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On the surface it may seem like a minor thing – a signature from a medical doctor. But when you don’t have ready access to one, your financial means are limited and your disability restricts your mobility, the “small” thing is huge. 

Once Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate student, Larrisha Tidwell, learned of the barrier facing several of her clients at Chestnut Health Systems (CHS) – a physical and mental health support facility in Granite City – the social worker began in earnest to remove it. 

Some of Chestnut’s housing residents who needed a discounted bus pass could not obtain one, because they did not have a doctor’s signature on their Attachment A – the required documentation needed to validate disabled status. 

The following is part of an email that Tidwell sent in February to the Illinois Department of Aging, Madison County Transit, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, State Rep. Jay Hoffman and State Sen. Christopher Belt. 

“My name is Larri Tidwell, and I work for Chestnut Health Systems at the Madison Housing Unit. We have been having some issues with our residents being denied the MCT Benefits Access Free Ride ID due to their Attachment A Physician’s Statement being signed by their nurse practitioner, instead of a MD. Due to insurance changes and the high demand for doctors, most of our residents see nurse practitioners. Is there someone we can talk to who can assist people who qualify for full disability, to help us get over this hurdle?” 

Tidwell, who is slated to graduate with a master’s in social work on Aug. 8, has been employed at CHS since April 2019 as a part-time crisis intervention specialist. She has worked full time for the Department of Children and Family Services on an investigation team in East St. Louis since June 2013. 

“I do client support, such as therapy, conflict resolution, case management and provide transportation and case management at CHS,” explained Tidwell. “I also find resources and connect people with those resources to support them and help them live their best life. It was in the course of doing my job that one of my clients told me she didn’t have any freedom, because she couldn’t obtain a bus pass. She has a mental illness diagnosis, and I thought that she should have been able to obtain a bus pass without any problems.” 

After the February email, repeated correspondence with various local and federal agencies and political offices and delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tidwell followed up with Hoffman’s office on June 23. The state representative’s office responded on June 30 with an email chain that explained the change needed to be made legislatively, and the request had been sent to the Department of Aging’s legal team for them to determine how to resolve. 

The state representative’s office responded on June 30 that the matter had been resolved and nurse practitioners’ signatures would now be accepted on Attachment A’s. 

“Larri has a passion for her clients,” said Jill Schreiber, PhD, chair and associate professor in the Department of Social Work. “She is committed to meeting them where they are and supporting them with what they think they need, rather than imposing other people’s standards on them. Larri is willing to go the extra mile to advocate for people, as is evidenced by this work to change the laws to ensure people can get bus passes.”  

“It’s these kinds of victories that make me happy,” said Tidwell. “This was an unnecessary barrier for the people who this benefit was created for. I love every part of social work. I want to help people live their best lives and maintain their independence.” 

Chestnut Health Systems (CHS) is a private, not for profit agency that has been accredited by The Joint Commission since 1975. CHS uses an “All-Access Model” approach to physical and mental health treatment by offering an extensive variety of primary care, mental health, substance abuse treatment and prevention services, as well as, credit counseling and applied behavioral research, training, and publications. To be more specific, CHS provides primary care physicians, nurses, onsite pharmacies, psychiatrists, therapists, case workers, outpatient and inpatient detox units (separate adults and adolescents facilities), crisis intervention, and supportive community integrated housing. CHS is based in Granite City, with satellite Illinois offices in Belleville, Maryville, Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Chicago, Joliet and Hillsboro, Mo. 

Photo:
SIUE social work graduate student, Larrisha Tidwell, worked for policy change to benefit her clients at Chestnut Health Systems.