SPRINGFIELD – Northern Illinois residents who have been involuntarily admitted for treatment of a mental health disorder could seek care closer to home under legislation sponsored by State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).

“If you’re suffering from a mental health disorder, the last thing you need is to be separated from your loved ones,” Johnson said. “This measure would allow residents to be treated at the facility that’s closest to them, even if it’s across the Wisconsin border—it’s just common sense.”

The legislation would create the Interstate Contracts for Mental Health Disorder Treatment Act, allowing Illinois and Wisconsin residents who are involuntarily admitted for inpatient treatment of a mental health disorder to be treated at facilities across state lines.

For residents who live near the border of Illinois and Wisconsin, the closest qualified hospital or facility is often not in their home state. However, current law prohibits residents from being committed for mental health conditions outside the state, meaning that these residents must undergo treatment hours from family and loved ones.

Similar collaborative arrangements have been successfully enacted in Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota, which allow providers in these states to accept patients from Wisconsin for mental health treatment.

“Many Wisconsin residents utilize Illinois services and have family in Illinois, and vice versa. By establishing this agreement, we’re helping residents throughout the region get well,” Johnson said.

Senate Bill 1966 passed the Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee Tuesday and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

BUFFALO GROVE – In response to news that Illinois National Guard teams will be deployed to the Lake County Fairgrounds to bolster vaccine distribution operations there, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) thanked the National Guard members for helping move the Lake County community closer to recovery.

“I am grateful to all the residents who have been patient over the past few months as they have waited for their vaccine, and to our health care providers as they work tirelessly to get shots into arms as quickly as possible,” Johnson said. “This additional support from the Illinois National Guard will accelerate efforts and allow us to protect even more vulnerable Illinoisans from COVID-19.”

The Illinois National Guard will deploy teams to the Lake County Fairgrounds this week to enhance efforts already underway by the Lake County Health Department. The Fairgrounds site is currently serving adults covered in Phases 1A and 1B of the state’s vaccination plan, including health care personnel, long-term care facility residents, adults age 65 and older, and front-line essential workers.

The team assisting Lake County’s efforts is one of more than 75 National Guard teams—comprised of more than 1,380 service members—supporting vaccination sites across the state each day.

Nearly 11% of Lake County residents are fully vaccinated, including over half of residents age 65 and older. To sign up for an appointment or register to receive a notification when you become eligible for the vaccine, visit AllVax.lakecohealth.org.

VERNON HILLS – The Lakeview Fitness Center in Vernon Hills will soon see a 3,300-square-foot addition and other major upgrades thanks to a $2.2 million grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) grant program, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) announced.

“Recreational activity is critical to maintaining good health, both physical and mental,” Johnson said. “The revitalized Lakeview Fitness Center will offer our community even more opportunities to get up and move.”

The Vernon Hills Park District was awarded a $2.2 million PARC grant to fund an addition and renovation to the existing Lakeview Fitness Center.

The new facility will feature office space, additional parking, an outdoor paved area, locker room improvements, a new bathroom and a new group exercise room. The grant will also fund upgrades to the pool, including a new ADA pool lift, added lap lanes, a zero-entry pool edge and a splash pad for kids.

The PARC grant program provides up to 90% of project costs to help build, renovate and improve recreational buildings used by the public, with local governments matching the value of the grants awarded. The grant to the Vernon Hills Park District was one of 17 PARC grants awarded across the state Wednesday.

A full list of grantees is available on IDNR’s website.

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) announced communities in the district she represents will receive over $2.8 million over the next three years as part of the statewide Rebuild Illinois infrastructure improvement program. 

“I’m thrilled to see our community receive funding from the Rebuild Illinois program to pursue critical infrastructure projects that will improve safety, enhance quality of life and create good-paying jobs in the area,” Johnson said. “The pandemic has been tough on local governments’ budgets, but these dollars will ensure our long-term infrastructure goals stay on track.”

The Village of Buffalo Grove is set to receive nearly $500,000 through the program, and the City of Waukegan will receive over $978,000.

Funds from the Rebuild Illinois program can be used for a wide range of projects, including road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other maintenance needs. All projects will be selected and managed locally with financial oversight by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Through the Rebuild Illinois program, a total of $1.5 billion will be invested in municipal, township and county projects across the state to build and improve local infrastructure, expand all modes of transportation in the state, and foster economic development. The funds will be distributed in six installments over three years.

“Well-maintained infrastructure is critical to keeping our communities safe and accessible now and into the future,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to see how our local governments utilize these funds to improve residents’ commutes, beautify our neighborhoods and make our community even stronger.”

A full list of Rebuild Illinois grantees is available here.