SJ0023 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0023 LRB102 17702 MST 23672 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel, severe, acute illness, has rapidly spread throughout Illinois, resulting in unnecessary loss of life, loss of economic stability, increasing behavioral health struggles, and new trauma exposure for every race, age, gender, and ethnicity; this has resulted in an increasing public health disaster and acceleration of the current legal, educational, health, and social systems volatility, which brings the need for healthcare and human services transformation for every individual in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Dysfunction of neurological, endocrine, and other polyvagal mechanisms in the body can lead to chronic and severe physical and mental illness with severe associated cost; the effects of trauma exposures on humans are detailed in research over the last two decades from the evolving sciences of neuroscience, molecular biology, public health, genomics, and epigenetics, revealing that experiences such as a community trauma, individual trauma, and pandemic trauma result in significant impacts at the micro, meso, and macro health system levels; and

WHEREAS, The vast short term impact of COVID-19 has led to a surge in suicides, overdoses on drugs and alcohol, abuse, neglect, and general anxiety and depression; the collateral damage will continue to impact the daily living and functionality of individuals due to the increasing isolation and loneliness being experienced; beyond facing the barriers present pre-pandemic, individuals are now facing magnified obstacles related to access to care and unprecedented interruptions to existing care for existing mental illness; it is now vital for mental health and wellness to be viewed as a political priority due to its direct link to social injustice, poverty, systemic discrimination, and racism; and

WHEREAS, The continued short-term impact of COVID-19 has been well discussed; the long-term impact, while it may be able to be predicted, is still not fully known and comprehended; by proactively anticipating, applying evidence-based knowledge, and listening closely to the stories of every individual in Illinois, we understand that public health must take a capacity building and foundational approach to the development, dissemination, and support of programs that have been demonstrated or can lead the way to addressing these long-term impacts, including addressing the growing mental and physical health needs and epigenetic impact; and

WHEREAS, Covid-19 not only effects society at a cellular level but also leads to social and economic devastation, including the impact it has had on the basic safety and security needs of Illinois families and also the ability to achieve adequate food, water, warmth, and rest, as well as inequality in meeting children's individual educational needs for building the hope and strength of our future; at a time when the struggles for individuals in Illinois are escalating from the loss of power and ability to care for themselves and their families, it is essential to address the social, mental, physical, financial, and educational, short-term and long-term costs of this pandemic, with special attention paid to trauma caused on micro, meso, and macro level systems; it is no longer acceptable to only embrace resilience but defeat the malignancy of history and man-made odds; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary, now more than ever, that every individual in Illinois has a fair and just opportunity to be healthy, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally; it is vital to recognize the overwhelming impact of the current pandemic situation and the resulting overall trauma on our communities, families, State, economy, and health and mental well-being; healing in all policies and community healing will only occur when we acknowledge the harms done to individuals in Illinois, especially those of color; understanding, supporting, and recognizing that the siloed approach to policy and support of the past no longer fits into our present and that committing to further health equality, social justice, and sustainable strengthening of the public health system is imperative for healing of every individual in Illinois and our State as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Other states, such as Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, have focused on bipartisan efforts to build trauma-informed states; Illinois has taken steps to begin to establish racial, justice, and children healing initiatives; the future of healing in Illinois must now shift from trauma-informed care to a healing-centered engagement, which is more effective and less costly, to quickly respond and facilitate the development of a neighborhood-by-neighborhood evidence-based direction; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that policy decisions enacted by the Illinois State Legislature should acknowledge and take into account the principles of trauma whenever possible and consider the concepts of toxic stress, early adversity, and buffering relationships and note the role of early intervention and investment in trauma-informed policies leading to a healing-centered environment; Illinois will join the ranks of a national movement currently led by 13 states to be trauma-informed and will transform to become the first declared Healing Centered State to close the empathy gap as important strategies to achieve a lasting foundation for a more prosperous and sustainable State through investing in human capital; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Illinois should invest in technological connectivity that includes detailed information and resources on trauma-informed care, standards for providing evidence-based trauma-informed treatment, peer to peer networking, and creation of belonging through narrative expression; this will happen by development of a bi-directional communication tool that is accessible to communities through all of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Illinois should move from a siloed, individual approach to a collaborative, person-centered healing approach, to identify, strengthen, and empower individuals and communities to craft a future positive history of Illinois; Illinois will light the way by creating a Healing Capacity Building Center housed at a public health association in Illinois to provide consultation to educational, legal, health, and other institutions and agencies including but not limited to needs assessments, observation, individual and group debriefing, and ongoing coaching and mentoring; the goal is not to recreate but to act as a catalyst for supporting existing services and programming to eliminate the currently accepted policy of violence in our State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That by providing financial backing to a renewed focus on rebuilding healthcare and human services systems further damaged by COVID-19 in such a way that will meet and surpass national standards of trauma-informed systems, the State of Illinois will be able to move to a focus on healing.