Electronic Winter 2025 | Issue 65
IPS President Participates in the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
By: Adrienne Adams, MD
This year, the Illinois Psychiatric Society was invited to participate in the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held in Washington, DC, as a guest of Representative Danny K. Davis, a longtime national leader on criminal justice reform and champion of marginalized people. Founded in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is a non-profit organization focused on eliminating disparities within the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. The primary focus areas are Education, Public Health, Economic Empowerment, and Criminal Justice.
As IPS President, I joined a panel as the mental health expert on the subject of Criminal Justice Reform for the forum: Transforming Reentry: Access, Equity, Opportunity, and the Road Ahead. My presentation included the following points:
Increasing need for mental health treatment with limited resources
The importance of reauthorizing the funding for the Second Chance Act and how it aligns well with the collaborative care model, and how this integration could increase access to mental health, substance use treatment, and primary care within this marginalized community.
Lastly, stressing Medicaid benefits should be restored to ensure continuity of care, facilitating access to treatment.
