Caucus News

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) applauds the Illinois Department of Human Services for creating three new mental health programs for Illinoisans in need of help during a challenging time. 

“The COVID-19 virus has not only hurt people’s physical health — it has also diminished the mental health of many,” Belt said. “Providing residents with mental health resources will support them during the overwhelming stress of the pandemic.” 

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced the new mental health programs Monday to provide additional support for Illinoisans. The agency worked with community mental health centers and non-traditional service providers to develop capacity and to deliver clinical services and non-traditional supports. 

The first new program — pegged as the Living Room Program — is designed specifically for those in need of a crisis respite program to divert crises and break the cycle of psychiatric hospitalization. It provides a safe, inviting, home-like atmosphere where people can calmly process a crisis event while learning how to avoid a future crisis. 

The Transitional Living Centers Program is a housing resource for people who have mental illnesses and who are in need of an immediate place to stay while they work to find permanent housing. 

Additionally, the Transitional Community Care and Support Programs are for people who are currently in IDHS State Operated Psychiatric Hospitals and preparing to be discharged. It will include funding for non-traditional supports, such as cell phones, food, clothing, transportation, and other resources that are necessary for individuals to succeed as they transition back into communities. 

Individuals seeking help from the Living Room Program may seek help directly or be referred by first responders or medical professionals. Participants of the other two programs will be referred by IDHS and other providers.

For more information and to find additional mental health resources, click here.

CHICAGO – In light of the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases around the country, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is asking anyone who is able to consider applying to become a contact tracer for the Chicago or Cook County Health Department.  

“Illinoisans have been and need to continue to do a decent job of limiting the spread of the virus by wearing a mask, socially distancing, and washing their hands for 20 seconds,” Villivalam said. “However, while we are doing relatively well compared to other states in the country, we can’t afford to relax our efforts. If you are able, please consider becoming a contact tracer to help us stop any new major outbreaks in our communities.” 

The Chicago Department of Public Health has received a $56 million grant to create the COVID Contact Tracing Corp and COVID Resource Coordination Hub, while the Cook County Department of Public Health has received almost $41 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health via the FEMA Disaster Relief Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. 

Contact tracing is the multi-step process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have come into contact with a positive case of COVID-19 and connecting them to resources to help them during quarantine. The CDPH is looking to expand and diversify its workforce up to 600 people and the CCDPH is looking to expand its workforce to 400 people. Bilingual and multilingual speakers are needed to help with outreach to all of Chicago’s diverse communities. Contact tracers in Chicago will earn $20 per hour, with supervisors able to earn $24 per hour. 

Individuals interested in applying to become a contact tracer can find the IDPH Contact Tracing Program interest form on IDPH’s website. More general information is available on the City of Chicago’s website and the CCDPH website. 

WESTERN SPRINGS – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) urged those who are struggling with mental health issues to see if they qualify for help through three new Illinois Department of Human Services’ designed to provide housing, crisis support and community care resources.

“We're all laboring under heavy mental and emotional burdens right now, so we can't forget how much harder of a struggle this is for our friends and neighbors who are managing mental health issues,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Those in need should reach out to local service providers to see what options are available to them.”

IDHS’ new programs include the Living Room Program, Transitional Living Centers Program and the Transitional Community Care and Support Program. All three coordinate with community-based mental health centers and non-traditional service providers to increase access to the services they offer, as well as to develop their clinical services.

The Living Room Program is designed to break the cycle of psychiatric hospitalization by providing a safe, home-like environment for people to go to process mental health crises. Peer run crisis services are used to provide a less traumatic and more empowering alternative for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Transitional Living Centers Program provides immediate housing to people living with mental illness while they work to find permanent housing. Priority is given to those being discharged from psychiatric hospitals who are at risk for homelessness.

The Transitional Community Care and Support Program assists uninsured or underinsured patients transitioning out of psychiatric care. The program includes funding for non-traditional supports, such as cell phones, food, clothing, transportation and other resources that are necessary for individuals to succeed as they transition back into communities.

For more information and a full list of IDHS’ mental health programs, visit their website.

SPRINGFIELD - Farmers and their families have the opportunity to complete a survey aimed to improve a wide range of services that will be available to them from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Farm Family Resource Initiative program in the coming months.

Manar, who chairs the Illinois Senate Appropriations II Committee, worked closely with fellow Downstate Democrats to include funding in this year’s state budget to address many of today’s challenges facing Illinois farmers.

“Farmers and farm families are the lifeblood of our state’s economy, and they face unique challenges,” State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) said. “By prioritizing programs like the Farm Family Resource Initiative through a trusted partner like Southern Illinois University, we have the ability to reach out with support during this immensely difficult period.”

GRAYSLAKE — In partnership with the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Job Center of Lake County, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) will host the state’s first legislative-led virtual job expo the week of Aug. 24.                                                                                         

“Now more than ever, we need to be highlighting employers that can and want to bring on new employees. This job fair has over the years connected hundreds with jobs, and with Senator Bush, we intend to continue to help those in Lake County seeking work,” Schneider said. 

“We have helped hundreds of Lake County residents find work over the eight years of hosting a job fair — and we will not let the pandemic stop that,” Bush said. “At a time of hiring freezes and layoffs, I am dedicated to helping the hardworking people of Lake County find not just jobs — but careers.”

Each day throughout the week of Aug. 24 at 1 p.m., a panel of employers from different job sectors will explain their open positions and company benefits as a virtual webinar via Zoom. 

The program will be moderated by Bush and Schneider, and job seekers can ask their questions. All job openings discussed during the webinars will be posted on IllinoisJobLink.com and linked to the virtual job expo.

The themed days are as follows:

• Monday: Manufacturing
• Tuesday: Transportation, Distribution, Logistics (TDL)
• Wednesday: Health care
• Thursday: Professional Services
• Friday: Other

To prepare people for the hiring process, the Job Center of Lake County will also host workshops ahead of the job expo to give people tips for seeking work during a time of social distancing and teach people how to build a customized resume that will stand out to employers.

The “Job Search Resources in a Rough Market” workshop will be held Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. Registration can be found here.

The “Your Personal Brand and Resumes” workshop will be held Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. Registration can be found here.

Registration for the virtual job expo can be found here.

Anyone with questions should contact Senator Bush’s office at 847-548-5631 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Congressman Schneider’s office at 847-383-4870.

CHAMPAIGN - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is reminding residents to wear face coverings to help slow the spread of coronavirus. 

“You can keep yourself and others around you safe and healthy by wearing a face mask,” Bennett said. “In the grocery store and other places where social distancing may be difficult, wearing a mask can add an extra layer of protection.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), everyone over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering must wear one in a public place when unable to maintain a safe distance from others. 

Masks should cover your nose and mouth, fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, and include multiple layers of fabric.

“No one is immune to this virus,” Bennett said. “Please continue to follow the health and safety guidelines put in place by the public health experts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.” 

For more guidance on use of masks, Bennett encourages residents to visit the IDPH website at dph.illinois.gov. 

AURORA – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is pleased to see nearly $1.6 million in Aurora-area road construction projects slated for this year as part of the state’s ongoing multi-year construction plan.

“This is the right time to see improvements to area infrastructure,” Holmes said. “These Rebuild Illinois projects will create new, well-paying jobs when we need them most; they will also facilitate commerce and transportation, while making needed updates to roads that will improve public safety.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s multi-year plan includes projects to improve the state’s infrastructure over the next six years. These projects were selected based on such criteria as pavement and bridge conditions, traffic volumes and history of accidents. They will create thousands of jobs statewide at a time when many Illinoisans are still struggling with unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Projects slated for Holmes’ district include:

  Description                                                                                                                                              Year/Investment

When construction is underway, motorists should anticipate delays and may wish to seek alternate routes. Holmes encourages drivers to obey posted construction zone speed limits and watch out for workers on construction projects.

IDOT’s complete Multi-Year Plan can be found on its website.

Villivalam believes mass transit must take proper safety precautions

CHICAGO — Acting in his capacity as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) sent a letter to all mass transit agencies in Illinois to inquire about the steps they are taking to protect both their passengers and employees.

“Public transit is essential to people’s lives and livelihoods,” Villivalam said. “Its continued availability is crucial to reviving our state’s economy, but without proper safety precautions, our buses and trains could also help spread COVID-19.”

Read more.

Jones announces career development programs for South Side youth

CHICAGO — In an effort to provide at-risk youth with an opportunity to develop new skill sets, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) announced the expansion of the Illinois Department of Human Services’ COVID-19 Summer Youth Employment Program, which creates additional employment opportunities for underserved youth in the South Side of Chicago.

“Early work experience allows teens to learn what their passions are and explore future career paths,” Jones said. “The program will help them learn work and professional skills, like time management and creating a resume, that will help shape them for years to come.”

Read more.

Van Pelt sponsors mobile testing on the West Side

CHICAGO — State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) hosted mobile COVID-19 testing for more than a hundred adults on the city’s West Side last week 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.”

Read more.

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