Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons

Illinois’ youth are one step closer to receiving mental health education in the classroom

Details: Category: Press Releases; Tuesday, February 08, 2022 06:06 PM

Springfield- Youth in Illinois are one step closer to receiving specialized education on mental health resources after a measure championed by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) passes a key hurdle.

“This measure addresses a critical gap in the support systems that we need to offer our youth to be able to remain emotionally well,” Simmons said. “Our youth have been so resilient during these past few years, but many of the broader issues amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic have put a severe strain on the mental health of our young people. It’s imperative that we prioritize the mental health and well-being of our young people and center the experiences they are voicing and actually living through.”

Senate Bill 4028 would ensure that the curricula for elementary and secondary schools would be required to include how and where to find mental health resources in the state. The measure helps make students aware of mental health services that are available to them and helps erase the broader stigma behind mental health.

The measure was in part inspired by two of Simmons’ Youth People’s Legislative Councils, where Simmons discussed with young people themselves the issues that are salient to them such as violence and access to mental health as part of his mission to empower young people to become more involved in policy making.

“The struggle to fund adequate resources for mental health is an issue that I hear time and time again when I meet with young people in the district I represent,” Simmons said. “I am pleased that we are one step closer to delivering practical resources to support our youth directly in our schools.”

The measure passed the Senate Education committee.

Simmons wraps up a campaign to get CPS students vaccinated

Details: Category: Press Releases; Friday, February 04, 2022 12:32 PM

Simmonsvaccineevent CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) wrapped up his campaign last week aimed at getting children across the district he represents vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

“My staff and I set in motion the #ChildrenCarryOn campaign to highlight the true resilience of the children ages 5-11 who live within my district,” Simmons said. “These children have made some of the biggest sacrifices with the least reward these last 18 months. We should celebrate them and lift up their courage in being vaccinated superheroes.”

Over the last two years, children between the ages of 5 and 11 have had to alter their school life, go without seeing friends and not participate in their extra-curricular activities. In addition, many children are also coping with the loss of their family members.

Simmons’ office set a goal of getting over 1,000 vaccines distributed to students between the ages of 5 and 11 in the district over the past two months. He kicked off the campaign on CPS Vaccination Awareness Day on Nov. 12, by visiting three vaccine clinics hosted by schools for their students at Gale, Kilmer, and Goudy elementary schools. On Jan. 28. Simmons hosted a final pediatric vaccine clinic, in collaboration with State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Alderman Harry Osterman, at the Broadway Armory. Parents and caregivers with multiple children trickled in for appointments eager to become vaccinated.

“With the arrival of the new omicron variant, I know that January was especially unpredictable, and my office is committed to creating access to resources and fighting for more opportunities for vaccines for children,” Simmons said. “I want to give a huge thank you to all of the amazing youth and their families who have rolled up their sleeves, and also thank the health workers and clinics who helped us pull this off, and the Vaccine Brigade for volunteering at these events and helping make this effort succeed.”

Children who still need a vaccine or booster can still receive one by making an appointment at www.Vaccines.gov or calling the local health care provider or pharmacy.

For additional resources, residents can check out the weekly 7th District newsletter at https://www.senatormikesimmons.com/ and reach out to the district office with questions or concerns at 773-769-1717.

Simmons speaks on proposed budget

Details: Category: Press Releases; Wednesday, February 02, 2022 06:24 PM

simmons hb3262g SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker gave his annual Budget and State of the State addresses Wednesday, after which State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:

“I am pleased to see that this budget proposal recommends $70 million in appropriations for the new 9-8-8 hotline crisis response services for our neighbors who are living with chronic mental health challenges. This is one piece of a larger set of systemic changes that must take place soon to address the unprecedented toll on mental health caused in part by the pandemic and by chronic economic injustice and violence.”

“It’s also reassuring to see that the budget provides $240 million for violence prevention through the Reimagine Public Safety Act. Proactive community-led public safety strategies are being deployed by grassroots organizations within the district I represent, however we need to dramatically increase the funding available for these proven programs to scale up violence reduction efforts in my district and across the state. I am also happy to see that this budget will fund the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention so that we can get guns off our streets and save lives.”

“Our constituents deserve much needed economic relief from the hardships of the past two years. I am proud to highlight the one-year holiday from sales taxes on groceries as part of the Illinois Family Relief Plan in the Governor’s proposed budget. Yet, this relief should go a lot further.”

“That is why I introduced Senate Bill 2132 to establish a $600 tax credit for single parents and working families who struggle to survive below the median income line and who have carried the brunt of economic trauma from the pandemic. I will continue to push for more relief, especially for our single parents, through the child tax credit and the Single Parents Bill of Rights, Senate Bill 4040.”

“I appreciate the appropriations from the Governor’s office and I look forward to continuing to negotiate these measures, which I believe are absolutely essential for the people of Illinois.”

Simmons champions single parents’ bill of rights

Details: Category: Press Releases; Monday, January 31, 2022 03:06 PM

Springfield- In an effort to support single working parents, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) initiated a measure that will allow them to claim unpaid time off from work to support their child's needs.

“Single parents deserve the same rights and protections as parents who have partners,” said Simmons. “When I had the opportunity to meet with a group of these parents, many of them talked about the need for time off from work to meet with their children’s teachers or tend to other well-being needs of their kids.”

Senate Bill 4040 would allow employees who are single parents to take either five days or up to 40 hours of unpaid time off to care for a child’s needs- provided that the employees give their employers a sufficient period of notice. Needs include education, child care, or any duty a single parent may reasonably be responsible for.

Additionally, the measure would prevent an employer from discriminating in any way against an employee because they happen to be a single parent.

“One out of three households in my district are headed by single parents,” said Simmons. “I feel it is critical that my legislative work this spring should address their concerns about how to balance parental responsibilities with their work.”

The measure originated from a people’s legislative council that Simmons held with a group of single parents in 2021. The measure awaits a committee hearing.

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Sen. Mike Simmons