SPRINGFIELD – In order to mitigate increased health risks associated with adults who are unable to take care of themselves, State Senator Laura Fine advanced a measure that implements a procedure for developing a treatment plan suitable to the patient’s needs. 

“Although our state has made progress in advancing clinical care, we need to enhance procedures for protecting adults who may not be able to take care of themselves,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This legislation streamlines essential care to patients who unfortunately do not have the ability to care for themselves by ensuring they receive timely access to recommended services.” 

Senate Bill 2799 creates a screening procedure for cases of self-neglect among adult patients under the Adult Protective Services intervention program. If a patient is found to be a substantial health threat to themselves due to self-neglect, a provider agency must develop a case plan within 10 days and with the consent of the adult. 

SPRINGFIELD – One family’s tragic loss will help others in the future. Last fall, an Evanston family lost their son, Jordan while he was seeking treatment in a substance abuse treatment facility. Working with the family, the state and mental health care providers, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure to require substance abuse programs and mental health facilities to better communicate and give a patient’s family or caretaker timely notice of the patient’s passing. 

“No parent or caretaker should have to wait days to be notified that their loved one has died while under the care of a treatment facility,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is essential that these facilities and programs have clear standards in place for sharing information with a patient’s loved ones.  No one should ever have to go through what Jordan’s family experienced.”

Under current law, a facility must provide verbal notice regarding a significant incident to the Department of Human Services within 24 hours. However, there is no mandate that requires a family member to be notified of a patient’s death within a specific timeframe.

SPRINGFIELD — Following Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) issued the following statement:

“Although we have made substantial progress providing effective and accessible mental healthcare in Illinois, the shortage of mental health professionals remains a roadblock to timely care. As the chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee, I have been working with mental health and disability experts and providers focusing on eliminating roadblocks to care, including issues regarding pay gaps and administrative barriers that have a direct impact on the providers as well as the patients.

“This budget proposal builds on current investments in quality, accessible mental health treatment, including the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative. This initiative, which began in 2022, works to transform statewide systems of care to increase accessibility and capacity for children and adolescents seeking mental healthcare.

CHICAGO – Continuing the focus on building the behavioral health workforce in Illinois, Chairpersons of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committees, State Senator Laura Fine and State Representative Lindsey LaPointe convened the first of two joint Illinois House-Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee hearings Thursday. 

“The state of Illinois is working with mental health professionals who are enacting groundbreaking solutions to expanding the behavioral health workforce,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is crucial to hear directly from mental and behavioral health providers across the state to learn the progress of these programs and how future legislation can make the biggest impact.” 

Representatives of the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Development Center, a university partnership focused on making Illinois a national leader in supporting a robust system of behavioral health care providers, addressed the committee. Their testimony focused on the training programs being implemented to grow the workforce. They also talked about the roadblocks that need to be eliminated, including administrative burdens and gaps in Illinois’ mental health parity laws.