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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 22-0737
(Health and Hospitals Committee 2/9/2022)
A RESOLUTION FORMING THE STREETALTERNATIVE HEALTH INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE TEAMPILOT PROGRAMS’S TASK FORCE
WHEREAS, recognizing an increase in the number of individuals seeking behavioral and mental health services, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in October 2021 declaring mental health a public health crisis; and
WHEREAS, there has been an expansion in our public consciousness and amplified discussion regarding the role of government entities and law enforcement in responding to mental and behavioral health emergencies, especially in light of the need for alternative public safety programs; and
WHEREAS, on August 25, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law in Illinois the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (“Act”), 50 ILCS 754/1 through 754/65; and
WHEREAS, the Act requires every unit of local government that provides or manages ambulance service or similar emergency medical response to coordinate with mobile mental and behavioral health services established by the Illinois Department of Human Service’s Division of Mental Health (“Division of Mental Health”). The Act requires coordination with a newly established 988 hotline, which connects callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; and
WHEREAS, the Act aims to provide callers seeking mental or behavioral health support with an appropriate mental health response, specifically with professionals trained in de-escalation techniques, knowledge of community services and resources, and respectful interaction with those experiencing a crisis while at the same time diverting non-violent/non-criminal calls from a police response; and
WHEREAS, the Act contemplates mobile response teams to divert those in crisis from incarcerationinteractions with law enforcement whenever possible and link them with available appropriate community services; and
WHEREAS, the Act endeavors to meet a community need with an appropriate response, reducing law enforcement responses to those requiring mental or behavioral health care using mobile unit responders where available for dispatch; and
WHEREAS, the Act is effective starting January 1, 2022, and requires local governments to begin coordination with the Illinois Division of Mental Health and its mobile units on or before January 1, 2023; and if the unit of local government provides or coordinates ambulance or similar emergency medical response or transportation services for individuals with emergency medical needs;. and
WHEREAS, Cook County operates the Emergency System Telephone System Board (ETSBBS) to administer Cook County’s 911 system in unincorporated Cook County and via an agreement with Berkely, Blue Island, Dixmoor, Ford Heights, Golf, Harvey, Hometown, Indian Head Park, Lyons, Merrionette Park, Metra, Northlake, Palos Park, Park Ridge and Phoenix; and
WHEREAS, due to its operationthe implementation of an ambulance emergency medical response service,the proposed ARPA funded Crisis Intervention Pilot Program which will be known as the Alternative Health Intervention and Response Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”), Cook County mustwill establish a mobile crisis intervention program; and
WHEREAS, an Alternative Health Intervention and Response Task Force (“Task Force”) should be established to address thoseassist in a mental and behavioral health crisis; and developing and implementing the Pilot Program, determine compliance with the Act and determine details of an ordinance to further establish such a program (a model ordinance entitled “Alternative Health Intervention and Response Ordinance” is attached to this Resolution for reference and is marked as Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, a proposed ordinance entitled “Street Health Intervention Response Team Ordinance” is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A. The proposed model ordinance was drafted by the Resolution Sponsor in consultation with several other municipalities with similar programs, and national and local organizations specializing in mental health. The ordinance establishes mobile health teams for calls related to mental and behavioral health emergencies. The proposed Ordinance complies and reinforces the Community Emergency Services and Support Act by developing the availability of mobile behavioral health issue response units; and
WHEREAS, given the passage of the Act, the various Cook County crisis and mental health ARPA initiatives and the nationwide and local push to maintain an appropriate response to people in crisis while insulating them from interactions with the criminal justice system where possible, with this Resolution, the County establishes a Street Health Intervention Response Team Task Force toshall set County-led goals to reduce reliance on the criminal justice system, develop a system to support those with mental and behavioral health needs including on-scene crisis assistance, refer people for treatment, connect those in need to crisis care and provide follow up support . for emergency services provided in unincorporated Cook County;.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Street Health Intervention Response Team Task Force is established to ensure continued compliance withdetermine how the ActPilot Program will be established, how the approved ARPA initiatives-such as the initiative comprising a 911 alternative model study and strategic plan formulation-can be used to aid the Pilot Program, and to make recommendations throughout the operation of the pilot program and devise a continuum of care for those experiencing mental and behavioral health needs; andto become operational on or before January 1, 2023; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall include and develop cross system partnerships with representatives from the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the Cook County’sCounty Department of Public Health, Cook County Health, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Cook County Board President’s Office of the Chief Judge, the Justice Advisory Board, the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Council, and the Emergency Telephone System Board and, once hired, the administrator oof the Cook County Street Health Intervention Response Team. The lead sponsor of this Resolution shall serve as the representative of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and the remaining members shall be appointed by each above-named office or the Cook County Board President as appropriate with the advice and consent of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.. The members of the Task Force shall be selected within 30 days of the passage of this Resolution and the Executive Director of the Justice Advisory Council and a representative of Cook County Health or the Cook County Department of Public Health shall co-chair the Task Force; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force, using shall develop and make recommendations to the attached proposed Ordinance, finalizeCook County Board of Commissioners regarding the establishment of a Street Health Intervention Response Team Ordinance and programthe Pilot Program on or before June 30August 1, 2022 in preparation for compliance with the time frame established in 50 ILCS 754/65. .
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