Andrea Zopp

General Assembly approves maternal health package, reproductive health protections | The General Assembly approved several major healthcare initiatives over the holiday weekend, including expanding coverage for maternal health services. [Health News Illinois] The plan by Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, would task insurers with covering all pregnancy, postpartum and newborn care provided by perinatal doulas or licensed certified professional midwives. That includes home births and home visits. Coverage would also expand to home visits by board-certified lactation consultants, as well as recommended products like breast pumps and feeding aids. The bill would allow policy limits to cover up to $8,000 for home visits by a perinatal doula. "What's so heartening to me is to see a governor who understands that a safe healthy pregnancy shouldn't be predicated on one's income, background or race," Gabel said. "It is a fundamental right." An amendment filed Friday would require Medicaid to cover certified professional midwife services, as well as licensed certified professional midwife services, starting next year. The proposal passed along party lines. Some Republicans were concerned about why abortion services were not tied to copays, but those who have a miscarriage or a successful delivery could be required to have a copay. Pritzker, who made maternal health a major priority this session, said Saturday he will sign the bill into law. #maternalhealth #publichealth #socialchange #communityhealth #populationhealth #healthcare  

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Have you checked out this month's Review magazine? This issue covers topics like Native Americans and their influence in Illinois, an Advocacy Update, Legal Brief and more. Read the magazine at iml.org/review.

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Ensuring children receive adequate healthcare is a critical priority for the state’s health sector. Esther Farkas, Cristal Gary, Heidi Mueller, and Jay Taylor addressed this issue and more at 2024 Illinois State of Reform. #Illinois #healthcare #healthpolicy #StateofReform

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🌟 Reflecting on Impact: Nearly three years ago, United Way of Greater Toledo made a strategic $100,000 investment to address our community's housing crisis. This decision was informed by valuable insights from our 211 helpline, where we saw a significant increase in calls for housing assistance. This is just one powerful example of how data from 211 not only helps us understand community needs but also empowers us to take meaningful action. 📈 🔍 Did you know? 211 data is publicly available. We encourage everyone to explore this information—it can play a crucial role in securing grants, government support, and advocating for critical community issues. 👉 Learn more and stay informed by visiting https://lnkd.in/g8y77sBZ. #UnitedWay419 #UnitingForBetterTomorrow #NWO211

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Duckworth seeks Medicaid funding boost for maternal health services in rural, underserved communities | Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., joined colleagues this week to unveil a plan to boost Medicaid funding for labor and delivery units at hospitals in rural and underserved communities. [Health News Illinois] “It is absolutely unconscionable that hundreds of expectant and new moms in maternity deserts are left without access to the care they need,” Duckworth said in a statement. “Every mother, no matter their zip code, deserves access to high-quality maternal healthcare.” Supporters say the proposal, co-signed with 17 other Democratic senators, would address the “root causes of labor and delivery unit closures.” It would enhance federal financing for eligible rural and high-need urban hospitals and set a Medicaid labor and delivery revenue floor to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining obstetric services at low-volume hospitals. And supporters say it will expand Medicaid flexibilities to fuel “innovative care delivery, including through maternal health homes.” The bill would also require states to provide coverage for postpartum women in Medicaid for 12 months, a move Illinois and 46 other states have already taken. More>https://lnkd.in/giYWngEH #maternalhealth #rural #publichealth #populationhealth #communityhealth #healthcare #medicine #dental

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For so many Michigan and Midwest formerly manufacturing-dependent communities—the opportunity is real to revitalize the local economy by both keeping ones’ own homegrown “talent”, and attracting newcomers by offering a community that is less expensive, congested, and hurried, with a rich quality of life. But not if we don’t overcome our sharp racial divides and history of the nation’s most intense racial segregation. Read my latest article now published in Postindustrial Media on why Michigan and our other Midwest sister states are largely losing out on the very real movement of top talent to the nation’s more diverse, lifestyle communities. Michigan and the Midwest can reverse decades of relative population decline--but not until we treat our economic achilles heel--race--head on. https://lnkd.in/g3diG8-5

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https://lnkd.in/g7MXJVA4 I am thrilled to announce the publication of Vol. 114.1 of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, and with it, the formal publication of my comment: "The Clearest Proof": Constitutional Concerns Surrounding the Illinois Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act.

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📢We invite system-involved youth & families to share their experiences w/fines & fees in the Wisconsin courts: https://ow.ly/pq8Y50S0gxL 💸Wisconsin courts can charge families thousands of dollars when young people get into trouble w/the law. If families can’t pay these costs, they may face consequences including having their tax returns or wages garnished. ❗Not only does this court debt contribute to the cycle of poverty & racial inequity, but it also increases chances of recidivism & the cycle of incarceration for system-involved youth. ✅With the Wisconsin Debt Free Justice Coalition, we have put together a survey to better understand how such costs impact Wisconsin youth families. If you have experience with youth fines and fees, we invite you to complete it: https://ow.ly/pq8Y50S0gxL ⏩You can also forward the survey to any youth & families. 💳💳💳To honor the time and experiences, respondents can enter to receive a $50 Visa gift card. Kids Forward is working w/a coalition of national & Wisconsin community organizations & legal advocates to learn how juvenile, criminal, & municipal court costs (fines, fees, surcharges, & restitution orders) are impacting Wisconsin’s system-involved youth & their families. Here is one way you and/or your organization can get involved!

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Did you know that 33 of Illinois’ 102 counties have passed non-binding resolutions supporting the idea of forming a new state—one that excludes Cook County, home to Chicago and over 40% of the state’s population. This growing movement reflects frustration seen across the nation, where rural areas feel overshadowed by urban centers. But here’s the truth: May 8 works with urban and rural areas and they share more challenges than differences. Access to affordable housing, aging infrastructure, job creation, public safety, and equitable healthcare—these issues don’t stop at county lines. When urban innovation meets rural resilience, amazing things happen. Hope everyone has a great holiday next week! Governing #UrbanRural #CommunityCollaboration #StrongerTogether

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The Michigan Supreme Court issued a major ruling impacting businesses of nearly every size and type re: new paid leave and minimum wage requirements over the summer. We are working closely with our partners at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce as well as Choose Lansing on next steps, which include compliance and legislative fixes. #mileg Check out our Viewpoint below that outlines those key fixes: ⤵️

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Check out this important update below from Ashley Williams, PhD, LABA, BCBA-D, vice president of strategic initiatives! 👇 #PublicPolicy #HB5344 #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #IllinoisABA

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Join, AAPAN's VP of Government Affairs, Lisa Anne Hurt-Forsythe at the IAIABC Central States Association Spring Seminar, June 13 from 3:15-4:30pm. in Madison, WI. The discussion will focus on: Rescheduling Marijuana: Implications for Workers’ Compensation. On April 30, 2024, it was reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) planned to move marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) The planned change followed an August 2023 recommendation from the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although the change will still have several additional regulatory steps, the move is seen as one the most impactful policy changes that the DEA has made in 50 years. This session will provide an overview of the change including the federal regulatory process, the potential legal consequences, and the implications/questions that we should all be asking in Workers’ Compensation.  The session will include both slides and small group discussions. https://lnkd.in/eBVvtrnC  

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Earlier this year The Joyce Foundation and The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago convened experts on Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) with the goal of identifying key information and research needs that can help communities overcome the economic and financial challenges of developing effective and equitable strategies to replace dangerous lead service lines. Our #Environment Program Director Elizabeth Cisar worked with Nathan Anderson, Maria Castro, Karen Cuenca & Suchi Saxena, Ed.L.D. (Suchi S.) to prepare the article linked below, summarizing specific, actionable, and accessible information and research to help municipal and utility leaders create workable LSLR programs for their communities. Seven blog posts accompany the article, authored by experts who participated in the convening, providing deeper perspectives on information and research needs. Be sure to read those, too. We'll also include a link with existing LSLR resources and a list of convening participants in the comments. These resources are designed to help the research, policy, and philanthropic communities shape their work to respond to the needs identified. The safety and accessibility of drinking water is a core part of our Environment Program strategy, and we are proud to support ongoing efforts to implement equitable #LSLR programs. #Chicago #Philanthropy #FederalReserve #DrinkingWater #LeadServiceLines #LeadServiceLineReplacement #GreatLakesRegion https://lnkd.in/g5wqVWkX

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“The RLTO offers extensive protections for tenants that may surprise landlords who are not familiar with Chicago’s intricacies and the RLTO gives tenants extensive rights to terminate leases if the landlord violates the tenant’s rights. Landlords operating in Chicago should take the time to learn the RLTO and periodically refresh their knowledge of the rules. To that end, the new summary is a good place to start, but it is always helpful for landlords to consult with an attorney before taking steps that fall under the regulation, including evictions, rent raises, and collecting security deposits.” - Thomas Ball and Chad Poznansky

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Position Announcement: Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is the federally designated statewide coalition of domestic violence services providers for the state of Illinois. ICADV is the network of providers that together make up the statewide voice for survivors of domestic violence and their children in Illinois. Together with over 50 member organizations providing direct service to survivors throughout Illinois, ICADV works towards preventing and responding to domestic violence in the state through advocacy, public policy, education, and direct outreach. The CEO role presents an opportunity to make a systemic difference in the effort to prevent, respond to, and end domestic violence, both statewide and beyond. The next CEO will have the opportunity to speak out boldly against domestic violence and work collaboratively to ensure that resources are continually allocated to meet the needs of survivors across the state. For more information and apply, or share nominations here: https://lnkd.in/gxbHVhan #DomesticViolenceAdvocacy #TeamICADV #OneMissionOneVoice #executivesearch #nonprofitsearch #executiveleadership #nonprofitleadership

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