Jarvis Square Family Pride holds 13th annual event

Community members gathered on June 29th for the 13th annual Jarvis Square Family Pride Event in Rogers Park. This event focuses on community, collaboration and celebration of pride month. State Rep. LaPointe told Windy City Times that, “We’re coming off a really successful Family Pride event on the far Northwest side of Chicago, where I represent. Knowing that there was something similar happening in a part of the city that’s led by one of our premier Champions for LGBTQ and especially trans rights, I physically wanted to be here with my team to show that this is a city-wide thing and Kelly and the LGBTQ community have some real strong allies like me.”

Strengthening the Frontlines of Behavioral Health

As mental health continues to take center stage in national and local discourse, this timely convening brought together leaders across health care, government, and social services to address a critical challenge: building and sustaining a strong behavioral health workforce. LaPointe says, “[we] have been working on a bill that gets to the heart of this issue…we will pass it.” She goes on to say, “This is about making Medicaid work—not just surviving cuts, but actually meeting the needs of the people it was designed to serve.” She continued, “If we don’t fix behavioral health reimbursement, people with Medicaid won’t be able to use it. That’s the truth.”

IL bill could guarantee universal mental health screenings for youth, teens

Early detection can be critical to help youth receive the best mental health services. Senate Bill 1560 could require public schools to offer age appropriate, confidential mental health screenings to identify mental health concerns and link students to support. Students in grades 3 through 12 would participate in the screenings once per school year. “For a younger person, like in third or fourth grade, it could even exist on a tablet,” said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). “The young student answers a series of questions, maybe even with graphics, that say I am feeling happy, I am feeling sad, or I am feeling worried.”

Chicago lawmaker visits SIU to build bridges

At a time when politics often feels more like a battleground than a forum for public service, State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe sat down Monday at Southern Illinois University to make the case for civility on both sides of the political spectrum. “I actually never pictured myself going into politics, especially not in Cook County,” LaPointe said. “I loved social work, but I kept seeing how policy decisions made in Springfield were affecting the people I worked with. That’s what pushed me toward public office.”

SIU’s Paul Simon Institute hosts State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Illinois State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe will join Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Monday, May 5, for a discussion with SIU students and the public. LaPointe, D-Chicago, will discuss her background, career in politics, legislative priorities and the legislative agenda in Springfield with John Shaw, institute director. The conversation, which is part of the institute’s Pizza and Politics series, is at noon in the lobby of the institute, 1231 Lincoln Drive.

Mayor Johnson hosts reception for Chicago delegation ahead of key budget meetings in Springfield

His biggest ask is the $90 million Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker had called for in his budget address, for the one system initiative to provide shelter for anyone in the city facing homelessness. “What they’re asking for is already in the budget, and so, I, myself, am ready to protect that, because we have a major issue with not enough access to homeless shelters in the City of Chicago,” said State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Democrat who represents the Northwest Side of Chicago.

IL bill would try to find why front line DHS workers are being underpaid

Many of these workers include teachers, nurses, therapists and care givers. One program is CILA, that gives assisted living for multiple people living with disabilities. State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) said this bill is necessary to protect essential workers. “We’ve heard in the DSP debate how people are walking away from their jobs at CILA’s to go work at Bed Bath and Beyond,” LaPointe said. “This bill seeks to mitigate that issue.”

WATCH: Illinois legislators discuss mental health and gun violence

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, said the issue is crucial. “We do too much in Springfield in haste and under duress and on a topic like this that people feel so, so strongly about in every corner of Illinois and on a topic like this that has literally life and death consequences in every corner of Illinois,” she said.

State representatives: Here’s why human service workers in Illinois deserve better pay

Despite the vital nature of their work, front-line human service workers in Illinois and across the nation are underpaid and undervalued. The portion of Illinois’ general revenue fund allocated to human services is 25% lower than it was 27 years ago. Chronic underfunding depresses wages, threatening not just the workers but also the essential services that safeguard the well-being of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.

State representatives, advocates hope Illinois can provide $23.5 million for college mental health services

“A signature piece of Mental Health Early Action on Campus is bringing mental health resources to exactly where people are, and in this case it’s college campuses,” said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). “It brings it right to students. It captures that social work ethos of meeting people right where they’re at.”

Illinois House passes behavioral healthcare parity plan

Democrats and Republicans are championing a plan to set minimum reimbursement rates for providers to properly compensate them for their services. Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) said this could encourage more behavioral healthcare specialists to join insurance networks. “There’s a cost to doing nothing,” LaPointe stressed. “Our constituents and, in fact, many representatives and senators in this chamber, and reporters I’ve talked to about this bill, are baring the cost now by paying out-of-pocket $300 or $200 for their therapy sessions on top of their monthly premiums.”

Proposed bill would make mental health education mandatory in Illinois secondary schools

Abhinav Anne and Sai Ganbote are 17-year-old Illinois Math and Science Academy juniors. They helped draft HB2960, which would make mental health education mandatory in Illinois middle and high schools. Illinois State Representatives Faver Dias and Lindsey LaPointe are primarily sponsoring the bill. Illinois State Reps Costa Howard and Gregg Johnson have also joined in co-sponsorship.

How South Side College Students are Caring For Their Mental Well-Being

“We need to increase that because we have all our public universities that are relying on splitting $13 million,” said State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago). Ford collaborated with State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) to push the General Assembly to fully fund the law. “We wanted $22 million,” Ford said. LaPointe, chair of the House Mental Health and Addictions Committee, said getting the $13 million restored in the final budget was a battle. Pritzker initially planned to cut funding to $4 million, a 70% decrease, LaPointe said. “It just wasn’t acceptable,” LaPointe said. “The last thing we should be doing is rolling back [funding].”

Medicaid cuts would be 'devastating,' advocates tell Illinois House panel

“I just want to say to you, in earnest, this is not performative,” said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago. “… We’re trying to raise the alarm to the three congressional GOP members here in Illinois. We can’t take for granted that they know about the $21 billion that the feds send to Illinois every year for Medicaid.” “So we are performing, I guess, for that audience, so they make sure that we can continue to have access to Medicaid in Illinois and in other states,” she said, referring to the Illinois GOP members of Congress.

Illinois bill could make mental health care more affordable

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D from the Northwest Side), the bill’s sponsor, tells Axios that she’s heard from colleagues on both sides of the aisle about the necessity of accessible and affordable mental health care and she’s optimistic about it passing.

A new Illinois bill would assert that people on bikes are “intended” users of every roadway in the state where it’s legal to ride

A bill, recently introduced by Illinois State Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-49) and co-sponsored by her colleagues Rep. Kam Buckner (D-26) and Rep. Lindsey Lapointe (D-19), specifically provides that people on bicycles are to be considered “intended users” of any roadway where riding is allowed, thereby allowing them to seek damages. The legislators filed the bill, Illinois House Bill 2454 (HB2454), last month. The goal of the legislative action is to enhance the safety of bike riders by amending tort immunity for local government entities and clarifying the rights of people riding bikes on public roadways.

State mental health, substance abuse divisions would merge under governor’s executive order

The two divisions should not operate independently for both “human reasons” and “logistical and administrative” reasons, said State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Chicago Democrat and chair of the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee. The merger creates a real opportunity to reduce the red tape that providers and people in need face when they need state money and help, potentially improving the state’s response for behavioral health issues, LaPointe said.

Illinois can fix the crisis in mental health care coverage

Too many people can’t afford the high out-of-pocket costs for mental health care. A proposal in the Legislature aims to fix that by getting mental health care professionals reimbursed adequately, two lawmakers with backgrounds in social work write.

City vehicle emissions testing facility reportedly to reopen in March

“In 2022, I was proud to lead the bill that required the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to create a plan to replace the dismantled vehicle emission testing sites across the City of Chicago,” LaPointe said in a statement. “Today, I’m pleased to see our work have a direct impact on our Northwest Side neighbors, with the emission testing site on Forest Preserve Drive slated to reopen this March.”

Illinois organizations decry state’s convoluted process for overdose prevention money

“How are the opioid settlement funds working? I don’t think they’re working that well.”

Letter to the Editor: 12,000 young people are homeless in Chicago. But change is possible.

“Approximately 12,000 young people are homeless on any given night in our city, and they are not just looking for a place to stay as they flee abuse, struggle with mental health challenges, face rejection due to gender expression and age out of the foster care system. The risks to this segment of the unhoused community are elevated due to age-related mental health, inadequate education and human trafficking — and these hazards are far more likely to ensnare LGBTQ+ youths and former foster youths as they transition to adulthood.”

Illinois legislators hear challenges facing substance use treatment providers

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, said it may be time for Illinois government to get out of the way so that treatment providers can do their jobs more easily. “When we talk about the administrative burden, I like to use the term red tape because it is something the public can better identify with,” said LaPointe. “What are those burdens, why do they exist, what purpose do they serve?”

Advocates for homeless Chicagoans push city to improve extreme weather plan: ‘A predictable crisis’

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Democrat from the city’s Northwest Side who worked in homeless outreach prior to taking office, added that notification is often last-minute regarding when and where cooling or warming centers will be open. “People that are vulnerable, especially people that are living unsheltered, are not easy to find and get information to,” LaPointe said. “When we don’t have clear, consistent and in-advance communication, it becomes very difficult for people to connect with the lifesaving resources.”

Illinois Lawmaker LaPointe Named Pioneer Award Winner

Illinois State Representative Lindsey LaPointe (D-19) was named the recipient of the 2024 Pioneer Award, the most prestigious honor presented by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work. The Pioneer Award is bestowed on a graduate who has made significant, pioneering, or standout contributions to a community, state, or nation consistent with the mission of the Jane Addams College of Social Work.

Homeless hotline partly restarted 2 months after closing

“I’m glad it’s finally up and running,” said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, who has advocated for improving services for the homeless. “It is a critical tool.” LaPointe added that communication between the city, All Chicago, United Way and homeless services advocates needs to improve.

Substance Use Pop-Ups Bring Recovery Resources To Far Northwest Side

The goal of the outreach series is to “truly meet people where they’re at” and show them available care options, LaPointe said. “We thought putting a face to what treatment and recovery looks like would be a good gateway to getting people connected to resources,” said LaPointe, who has a background in human services and social work. “From my work on the Northwest Side and from what we see on Facebook, it’s really clear that when people need help, or when their family member needs help, they don’t know where to turn.”

DuSable Lake Shore Drive Redesign Plan Is ‘Not Good Enough,’ Critics Say

In a letter sent to the state transportation department, a group of lakefront state senators and representatives said the plan fails to sufficiently incorporate “safe and efficient multi-modal transportation.” The letter was signed by Sens. Sara Feigenholtz and Robert Peters and Reps. Kam Buckner, Kelly Cassidy, Margaret Croke, Lindsey LaPointe and Ann Williams.

Chicago needs better planning to help homeless people survive extreme weather

“On Dec. 1, a man named Joey died outside of Chicago’s Garfield Community Service Center. Known to the service provider community by its 10 S. Kedzie address, the center is advertised online, on social media and at emergency weather press events as an overnight refuge for vulnerable Chicagoans seeking connections to shelter…”

Chicago shuts down cooling centers on fourth day of heat wave

“It’s extremely alarming that we are shrinking our cooling centers in the middle of a heat wave,” said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, who represents Chicago’s Northwest Side and advocates for the homeless and other vulnerable populations.

Officials celebrate migrant shelter opening in Portage Park

At a reception for families and officials, LaPointe said she eventually hoped to “see a strong shelter and service system for anyone experiencing homelessness” but said the facility about to open was a step in the right direction. The area has needed shelter services for some time, she said: “It’s a marker of the progress we have made and and need to continue to make.”

State legislators introduce new measures to improve access and affordability.

Championed by State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, a former social worker hailing from Chicago’s Northwest Side and currently chairing the House’s Mental Health and Addiction Committee, one of the bills endeavors to incentivize more behavioral health providers to participate in commercial insurance networks. The bill seeks to mitigate costs for those needing such services by fostering greater provider enrollment. Collaborating closely with Illinois-based mental health organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Chicago chapter and Thresholds, an influential social service agency specializing in severe mental health and substance use disorders, LaPointe’s initiative underscores a collective commitment to addressing systemic shortcomings.

Lawmakers, advocates again call for affordable housing tax credit

Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, said she represents “hundreds of people who want to stop using drugs, but they live in fear and stigma.” “With the exception of naloxone and safe supplies, evidence-based harm reduction interventions have been left out of our behavioral health and public health funding streams in Illinois,” said LaPointe, who is a former social worker and current chair of the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee.

Illinois lawmakers consider measures aimed at making mental healthcare more accessible

A bill introduced by state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a former social worker who represents a chunk of Chicago’s Northwest Side and chairs the House’s Mental Health and Addiction Committee, is designed to encourage more behavioral health providers to enroll in commercial insurance networks and, in turn, reduce costs for some seeking their services.

Illinois must provide more funding for people with disabilities

It is well beyond time for all of us in the state legislature to finally do right by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our state ranks 49th in the country for funding and support of the estimated 300,000 Illinoisans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, who deserve an opportunity to live safe, full and meaningful lives. Forty-ninth out of 50 states — that is unconscionable. We are nowhere near funding community agencies at an adequate level to support our people in need.

Illinois bill could require insurance coverage for annual mental health assessments

“Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) said this can be critical to catch early-stage mental health symptoms. LaPointe, a former social worker, said this change can help Illinois work mental health access into the regular health care system.”

Gov. Pritzker Signs HOME IL Bill Codifying Illinois Action On Homelessness Prevention

“This bill, and the permanency of the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, is a marker in the sand,” said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). “Here in Illinois, we will not accept that 4,500 people have been living unsheltered every night. With this bill signing, we focus our political, economic and governmental will to produce concrete, long-term results for Chicago and communities across our state.”

Pritzker launches children’s behavioral health initiative

“Our ability to provide the behavioral health support that we desperately need for our kids and adults hinges on growing our behavioral healthcare workforce. We have to do it,” state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, a former social worker, said during the event.

At Jefferson Park Transit Center, CTA Security Teams Give Unhoused Chicagoans The Boot

Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, whose area includes Jefferson Park, wrote a letter to the CTA asking how leaders plan to address the issue. As a legislator, she is advocating for more funds to be put towards shelters, homelessness outreach and care that can help build up the mental health workforce, she said.

Kolmar Park named for poet Gertrud Kolmar murdered in the Holocaust

Kolmar Park, 4143 N. Kolmar Ave., in Old Irving Park, now honors renowned German-Jewish poet Gertrud Kolmar instead of the street it is located on.

Illinois Veterans’ Home Chicago has 24 residents living there as it waits for federal certification to fill more beds; nurses picket for more staffing at facility

“This morning I stood with nurses and allies from our new Chicago Veterans home in Dunning to hear directly about the heavy burden they carry as they care for our aging veterans who need focused care and compassion,” state Representative Lindsey LaPointe (D-19) said.

Northwest Siders Cared For The Dunning-Read Conservation Area For Years. Now, Upgrades Are Underway As Park District Takes Over

The Dunning-Read Conservation Area is getting new signs, connecting trails, updated benches and more native plants from the Park District, which now owns the wetlands oasis.

Emissions testing sites returning to Chicago

Getting an emissions test can be a real pain for Chicago drivers. State Sen. Rob Martwick (D-10th District) says he recently experienced a two-hour wait at the Skokie testing site. “I’m like, ‘when is this line going to end?’” Martwick said. “I keep going and going and see it goes that way now.” For years it’s been a problem, says State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-19th District). “Chicago drivers should not have to deal with the hassles of driving out of the city for what is a basic government service,” LaPointe said.

At Jefferson Park Transit Center, CTA Security Teams Give Unhoused Chicagoans The Boot

Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, whose area includes Jefferson Park, wrote a letter to the CTA asking how leaders plan to address the issue. As a legislator, she is advocating for more funds to be put towards shelters, homelessness outreach and care that can help build up the mental health workforce, she said.

Villivalam, LaPointe to host Afghan refugee town hall Thursday

State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and State Representative Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) are partnering with other elected officials and immigrant and refugee support organizations to host a refugee town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18.

$30 thousand in relief to Illinois homeowners affected by COVID-19

“I implore homeowners behind on their mortgage to take the necessary steps to ensure they are eligible to apply for help through ILHAF,” said State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago).

Too Young to Test bill passed by Illinois House

A bill that would prevent young children from taking standardized tests in Illinois has cleared another legislative hurdle.