(Chicago, IL) — The 2008 Midwest Political Reform Survey reveals that Illinois residents’ distrust in state government has risen since 2006.

At the same time, many continue to hold an abiding faith in the ability to change state government to be less influenced by moneyed interests and more responsive and accountable to constituents.

A large majority (80%) expresses personal interest in an organization that works toward making state government work better by being more honest and accountable and over half of Illinois residents (57%) are extremely interested.

The 2008 Belden Russonello & Stewart telephone survey for the Midwest Democracy Network randomly sampled adults in five Midwestern states (Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) on attitudes toward government and political reform.

The survey was funded by the Joyce Foundation.

Overview:

1. Distrust in the Illinois state government has risen sharply over the last two years. A large majority (77%) says they only trust the state government “some of the time” or “almost never.” Concerns about corruption in state government and the influence of money in state politics are second only to gas prices as concerns in the minds of Illinois residents.

2. Although they have little faith in state government, Illinoisans still believe reform efforts are worthwhile. Majorities believe it is “worth getting money out of politics” and reject the idea that corruption will always be present in state government.

3. Strong support exists for a range of reform efforts. Over three-quarters of Illinoisans believe each of the reforms tested in the survey will make a difference in helping state government work better.

4. Personal interest in government reform issues is high among residents of Illinois. Illinois residents are the most likely of all the Midwestern residents surveyed to be “extremely interested” in an organization working to create “a more honest, accountable, and responsive government” (80%). Over six in ten (62%) are more interested in a political candidate who believes it may not be possible to improve education, create jobs, and cut taxes without first reducing the role of money in politics and the influence of lobbyists, than in a candidate who focuses solely on the issues (34%).

5. As we found in 2006, the top goals that Illinoisans would like to see the state government achieve are honesty and accountability to voters.

In Illinois 402 interviews were conducted by telephone April 21 through May 4, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the Illinois survey is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

What’s your opinion?

How much do you trust Illinois state government to work honestly?
( polls)

(Chicago, IL) — The Thresholds mental health agency announced on June 9 that it has recently received grants totaling $114,000 to help improve services for people with mental illness:

• $64,000 from the Retirement Research Foundation for an 18-month study of medical care for older adults with serious mental illness. The lifespans of people with serious mental illness are 25 years shorter than average, research shows. This study will examine combined physical and mental health care and compare results of the integrated approach with those of traditional medical care. Findings will help guide the mental health field in best practices for treatment of medical problems.
• $50,000 from the Michael Reese Health Trust to support a full-time staff member who will provide on-site consultation and training in services for people who have serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse conditions. The Health Trust’s support will allow Thresholds to train more staff in Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment, an innovative, stage-based program proven effective by scientific evidence.

(Chicago, IL) — Service providers who work with children and young adults will be among those in attendance for a Thresholds Institute conference July 18 – “From Cliff to Slope: Easing the Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Mental Health Needs.”

This conference will discuss best clinical and psycho-educational practices for young adults with mental illness to help young adults make educated choices.

The event will be co-sponsored by the Illinois Division of Mental Health and Department of Children & Family Services.

It will include a keynote address by Tanya R. Anderson, M.D., Illinois Division of Mental Health’s Acting Chief of Clinical Services.

More information on the one-day conference in Evanston is available by contacting Whitney Key at (773) 572-5138 or wkey@thresholds.org or by going to http://www.thresholds.org/pdf/clifftoslopesavedate.pdf

(Chicago) — The National Alliance on Mental Illness – Chicago chapter honored Chicago-based Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centers CEO Dr. Tony Zipple with the Gordon B. Nash, Sr. Public Education Award at NAMI’s 29th anniversary celebration in March.

In presenting the award, Eddy Eisenberg, NAMI’s board president, cited Zipple’s vision and focus on recovery and on honoring the dignity and full potential of individuals with mental illness.

“To be honored by (NAMI of Greater Chicago) makes this very special,” Zipple said during his acceptance remarks. “This award honors not only me but Thresholds and its staff.

One of the nation’s largest non-profit providers of mental health services, Thresholds provides a comprehensive program of therapeutic support, case management, education, job training and placement, and housing. With 30 service locations and more than 75 housing developments in the Chicagoland area, Thresholds serves about 6,000 people with mental illness each year.

(Decatur, IL) — The looming financial crisis of Decatur’s Oasis Day Center, caused by Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s decision to slash funding to the homeless day shelter, has generated generous support from local residents.

A May 5 town meeting brought in $77,705, nearly half of what Oasis needs to offset a $160,000 cut in state funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Decatur Club of AT&T Pioneers, a group of telecommunications employees and retirees who take on charitable project, presented a $500 check on Thursday.

The crisis was triggered after the Illinois Division of Mental Health said it would cut annual funding from $230,000 to $75,000 for the coming year.

So far donations have come from stock worth approximately $50,000, individuals giving $11,505, St. Mary’s Hospital $10,000, and local churches $5,700.

“We’ve heard from other churches who are planning to donate but don’t know yet what that will be,” said Diana Knaebe, president of Heritage Behavioral Health Center.

She added that half the proceeds from a premiere of a documentary film in Decatur next month could generate another $10,000 to $15,000.

The center serves 175 to 200 people daily.

(Chicago, IL) — Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) was selected as one of seven sites nationwide to pilot Mental Health First Aid, an innovative program to help the general public to provide ‘first aid’ to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

C4 Regional Director Viviana Ploper and C4 Ridge Site Director Claudia Kottwitz participated in the initial February 4-8 training in Palm Springs, California, sponsored by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH). Both members are now certified to present the MHFA training.

“It’s the mental health equivalent of CPR,” observes Ploper, who will conduct C4’s first training session –targeted for C4 nonclinical staff. “The 12-hour training focuses on the more common mental health crises of depression and anxiety, substance use, psychotic behavior and impulse and control disorders.”

“If someone is having a panic attack on a bus, an adult trained in mental health first aid could help the person,” explains Ploper.

(Chicago, IL) — Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) has received a national award from the American Psychiatric Foundation for its achievements in community mental health for minorities.

The agency was one of four recipients nationwide to receive an Honorable Mention in the APF’s fifth annual Awards for Advancing Minority Health competition at the 2008 APF Annual Benefit in Washington, D.C. on May 3.

In announcing the award, the Foundation recognized C4 for “consistently implementing successful, innovative approaches … that include: actively recruiting staff and clinical leadership to reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of its population served; hiring parent advocates to breakdown cultural and racial barriers to treatment; and engaging in partnerships with other agencies to reach ethnic populations culturally resistant to mental health services.”

(Chicago, IL) – Since fiscal year 2004, Illinois has successfully rolled back recidivism rates from record levels, reduced the rate of new crime among parolees, slowed the prison population growth rate, and saved taxpayers more than $60 million, according to new state statistics.

Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) reported at a press conference in Chicago on May 19 that the number of new convictions for crimes among parolees has decreased by over 18% from 4,567 in FY04 to 3,742 in FY07, the largest decline in state history.

Additionally, Governor Blagojevich and IDOC report:

• Total arrests among parolees experienced a 23% decline from FY04 to FY07.

• Participants in the Sheridan Drug Prison & Reentry program, which has been called a national model, have exhibited a 40% recidivism rate, lower than comparison groups.

• The prison population has increased by only 4.5% since the end of FY02, which is the slowest rate of growth over any similar time frame since the Illinois Department of Corrections was established in FY70.

• Reduction in repeat crimes has saved taxpayers an estimated $64 million in prison costs since 2004.

The figures stand in stark contrasts to Fiscal Years 1989 - 2005 when the state prison population doubled from 22,000 to 44,000, and the recidivism rate increased to nearly 55% — meaning that 55% of all inmates released from prison returned to prison within three years.

“The State of Illinois is leading the nation in its efforts to reduce crime and recidivism.” said Joan Petersilia, Professor Criminology, University of California, Irvine. “This is the type of progress that has required tremendous leadership by Governor Blagojevich and partnerships among both corrections and social service officials.”

(Springfield, IL) — More than 200 mental health advocates came to Springfield on Wednesday asking legislators to forbid Governor Rod Blagojevich from sweeping away existing mental health care money and to ask for more money fund to mental health programs.

Advocates from Stepping Stones and Janet Wattles Center were among 55 people who traveled from Rockford to lobby the Illinois General Assembly.

“The reason we’re here is because treatment works — if we can get it,” said Mark Heyrman, a prominent mental health advocate in Illinois. “In order to have treatment, you have to have money to provide the treatment.”

Heyrman said mental health agencies need the dedicated mental health money to care for thousands of mentally ill individuals and it should not be used to plug a hole in this year’s budget.

The Senate has approved a bill, S.B. 530, to empower the governor to sweep $530 million from dedicated funds into the operating budget. Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), said, however, the House has no plan to vote on the legislation.

Meanwhile, Frank Anselmo, left, CEO of the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, expressed concern that $10 million appropriated in this year’s budget for mental health care has gone unspent by the state.

But Kelley Quinn, spokeswoman for the governor, said the money is being allocated to agencies.

“Nothing is being held,” she said. “It’s not like it’s just sitting there.”

Quinn said there might have been a delay because the budget for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, was not finalized until last fall.

The money remains in a special account managed by the Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes.

“It’s unspent,” said Anselmo.

(Washington, D.C.) — Grants of $50 million to 20 states to help improve access to primary medical care so that Medicaid beneficiaries could avoid improper use of costly hospital emergency rooms was announced on April 18 by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Illinois will receive a two-year $2,006,000 grant for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for an Emergency Room Diversion program that will locate new Community Health Center sites on or near hospital campuses and partners with Illinois mental health providers.

“These grants provide new programs and services to help people get the non-emergency care they need in the most appropriate setting,” CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said.

These grants will help Medicaid programs fund local and rural initiatives to provide alternative health care settings for individuals with non-emergency medical needs

The first award of $26 million will fund 29 programs in 20 states, including Illinois. The remaining $24 million will be available to grantees in 2009.

Grantees will use the funds to:

• Establish new community health centers;

• Extend the hours of operation at existing clinics;

• Educate beneficiaries about new services; and

• Provide for electronic health information exchange between facilities for better coordination of care.