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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING ON COOK COUNTY HEALTH TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUMMIT TO THE COOK COUNTY BOARD'S HEALTH & HOSPITALS COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, on February 15, 2024 Cook County Health held its first Behavioral Health Summit, bringing together health care and social service providers, mental health advocates, community leaders and elected officials to discuss how to improve access and care in Cook County; and,
WHEREAS, the all-day summit, held at the UIC Dorin Forum, was led by the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health, which was established last year to support the transformation of the behavioral health ecosystem across Cook County through community partnerships, systems alignment, innovation, and equity-driven funding; and,
WHEREAS, more than 700 people attended the event, which included addresses from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Michael Cabonargi, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services, as well as video-taped messages from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Cook County Health Board of Directors and Chair of the Cook County Health & Hospitals Committee; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to the opening speakers, the event included topic-specific and geography-specific breakout groups throughout the day to discuss challenges and ideas for improving mental health care in Cook County; and,
WHEREAS, perspectives gathered at the summit will be instrumental in developing a Cook County Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, a Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment, and for informing opportunities for community-based funding opportunities from Cook County Health's Impact Fund; and,
WHEREAS, this is the first step in a much broader initiative to foster collaboration between providers, advocates, social services and local governments to affect real and lasting change.
NOW, THEREFORE BE...
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