in this program, which has become one of the largest reentry programs in the nation.

“When recidivism persists, no one wins,” Van Pelt said. “People reentering the workforce need support. They deserve a chance to provide for themselves and for their families. They deserve to contribute to the economy, rather than taxpayer dollars being spent on their re-incarceration because a lack of opportunity led them back into a life of crime.”

The CTA has hired at least 300 Second Chance participants, while many others have moved on to private-sector jobs.

Job seekers looking to apply for the CTA Second Chance Program or find more information at TransitChicago.com/secondchance.

CHICAGO – After conflicting reports regarding an officer-involved shooting sparked confusion and violence in the city, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is calling for transparency.

“As I’ve said before, there is a big difference between those who protest in the streets for justice, and those who are looting for opportunity,” Van Pelt said. “There are people grieving the disparities in our community, questioning the credibility of the police after they shot yet another Black man. In many cases, these people are not the same as the looters.”

Though it has been reported that Latrell Allen shot at officers first, many Black Chicagoans still question the credibility of the Chicago Police Department’s account. Despite mandatory body camera policies, there is currently no video evidence of the incident. Allen’s public defender claims he was shot in the back, which is a narrative all too familiar in the longstanding case against police brutality and Black men — including the deaths of Rayshard Brooks and Walter Scott.

More than 100 people were arrested Monday following the looting of various store fronts downtown. Englewood residents fed up with the looting blocked Black Lives Matter protesters when they entered the neighborhood Tuesday, stating that protestors will amp up tensions with the police, but won’t be there when it’s time for Englewood residents to deal with the backlash.

“Tensions were already high due to stress and issues stemming from coronavirus, not to mention police brutality,” Van Pelt said. “We have a desperate need for more transparency between local authorities and civilians. We have a desperate need to come together, to love each other, to put an end to the nonsense. I am working every day to bring together these gaps, to dispel the inequities that have been debasing our city.”

Allen, 20, has been charged with attempted first degree murder and is recovering at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting. Another protest against police brutality is expected to take place Saturday.

CHICAGO – The Illinois State Police’s Division of Forensic Services (DFS) Forensic Sciences Command (FSC) released the DNA Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2020 last week, and State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is highlighting its major improvements to reduce the DNA backlog, while recognizing there is still work to be done.

“I am excited about the progress ISP has made,” Van Pelt said. “I hope this trend continues, and I will keep tracking them to make sure they continue to move forward in fulfilling their commitment to giving these families justice.”

During FY20, biology submissions were up by 9% from the previous fiscal year, and ISP completed nearly 16,000 biology assignments within the laboratory system, reducing that backlog by at least 30%.

With the implementation of the new Laboratory Information Management System, ISP now defines “backlog” as an unfinished offender sample, either in-progress or one that hasn't begun.

ISP employed a total of 61 fully trained forensic scientists working on Biology assignments or performing analytical-related activities in June.

In addition to the constant pursuit of federal funding, ISP addressed the biology backlog through outsourcing, the use of overtime and the purchase of additional commodities and equipment, ensuring that more cases were analyzed. In FY20, ISP spent $2.6 million in federal grant funds, which is a 116% increase from the $1.2 million in FY19.

“This report shows a great deal of progress from where efforts were just a few years ago,” Van Pelt said. “But we must keep in mind that just because the kits were processed, doesn’t mean the cases were closed. There are families still awaiting due process in Chicago, and I won’t stop fighting for them until they get it.”

To further reduce the backlog, ISP plans to implement other initiatives including probabilistic genotyping, purchasing additional automated instruments, and streamlining additional procedures.

ISP’s latest developments on the backlog can be tracked here.

CHICAGO – Earlier this week, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) hosted mobile COVID-19 testing for over a hundred adults on the city’s West Side in a collaboration with Howard Brown Health, West Garfield Community Park Stakeholders, and Fathers Who Care.

“The older adults in my community are still struggling,” Van Pelt said. “The pandemic is still out there, and they still didn’t have access to necessary resources to stay alive. We wanted to do whatever we could to address that, hoping to provide some relief.”

Many residents at John Sullivan and Chicago Albany Terrace Apartments have been at a major disadvantage during this pandemic, with no access to transportation, food, and other resources, made worse by the limited access they had to their families.

Census workers were also in attendance, helping residents fill out the census on site in order to boost the region’s participation. In the 2010 Census, Black Americans were missed by a rate of 9% -- a rate higher than any other racial or ethnic group in our country.

“Time is running out to complete the census,” Van Pelt said. “This was an important event for seniors to get tested and get counted – both of which will ultimately better our communities.”

In light of calls for justice and equity across the nation, the census is more important now than ever before. Responding to the census is one way Illinoisans can push for social justice in their neighborhoods. Inaccurate data results in inadequate funding for underserved communities.

Anyone who hasn’t filled out the census can do so at my2020census.gov or expect to see census workers at their door around August 11.

People interested in donating resources for older adults can do so here.