CHICAGO – Last year, State Senator Mike Simmons successfully passed a measure into law to create a Student Mental Health Council comprised of youth from across Illinois to empower students and provide them with greater mental health resources. This year, Simmons is proud to announce the first Student Mental Health Council created by his legislation is now accepting applications.

“This law was inspired by teens at my Youth Mental Health People’s Legislative Council initiative, where young people flagged that they often lack the language or sense of safety to talk about what they’re going through, but what they do know is that something is not right,” said Simmons (D – Chicago). “Our young people who are closest to the problems their generation faces daily are the ones who have the best answers for how to address them. I am proud to have led a measure that creates the first statewide council composed of voices that honestly haven’t been a part of policy discussions around access to mental health. Queer youth, black and brown youth, young women and gender-expansive youth are a few of the voices which will make up the youth council and I am thrilled to see it go live this Fall.”

Simmons’ measure – Senate Bill 4028 – was signed into law in the previous General Assembly in 2022 and went into immediate effect providing curricula to elementary and secondary schools for mental health resources in the state. Additionally, the measure established a Student Mental Health Council in collaboration with The Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership to give underrepresented youth communities a voice in their mental health services.

The ICMHP is now accepting applications for their first youth council through Friday, Sept. 22 for young people ages 14-25 who are passionate about improving mental health across the state and advocating for their peers. Interested individuals can apply to serve on the ICMHP youth council here or can be nominated by an adult professional who serves youth or by a caregiver. All selected youth members will receive a stipend.

“I am grateful for the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership for joining me in standing up against mental health stigmas and their support for the first Youth Council. Because of our partnership, we are not only able to elevate the voices of young people both in my district and across Illinois, but we have created a pathway for them to inform and directly shape state policy to improve youth mental well-being while providing them with stipends for their time and sharing their lived experiences.”

For more information, visit the ICMHP Youth Council webpage.

CHICAGO – To celebrate and lift up children and families of the 7th District, State Senator Mike Simmons and his staff hosted a Back to School Bash in Rogers Park.

“I am so proud of every single child and young person in my district, and how we come together through the help of families, caretakers, and the village of folks in our neighborhoods to guide our young people,” said Simmons (D – Chicago). “Our event this past weekend not only ensures they have their backpacks and school supplies for their first day, but also makes sure they are emotionally prepared as well.”

Simmons and his staff hosted a Back to School Bash Friday, Aug. 18 at Sullivan High School in Rogers Park to assist families in the 7th District by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies. Local 7th District restaurants, Hon Kee BBQ, AROMA Pizza, and Ethiopian Diamond, generously donated and catered food for all to enjoy. Additionally, the event featured a live DJ and a constituent service table for people to get connected to community resources and state agencies.

“Our Back to School Bash made a meaningful impact on our community by providing our young people with the basics before their first day of school,” said Simmons. “I want to extend a huge thank you to all the young people, their families, and community members who came out on Friday to celebrate with us. Because of all the sponsors, local vendors, volunteers and families who showed up for our Back to School Bash, we were able to celebrate as a community, support the academic futures of our students, and give them a memorable start to the school year.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons spearheaded a new law to address critical issues facing pharmacists and pharmacy benefits by prohibiting Pharmacy Benefit Managers from retaliating against pharmacists for exercising their right to freedom of speech.

“This is a consumer protection initiative that will also protect our local pharmacists,” said Simmons (D – Chicago). “In recent years, Pharmacy Benefit Managers have abused their market power to implement policies. These practices negatively affect consumer health plans, pharmacies and patients. The policies and practices are driving many pharmacies out of business, jeopardizing patient access to essential care, and creating pharmacy deserts. That stops now.”

Pharmacy Benefit Managers are intermediary firms that facilitate prescription drug benefits claims for health insurers. House Bill 3631 bans Pharmacy Benefit Managers from retaliating against pharmacists who disclose information to a court, administrative hearing, a legislative commission or more, as long as the pharmacist reasonably believes the information they have disclosed is evidence of a violation.

“This law protects pharmacists and their right to discuss with representatives how operational practices impact their ability to provide needed patient care and medication,” said Simmons. “Threats imposed by Pharmacy Benefit Managers limit access to care, and as we continue to emerge from the pandemic, protecting our pharmacists is imperative to our pharmacists ability to serve our communities.”

House Bill 3631 was signed into law and went into immediate effect.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons and his staff will host a Back to School Bash in Rogers Park to ensure children have a successful school year this fall.
The event will feature a live DJ, school supplies, backpack giveaways, free food and community resources. Students of all grade levels and families are encouraged to attend.

WHO: State Senator Mike Simmons and staff

WHAT: Back to School Bash

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 18 from 6 - 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sullivan High School in Rogers Park, 6631 N. Bosworth Ave. Chicago, IL 60626