Fox River Valley Initiative (FRVI) worked with Kane County States Attorney to get a meeting with Governor Pritzker. A team of leaders from Dupage United, FRVI, United Power and Lake County United met with the Governor to seek his support for Medicaid funding for Crisis Stabilization Units, which divert those in a mental crisis from jail and hospital emergency room. The Governor then directed his Deputy Governor and Director of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to meet with IL Metro IAF leaders to address this issue by July 1, 2019.
Illinois Metro IAF leaders then organized a meeting with allies from hospitals and law enforcement to meet with Deputy Governor Flores and HFS Director Eagleson to lay out the urgency and impact of Crisis Stabilization Units. Top executive staff from five health care providers, including 2 independent safety net hospitals,1 for-profit behavioral hospital, and a hospital network shared their commitment to establish a separate Crisis Stabilization Unit across 5 five counties all within about a year.