IL RCCA Regional Coalitions Quarterly Update
November 2025
Lisa Cook, Ph.D., Senior Program Manager
Rachel King-Johnson, Staff Consultant
Summary
In Fiscal Year 2026 (FY-26), all seven Illinois Regional Care Coordination Agency coalitions met for the final 2025 calendar year quarterly meetings in November 2025. Coalition co-chairs assisted with facilitation, quarterly meeting planning, and met with the Opioid Office of Settlement Administration (OOSA) regarding their respective region’s coalition recommendations. The quarterly meeting focused on current recommendations and the FY-26 Workplan.
In fiscal year 2026, Quarter 2, two regions submitted recommendations to the OOSA and one region’s recommendation was approved by the Governor’s Opioid Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee.
Regional Priorities & Building Community Capacity
Within the last quarter, the coalitions focused on the needs of the region they serve by targeting underserved populations, examining accessibility issues, and creating solutions that bridge the gaps through recommendations that target the most affected populations within the regions. Coalition members focused on reducing duplication of programs and exploring and applying the Illinois Opioid Core Abatement strategies for each recommendation to address the gaps and/or service needs for those impacted by opioid use and fatalities. This included treatment access needs, unhoused people in urban and rural settings, prevention education, housing support in rural areas, peer transportation, syringe service provision, and developing collaboratives.
Looking Ahead
The coalitions continue to welcome representation from the community to bring diverse perspectives and voices to the work.
Regional Priorities
- Region 1 prioritized residents in the area who were in need of treatment services and having to travel long distances for treatment.
- Region 2 continues to address the needs of the unhoused population in the area.
- Region 3 focused on the need of substance use prevention education continuity in schools and other youth-serving organizations and coalitions.
- Region 4 spoke to their regional needs of housing support and infrastructure for housing services in rural areas.
- Region 5 identified a need for transportation for individuals seeking treatment, and that peers are a valuable resource during that time to offer support.
- Region 6 has a need for syringe service provision and expansion in the area.
- Region 7 noticed a regional need for a small organization collaborative to support minimally funded harm reductions orgs.