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Leading Change: Illinois Innovations Series | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Leading Change: Illinois Innovations Series

12/18/2023

Developed by the Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator and the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning’s Education Subcommittee, the Leading Change: Illinois Innovations Series will highlight pioneering “Illinois-based” approaches and strategies that support strategic initiatives within the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Action Plan.

  • All installments will take place from 12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.
  • Projected 2024 Presentations (subject to change)
  • To Register, please click on each link.

CONFIRMED: Friday, January 5, 2024: 11th Judicial Circuit Court/McLean County: Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE) Program

Presented by: Kevin McCall MPH, MSW, LCSW, CHES, McLean County Director of Behavioral Health Coordination

Description: McLean County has adopted the FUSE model which is a signature initiative of the Corporation for Supportive Housing designed to “help communities break the cycle of homelessness and crisis among individuals with complex medical and behavioral health challenges.”

CONFIRMED: Friday, February 2, 2024: 17th Judicial Circuit Court: Misdemeanant Wellness Track

Presented by: Hon. John T. Gibbons and Emily Behnke, Deputy Court Administrator

Description: The Wellness Track identifies individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses that have behavioral health needs through reviewing case information and conducting screenings while attending the Initial Appearance Court and misdemeanor court hearings. Follow-up case management services are provided.

CONFIRMED: Friday, March 1, 2024: Cook County Circuit Court: Civil Court Pathways to Outpatient Mental Health Care

Presented by: Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby and Michelle Luburic, Assistant State’s Attorney

Description: Involuntary Outpatient Admission and Agreed Care and Custody Orders are two civil court ordered mechanisms that authorize the judicial system to commit eligible individuals with severe psychiatric disorders to mental health intervention in the community. Learn how to incorporate these strategies into your toolbox of interventions.

CONFIRMED: Friday, April 5, 2024: 22nd Judicial Circuit Court: Moral Reconation Therapy and the Circuit Court

Presented by: 22nd Judicial Circuit Staff (Panel)

Description: Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT® is an effective systematic, cognitive-behavioral approach that treats a wide range of issues including substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, parenting, job skills, and other issues. Hear how the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court has incorporated MRT in probation case planning, problem-solving courts, and sentencing orders.

Friday, May 3, 2024: Developing and Facilitating a Court-led Justice and Behavioral Health Coordinating Council

Presented by: Hon. Lindsay Parkhurst (21st Judicial Circuit Court), Hon. Janet Holmgren (17th Circuit), and William Scanlon. Trial Court Administrator (11th Judicial Circuit Courts)

Description: As leaders of their courts and communities, judges are in a unique position to encourage local practices aimed at improving responses to individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. Current leaders will discuss the experience and impact of multidisciplinary convenings.

June/July: SUMMER BREAK

Friday, August 2, 2024: Fostering a Trauma-Aware Court System

Presented by: Scott Block, Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator, AOIC and Beck Self, Program Manager, AOIC Probation Services

Description: When court professionals are aware of how traumatic experiences impact behavior, they can better understand how to effectively support the individual. Ultimately, trauma-awareness improves fairness, respect for the individual, and preservation of personal dignity.

Friday, September 6, 2024: 2nd Judicial Circuit Court: Take Action Today Inc. (Community Mental Health and Substance Use Liaisons and Peer Support)

Presented by: Mike Tyson, CEO, Take Action Today, Inc.

Description: This project capitalizes on the emergence of a peer-led workforce to promote engagement by justice-involved participants in clinical and community-based primary and mental health services that constitute a recovery-oriented system of care.

Friday, October 4, 2024: 19th Judicial Circuit Court: Cognitive Outreach Groups (COG) and Gender Specific Case Loads

Presented by: Lake County Probation Services

Description: The goals of the program are to increase the number of high-risk clients who successfully complete probation, reduce recidivism, and improve clients’ abilities to take control of their thoughts, behaviors, and lives.

Friday, November 1, 2024: 16th Judicial Circuit Court (Kane County): Court Diagnostic Center

Presented by: Dr. Alexandra Tsang, Director

Description: The Kane County Diagnostic Center is the Psychology Department for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. It provides psychological services to juvenile and adult offenders, which include diagnostic evaluations, crisis intervention, and individual, group and family psychotherapy.

Note: These educational events have not been approved for continuing education credits