Villa urges funding for more licensed social workers

SPRINGFIELD – In response to an urgent shortage of social workers in Illinois, State Senator Karina Villa introduced a measure to increase retention and hire more licensed clinical social workers in the state.

“There is a great need within our communities for experienced, empathetic, licensed social workers to provide support to those facing crisis,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Illinois is facing a widening gap between available qualified social workers and the amount of people who need their services. Our residents deserve equitable and prompt access to care, and these grants are a step in the right direction.”

House Bill 3511 would create the Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program to provide grants to nonprofit associations to hire licensed clinical social workers to fill the gap in care across Illinois. The grants would also fund group clinical supervision to fulfill requirements for clinical social worker licensure in Illinois.

Read more: Villa urges funding for more licensed social workers

Hunter-sponsored measure to ensure patients can designate an emergency contact at hospitals

SPRINGFIELD — To further ensure patients seeking care have a chance to designate an emergency contact, State Senator Mattie Hunter is spearheading a measure to require hospitals to provide an opportunity to gather contact information.

“When someone goes to a hospital, their first worry is not when they should tell the staff who to contact in case of emergency — it’s to receive care and alleviate their symptoms,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “It is imperative that we have procedures in place to ensure the hospital can gather the information they need without placing the burden on the patient to remember to provide it.”

House Bill 1332 would require hospitals to present a patient with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact, as well as to authorize the hospital to share protected health information with this contact.

Read more: Hunter-sponsored measure to ensure patients can designate an emergency contact at hospitals

Cervantes to give Board of Nursing more oversight in college nursing programs

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to an initiative led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes, the Board of Nursing at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will have more authority to oversee the establishment and administration of new and existing nursing programs, creating consistency and a high standard of quality across all programs statewide.

“Nurses are essential to maintaining the health of our communities. It is important, for their well-being and ours, that our nursing programs meet national standards and provide transferable skills to young professionals,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This measure will allow nurses to move around the state if they choose and be recognized nationally for having an IL RN license.”

House Bill 1807 would require the Board of Nursing at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to oversee a variety of elements of new and existing nursing programs, including accreditation standards, program remediation, withdrawal or closure of programs, and more. The measure would give the Board of Nursing authority to approve or disapprove of program directors to ensure that the person selected is qualified for the role, as well as purview over the program curriculum and faculty members.

Read more: Cervantes to give Board of Nursing more oversight in college nursing programs

Preston measure to expand implicit bias training for health care workers passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure through the Senate to expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois.

“I am proud to lead the charge in implementing essential implicit bias training in health care surrounding maternal health risks associated with marginalized communities in particular Black communities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women. I will always advocate for every woman in Illinois to receive adequate, respectful, and dignified health care regardless of their background.”

Read more: Preston measure to expand implicit bias training for health care workers passes Senate