SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers hope to eliminate barriers to the mental health workforce by passing a plan to require paid internships for social workers.
This comes as 4.8 million Illinoisans currently live in a designated mental health professional shortage area.Â
Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) told reporters Thursday that many prospective social workers can't enter the field because they know internships are unpaid.Â
Fine's legislation could allow the Illinois State Board of Education to present competitive grants to school districts for annual stipends of at least $15,000 for social work interns.
"The second grant program through the State Board of Higher Education will provide grants to public and nonpublic colleges and universities to assist all students pursuing social work-related field placements, internships and other opportunities in the field," Fine said.
A separate plan could give licensed social workers the authority to possess and use opioid antagonists, such as Narcan. Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) said this change could be critical to address the opioid epidemic in Illinois.Â
"In the past decade, synthetic opioid deaths have increased by 3,341%, from only 87 deaths in 2013 to 2,994 deaths in 2022," Villa stressed. "Providing social workers with the authority to carry and administer this live saving medication will ultimately save thousands of lives."
Senate Bill 3779 passed unanimously out of the Senate Licensed Activities Committee on March 7.
Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) also hopes to pass a plan to provide loan repayment assistance for eligible palliative care providers in a hospice program. As a former CNA in a nursing home, Collins said Illinois needs to help recruit and retain workers in this field.
"In the African American and Latino communities, which are heavily underrepresented as hospice and palliative care providers, Illinois is facing an estimated shortfall of nearing 15,000 nurses by 2025," Collins stressed. "There is also a deficit of 6,200 physicians by the year 2030."
Senate Bill 3714 would allow the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to award grants to palliative care professionals for a maximum of four years. Collins explained 40% of the awards would go to registered nurses. 30% of the grants could be awarded to clinical social workers. Physicians, advanced practice nurses and practical nurses would each receive the remaining 30% of the grants.
The Senate could pass Villa's legislation before the chamber's third reading deadline Friday. Fine and Collins hope their proposals will be included in budget negotiations later this spring since both plans are subject to appropriation.
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