Committees of the Cook County Board Hear Reports and Take Action at Meetings on March 11 and 12

Health and Hospital Committee Meeting
March 11, 2025
Following are some of the details from the presentations and reports presented to the Committee:

Cook County Public Health (CCDPH) 1st Quarter 2024-25 Report (Item 25-1251):  Dr. Kiran Joshi, Interim COO focused on program and policy initiatives serving youth in suburban Cook County:  

• Early Childhood - A map highlighted the stark differences in resources available across Cook County:  e.g., access to good schools, health resources, and safe environments, highlighting infant mortality, asthma rates, and fresh food consumption.  
• K-12 – In 2022 28.5% of students had used electronic vapor products, a decrease since 2020.  More females than males have used these products (33% to 24%), and about 41% of LGBTQ+ students reported use.  Chlamydia rates were highest among 15-24 year olds and is a major public health concern. About 34% of students in suburban CC reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.  Female rates were higher than male.  National data shows a 78% increase in suicide rates among Black youth ages 10-19 between 2000-2020.  In suburban CC, the rates are lower; but gender disparities by sex show that high-school females are almost 2.5 times as likely as males to have attempted suicide.
• Young Adults – The CCDPH provides technical assistance for community partners in two-year institutions and community-based organizations, public education, media campaigns, and data and reports.  It also conducts sexually transmitted and HIV surveillance and publishes reports to help community organizations plan services and advocate for fair polices.  Coming soon, will be an at-home STI test kit to support easy, confidential testing.  CCDPH also distributes free condoms via its website

Office of the Chief Judge – Semi-annual behavioral health reports thru November 30, 2024 (item 25-1340): 
Behavioral health programs include:  

• Adult Problem-Solving Courts for drug, mental health, and veterans
• Adult Probation and Social Services Departments for domestic violence and intervention 
• Adult Probation for substance use disorder treatment
• Juvenile Probation counseling, and
• Juvenile Probation multi-systemic therapy services
• Goal of the problem-solving courts is to promote community safety and reduce recidivism.  It is a non-adversarial, voluntary alternative to incarceration. 
• Mission of the juvenile probation work is to keep all court involved children in the community, where they can receive equitable, focused, individualized intervention and opportunities to prevent further system involvement.    

Cook County Public Defender’s Office – Semi-annual behavioral health report thru November 30, 2024 (Item 25-1338):  

• This office is not a treatment provider but rather it provides consultation, assessment, and case management.  It works collaboratively by providing direct linkage to service providers and other social services to support clients functioning within the community and to reduce recidivism.  
• Future initiatives include:  Community defense centers and internship program development.     

Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Finance Committee Meeting
March 12, 2025

• The Comptroller reported on the 2 months of FY 2025 ending Jan. 31, 2025:  General Fund --favorable $11.6 M for General Fund and Health Fund on a cash basis– unfavorable $72 M.  Item 25-1630.  The Comptroller pointed out that a more accurate picture of the Health Fund is on an accrual basis, as contained in the next report from Cook County Health (“CCH”).    Illinois currently owes $109.3 M to the County.
• The CCH report for the 2 months ended Jan. 31, 2025 on an accrual basis shows an unfavorable $34.1 M.  Item 25-1167. 
• Chair Daley asked about the impact on CCH with the Governor’s proposal to halt Illinois’ funding for Medicaid for adult immigrants from 42 to 64 years.  The funding for this in 2024 equaled $111 M.  However, assuming this halt goes forward, it would not take place until mid-year.  The CCH Chief Financial Officer told the Commissioners that CCH expects to be able to close the gap for this year.  Chair Daley asked that in the future the verbal reports at the meetings highlight this situation.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting
March 11,2025
The committee approved several amendments to the Ethics Ordinance. (Agenda Item 25-1324) 

• One amendment changed the definition of “doing business” with the County from $10,000 to $25,000. 
• Two were concerned with one-year restrictions for former county personnel to accept employment with or compensation from an entity if the employee had been instrumental in awarding a contract for $25,000 or more (up from $10,000) to that entity, or for that former employee to enter into a contract with the County for services valued at $25,000 or more (up from $10,000).   
• Another maintained the $10,000 amount for “doing business” in the section on limitations of contributions to candidates and elected officials.

Comm. Degnan asked about the genesis of the monetary amount for post-employment restrictions. Jennifer King, Executive Director of the Cook County Department of Human rights and Ethics, responded that the changes were to keep the Ethics Code in alignment with the recent changes to the Procurement Code. 
Observer - Cynthia Schilsky

Transportation Committee Meeting
March 11, 2025
All items on the agenda were approved, including:

• Several items for providing preliminary engineering services with different locations in the County.  Some funding came from ARPA funds the County has received from the federal government. (Includes Item 25-0785),
• Appropriating funds for the Amtrak Chicago Hub Improvement Program in Chicago (25-0755). 
• An agreement between Cook County Dept of Transportation and Highways and Illinois Medical District Commission, with the latter being the lead for preliminary and design engineering to enhance mobility along Harrison Street, identified as needing critical improvements to enhance mobility, accessibility and safety. (25-0342).
• An agreement between the County and City of Evanston to retrofit Divvy stations to improve access to public transportation and commercial districts. It will provide a 40% increase. 

Observer:  Carolyn Cosentino

Technology & Innovation Committee Meeting
March 11, 2025

• Without discussion, the Committee voted to receive and file the Chief Information Security Officer Report for Fiscal Year 2024 which provided an update on the different County areas adoption of the information Security Framework and a summary of advice and recommendations for each area.  
• This report was not posted on Legistar.  The Observer inquired why not and was told by the office of Vice Chair Sean Morrison that the report contained confidential information and was exempt from the posting requirements. 

Observer:  Victoria Cerinich