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| Public Act 100-0482 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is | ||||
amended by adding Section 2h as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2805/2h new) | ||||
Sec. 2h. Task Force on Veterans' Suicide recommendations. | ||||
The provisions of this Section are based on the recommendations | ||||
in the final report of the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide, | ||||
published on December 1, 2016. The Department shall adopt any | ||||
rules necessary to implement this Section. The Department shall | ||||
seek available federal funding, grants, or private funding to | ||||
help fund the requirements of this Section; or the Department | ||||
shall collaborate with other departments, existing veterans' | ||||
organizations, nonprofit organizations, or private | ||||
organizations to implement the requirements of this Section. | ||||
(1) The Department shall reach out and coordinate with | ||||
the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs in order | ||||
to identify veterans returning from service in combat | ||||
units. The Department shall establish a proactive outreach | ||||
program for veterans that served in combat units. | ||||
(2) The Department or the Department in collaboration | ||||
with not-for-profit organizations shall engage in a public | ||||
awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal | ||
injuries suffered by veterans in order to promote | ||
understanding and acceptance from the general public. The | ||
public awareness campaign shall work to dispel the myths | ||
associated with grieving, suicide, and mental health | ||
healing. The Department shall evaluate existing programs, | ||
including, but not limited to, the Suicide Prevention | ||
Alliance under the Suicide Prevention, Education, and | ||
Treatment Act, and coordinate messaging using messaging | ||
guidelines that existing programs have found to be | ||
successful. | ||
(3) The Department shall provide training to frontline | ||
employees at veterans service organizations established | ||
under this Act on mental health services to identify | ||
veterans who might be at risk of suicidal thoughts. This | ||
training may include, but not be limited to, mental health | ||
first aid training and amplified suicide advanced training | ||
programs. The Department shall provide assistance to | ||
Veterans Assistance Commissions established under Section | ||
9 of the Military Veterans Assistance Act and veterans' | ||
service associations, including, but not limited to, the | ||
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS, in | ||
providing the training under this paragraph to the | ||
employees of the Veterans Assistance Commissions and | ||
veterans' service associations that seek participation in | ||
the Department's training events. | ||
The Department shall have priority for hiring combat | ||
veterans to serve as veteran service officers at veterans | ||
service organizations established under this Act for the | ||
purpose of having veteran services officers who are able to | ||
properly relate to fellow combat veterans. | ||
(4) The Department shall collaborate with institutions | ||
of higher education to address environmental factors that | ||
could negatively impact a veteran's ability to learn in a | ||
traditional classroom setting. The Department, in | ||
coordination with institutions of higher education, shall | ||
provide proactive outreach as part of an educational | ||
success program for veterans experiencing difficulties in | ||
higher education. | ||
(5) The Department shall coordinate with existing | ||
veterans' associations and military organizations to | ||
provide a family preparation course concerning the | ||
emotional cycle of deployment that is designed to help a | ||
family unit adjust to changes in discharged and returning | ||
veterans and inform the family members of where to go to | ||
seek assistance. This course shall be made available to the | ||
family of a veteran prior to the discharge and homecoming | ||
of the veteran. | ||
(6) The Department shall reach out to the United States | ||
Department of Veterans' Affairs to obtain information on | ||
returning veterans and develop a transition program for | ||
returning veterans that reside in the State including | ||
information on local organizations that provide resources | ||
or services for veterans that a veteran can access. | ||
(7) The Department shall collaborate with non-profits, | ||
businesses, and employers in the State that focus on the | ||
needs of employees who are veterans seeking employment and | ||
that support employees who are veterans. | ||
(8) The Department, in collaboration with veterans' | ||
organizations in the State, shall coordinate with the | ||
United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to promote | ||
their peer specialist program and collaborate with outside | ||
programs to establish a peer-to-peer program.
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