SJ0024 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0024 LRB103 30623 LAW 57070 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Children's Mental Health Act initiated the development of the Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) program for children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis; and

WHEREAS, One in six children and adolescents have mental health conditions, but only half of those receive mental health services; and

WHEREAS, Undiagnosed, untreated, or inadequately treated mental illness can significantly interfere with a child's ability to learn and develop; and

WHEREAS, These delays in treatment also lead to worsened conditions that are harder and costlier to treat; and

WHEREAS, Delays in treatment further result in higher rates of school dropout, unemployment, substance use, arrest, incarceration, and early death; and

WHEREAS, The number of children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis continues to increase, taxing school and community mental health services; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the SASS Program Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be charged with the following duties:

(1) Evaluate the SASS program by county, including but not limited to Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) hotline volume, hotline staffing, local agency staffing, local agency staff turnover, local agency staff response time, local agency staff training, number of referrals for inpatient and outpatient services, and availability of inpatient and outpatient services; and

(2) Analyze whether the current funding is sufficient to meet the needs of the program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One legislative member appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chair;

(2) One legislative member appointed by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve as co-chair;

(3) One legislative member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) One legislative member appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(5) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services or his or her designee;

(6) The Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee;

(7) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee;

(8) One member representing a statewide professional school social worker association, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(9) One member representing a statewide professional school psychologist association, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(10) One school social worker or school psychologist representing a statewide professional teacher organization, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(11) One school social worker or school psychologist representing a different statewide professional teacher organization, appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(12) One school social worker or school psychologist representing a professional teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(13) One school district administrator representing a statewide professional school administrator organization, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(14) One school principal representing a statewide professional school principal organization, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and

(15) One school board member representing a statewide professional school board organization, appointed by the House Minority Leader; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services shall provide administrative support; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall use the collected information to write a report, including the findings of the evaluation and policy recommendations that would address identified program and financial challenges, and deliver this report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before June 30, 2024, and, upon the filing of its report, the Task Force shall be dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House, the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.