Public Act 103-0355
 
HB3698 EnrolledLRB103 28922 SPS 55308 b

    AN ACT concerning health.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Administrative Act is amended by adding Section
18.9 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 1705/18.9 new)
    Sec. 18.9. Cultural Empowerment Program.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall create
the Cultural Empowerment Program, which shall make
grants-in-aid to one or more community providers to provide
outreach, engagement, training, and support to faith-based
organizations serving communities that are underserved by
mental and behavioral health resources. The Department shall
provide a list of ZIP codes identifying the targeted
communities.
    (b) Grantees under the program shall utilize all available
resources to provide initial relationship building within
community areas by delivering training to faith-based
leadership and providing connection through personal stories
from persons with lived expertise to the leadership of faith
communities or their congregations. Grantees shall provide
information about the Certified Recovery Support Specialist
(CRSS) credential to interested individuals.
    (c) Grantees shall build relationships with local
community mental health centers (CMHCs) and other behavioral
health providers to help facilitate linkage to mental health
services for people in targeted communities. Grantees shall
ensure that consumers in the program experience a warm handoff
between the grantee and the CMHC or other service provider,
and to the greatest possible extent, shall assist consumers in
navigating or bypassing wait lists and other barriers to
accessing care. Grantees shall use their relationships with
CMHCs and service providers to support expansion of services
when needed and where possible.
    (d) Grantees under the program shall utilize their
expertise to build relationships with faith-based communities
in the targeted communities and ensure that those
organizations are aware of the behavioral health resources
available. Grantees shall support faith-based communities in
advocating for community members who are affected by
behavioral health conditions to access mental health treatment
and recovery services that shall assist them in living healthy
and productive lives.
    (e) The Department shall prioritize organizations that are
existing trusted messengers within targeted communities in
awarding funding under the program.
    (f) The Cultural Empowerment Program established by this
Section shall begin operations no later than July 1, 2024.

Effective Date: 1/1/2024