IL RCCA Regional Coalitions Quarterly Update
July 2025
Lisa Cook, Ph.D., Senior Program Manager
Rachel King-Johnson, Staff Consultant
Background
The Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA) coordinates seven regional opioid advisory coalitions across the state. The coalition will inform the state of needs and priorities related to opioid use and substance use disorders in their region.
FY25 Q4 Engagement
In June, the seven IL RCCA Regional Coalitions held virtual quarterly meetings within each of their respective regions. The coalitions thought strategically on increasing coalition membership and collaborated on creating solutions to mitigate the impact of substance and opioid misuse in their regions.
Smaller workgroups within each regional coalition met in the interim to actively work on developing region-specific strategies for Illinois Remediation Fund Recommendations. The recommendations have been developed based upon regional needs’ assessments from coalition members, workgroups and quarterly meeting discussions. As a result of this work, the regional coalitions submitted three recommendations for consideration.
Rachel King-Johnson
Region 1 - Rockford
Rachel King-Johnson
Region 2 - Peoria
Illinois Department of Public Health Regions (2023)
A majority of funds received by Illinois from numerous national multistate settlement agreements with various participants in the prescription opioid market is allocated to the Illinois Remediation Fund (IRF). The Illinois Office of Opioid Settlement Administration (OOSA) manages those funds. Learn more at The Remediation Fund: Governance and details on submitting a recommendation on the IRF Core Abatement Strategy Proposed Recommendation form.
Regional Value Stories
The coalitions members represent a collective of provider service organizations and people with lived experience who are dedicated to creating change in their regions. During each of the coalition meetings, the members exchanged regional value stories, which are considered best practices in the region.
Here are some highlights of their regional value stories:
- Region 1 is consistently meeting people where they are at, whether through methadone provision, naloxone distribution, or through peer outreach efforts.
- Region 2 works diligently on improving access to care through harm reduction strategies such as drug checking, fentanyl test strips, Narcan vending machines, mobile syringe services, and post-overdose response teams.
- Region 3 centers participants by providing rural outreach, transportation and warm handoffs.
- Region 4 centers their peer workforce to ensure the voices of people with lived experience are heard and represented within system infrastructure.
- Region 5 works at integrating mental health and substance use services within the region. Their education efforts focus on collaboration with law enforcement, dual diagnosis peer support groups, and destigmatization.
- Region 6 focuses on networking with rural communities through Recovery Oriented Systems of Care Councils and Drug Overdose Prevention Programs.
- Region 7 leads with “Any Positive Change” and knowledge and connection. They offer drug checking supplies, vending machines, and their provision of naloxone spreads across the entire region.