Month: May 2022

988 Phone Number Dedicated to Mental Health Emergencies

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The Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health (IDHS/DMH) was awarded a grant from Vibrant, operator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) to plan for the implementation of 988, a national three-digit dialing code for the Lifeline and for calls from individuals experiencing mental health crises. IDHS/DMH is partnering with the six existing Lifeline call centers in Illinois, as well as key stakeholders in the state to ensure a smooth transition to the 988 system when it rolls out in July 2022.

The Illinois Key Stakeholder Coalition will serve as an advisory group for the IDHS 988 Planning Grant Team. The expectation is the development of a clear roadmap for Illinois to address key coordination, capacity, funding, and communication strategies for the launching of 988. The team is also expected to plan for the long-term improvement of in-state answer rates for 988 calls originating in Illinois.

Once it is operational, 988 will be a direct line to trained call takers available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, anywhere in the US, at any time to help find the support and help they need. It will serve as a core component of crisis care in the country, consistent with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s SAMHSA Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives initiative https://store.samhsa.gov/product/crisis-services-meeting-needs-saving-lives/PEP20-08-01-001

Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) Information

On August 25, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA), also known as the Stephon Watts Act. This new legislation requires emergency response operators such as those at 911 centers, to refer calls seeking mental and behavioral health support to a new service that can dispatch a team of mental health professionals instead of police. This marks a significant change in policy.

The implementation details for this new law have been tasked to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services, who will work in concert with the 911 Administrator at the Illinois State Police, the EMS administrators under the purview of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Statewide and Regional Advisory Committees to be established through appointment by the Secretary. More information about these Regional Committees can be found below.

To sign up for Communications from the Division of Mental Health regarding 988 and/or the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) please complete the request form at: https://forms.office.com/g/Da9MEQE8Hb

CESSA Regional Committees

Consistent with the CESSA legislation and the DHS commitment to advancing equity and racial justice, including diverse representation on all of our boards remains a priority for DHS, so we encourage consideration of candidates who represent underserved and/or underrepresented communities. We have developed this survey/form to gather sufficient information to be able to identify a diverse slate of potential nominees. Completion of this survey is not a guarantee of becoming a committee member-it is merely a device to compile a list of interested individuals for consideration of appointment. As stated above, these Committees will be established through appointment by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services in conjunction with the 911 Administrator at the Illinois State Police, and the EMS administrators under the purview of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The information provided by these survey responses will be utilized only for the purpose noted here, and will not be shared outside the group tasked with making recommendations. We appreciate your response and interest in serving on a Committee defined within the Community Emergency Services and Support Act.

Resources

 
JOIN ICA HERE!

Save The Date: ACA’s Virtual Hill Day June 15, 2022

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Please join the American Counseling Association (ACA) for the 2022 ACA Virtual Hill Day seminar on June 15 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Eastern).

 

Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with federal legislative staff and thought leaders on the role that the counseling community can play in support of ACA’s advocacy efforts – and through legislation, how we can provide greater access to mental health services to those in need.

 

Registration is free! For more information, please visit ACA’s website or email us at advocacy@counseling.org.

 
Register Today

Counselors for Social Justice Roundtable Discussion

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Join Counselors for Social Justice for a virtual roundtable discussion on current events in school counseling!
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2022Time: 7:00pm ESTRegister for free using this link: bit.ly/csjschoolroundtable

Facilitated by: Violeta A. Murietta, Dr. Stephanie Smith-Durkin, and Dr. Delila OwensTopics include: prohibiting the teaching of divisive concepts, book bans, gender/sexuality education, and more!We hope you can join us! Please direct any questions to: info@counseling-csj.org

5/26 Webinar: Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances

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Illinois Helpline Webinar
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Please join us on the last Thursday of any month, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, to learn about the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances. The Helpline is a centralized information and referral hub helping to connect individuals to harm reduction, recovery, and support services across the state.
Participating in this webinar will leave you with a greater understanding of the Illinois Helpline, including how to connect with us, how to connect people in your care to appropriate Substance Use Disorder services, and/or how to offer your services to Helpline callers. You will have a chance to ask questions about how the Illinois Helpline is organized and how to engage with the Provider Portal, and you will be invited to share feedback on your experience with the Helpline. You will also have an opportunity to network with others who support individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorder in Illinois.
Next opportunity to participate:
Thursday, May 26, 2022
from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm CT
Please register in advance for this event.
Who should attend?
  • Law enforcement and probation personnel
  • Case managers and other social service providers
  • Substance Use Support and Recovery Providers
  • People experiencing Substance Use Disorder
  • Family and loved ones of individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorder
  • Anyone interested in learning more about the Helpline or how to support folks experiencing Substance Use Disorder
For more information on the Illinois Helpline generally or this webinar specifically, please contact Bryan Gooding, Helpline Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, at bryan.gooding@phimc.org

Proposal Deadline Extension! – 2022 ISCA Conference – Deadline May 31st

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We are thrilled to plan for the ISCA Conference on November 10th and 11th and we want you to be a part of the experience. Our conference benefits from professionals like you who are willing to share the great things you are doing in school counseling with others! We hope you consider submitting a conference presentation proposal. 

Sponsor Spotlight:

Dialogue
Virtual Student Counseling
Powered by DialCare

DialCare is a virtual telephonic counseling service. You can give your students ages 11 and older access to mental health assistance no matter where they are. Memvers can use their phone, tablet or computer for sessions with mental health professionals from the comfort of their home or on the go. Let our mental health professionals help give peace of mind.

For more information contact Becca Bean, Assistance Vice President at beccab@dialcare.com

Research Opportunity: Professional Identity Development of Counselor and Counselor Educator Trainees

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Participation is open to counselor trainees (CT) from all specialty areas who meet the inclusion criteria listed below.

  1. You are 18 years of age or older
  2. You are a graduate-level CT or doctoral-level CET student, enrolled in a counseling training or CES program based in the United States
  3. You were enrolled in a field experience course (i.e., Practicum, Internship I, or Internship II) in Spring semester, or recently completed a field experience course, within the past six months, but have not earned the degree you are pursuing

If you are interested in and eligible to participate in this study, please click here or scan the QR code below to learn more about the study and provide consent. Also, if you know anyone who meets the inclusion criteria listed above, please forward this email and/or the attached flyer to them.

Study activities include completion of the following:

  1. An informed consent form indicating your consent to participate in this study
  2. A screening and demographic questionnaire
  3. Completing the Professional Identity Scale in Counseling (PISC)
  4. Completing the Students’ Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ)

If you have any questions about this study, its purpose, and/or its procedures, or encounter any difficulties with accessing the survey, please contact the Principal Investigator, Lorraine Joseph, at ljoseph18679@ucumberlands.edu or you can contact dissertation chair and research supervisor, Dr. Adrienne Baggs at adrienne.baggs@ucumberlands.edu.