Hoffman Estates Health and Human Services

By Megan Fern, Roosevelt University Student

Can you imagine trying to leave a violent relationship without knowing where you will go, how you will meet your basic needs, and how to cope with the psychological trauma? Hoffman Estates Health and Human Services (HEHHS) offers a range of health care services including an opportunity for victims of Domestic Violence to improve their quality of life by learning about coping skills to deal with such questions. Partnered with the Northwest Suburban Alliance On Domestic Violence, these agencies work together to create awareness and provide intervention.

HEHHS is a unique facility in that it is a separately run department, yet attached to the Hoffman Estates Village Hall. These close quarters warrant a symbiotic relationship with the local Police Department among others in the surrounding area.

Dr. Algean Garner, Director of HEHHS, is the immediate contact for victims dealing with local Police Departments. Upon receiving a call, the HEHHS staff will work together to determine the specific needs of the victim. HEHHS is staffed by 14 qualified individuals including two registered nurses, seven interns/externs, a part-time clinical psychologist, and a Master’s level clinician.

Services available to the public include counseling, financial assistance, and temporary shelter. Counseling is offered to individuals, families, and couples. The advantage to working with these counselors is that those using these services are not limited on session time or number of visits in comparison to managed care facilities, based on private insurance coverage. Consequently, fees are strictly out-of-pocket, on a sliding scale based on income. There is no residency requirement, nor does HEHHS turn anyone away for inability to pay.

HEHHS also works closely with WINGS, a fellow alliance- agency, to acquire temporary housing for women and children. Together they facilitate smooth transitions for the victims to ensure security as they work through these difficult times.

As a community partner with the Alliance, HEHHS strives to deliver domestic violence awareness to the public. In Hoffman Estates, the Health and Human Services department is directly involved in the Citizen Newsletter, village Web site, and HETV Cable Channel 6. The Citizen and village Web site emphasize different health topics each month and advertise the services available for children, adults, and senior citizens. During October, Hoffman Estates Health and Human Services will publicize their services on HETV as they focus on National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

There is no question that domestic violence awareness and intervention are deeply important to the Village of Hoffman Estates. As a member of the Northwest Suburban Alliance On Domestic Violence, HEHHS works diligently within the community to provide an array of services to the public for these victims. In the words of Dr. Garner, “All they need to do is show up. We are always here to help.” For more information on HEHHS visit http://www.hoffmanestates.org.

Roosevelt University Students are learning about domestic violence in their Writing Social Justice course. Photo courtesy of Holly Swanson.

2011 Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2011

October 3rd Family Violence Coordinating Council Fall Conference “ Lt. Mark Wynn: Keynote speaker.” Conference is free to attend with no registration fee. Lt. Mark Wynn is the guest speaker. Hosted at Harper College 8am-4:30pm. The Community Crisis Center will offer 5.5 CEUs for $10. Nursing CEUs (5.5) will be offered by Northwest Community Hospital for free and 5.5 MCLEs for attorneys are offered at no charge. Event is full.

October 4 Northwest Community Hospital Ribbon Ceremony in ED Driveway @ 12:30pm. Hospital staff and visitors are invited to tie purple ribbons on the columns and trees to symbolize Breaking Silence on Domestic Violence.

October 10 Northwest Community Hospital Conference Center Rm 1-6 presents a 1-hour seminar on Domestic Violence and Why Women Stay. Open to the public, offering 1 NCE credit. Presentation will be repeated on Oct. 28th at 1:30pm.

October 14 Elgin Community Crisis Center Partner In Peace Breakfast 7:30am Elgin Country Club Contact: 847-742-4088 $25pp, Reservation required.

October 14 Shelter Inc, Fall Seminar “Bullying” Schaumburg Township District Library
9:30-12:30pm. Admission is free. Contact Laura 847-590-6190 X37

October 20 Georgio’s Pizzeria Fundraiser for NWSADV 4-10pm
100 W. Higgins Rd. Suite L100 in the Arboretum- South Barrington
Georgio’s Pizza will donate 20% of its dine-in sales and 10% of its carryout sales from each purchase presenting this flyer.

October 25 WINGS Annual Meeting Luncheon and Awards Ceremony
11:00am - 1:00pm Chandler’s Chop House
401 North Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Cost per person: $25.00, RSVP by Friday, October 21, 2011

October 27 “Break the Silence on Relationship Violence” Community Event
Keynote speaker Wendy Cohen from the Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Office
The Clothesline and Silent Witness project, and Memorial Ceremony
Hosted by Roosevelt University and NWSADV
4:30-6:30pm Roosevelt University Schaumburg Campus, 1400 N Roosevelt Blvd Alumni Hall Register @ www.roosevelt.edu/breaksilence

Municipalities Partner with NWSADV to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Proclamations Read on the following dates:
September 19th- Elk Grove, Hoffman Estates
September 26th- Barrington, Prospect Heights, Wheeling
September 27th- Schaumburg
October 3rd- Palatine
October 4th- Bartlett, Mount Prospect
October 6th- Streamwood
October 11th - Inverness

Attend a Local National Night Out Event on Aug. 2nd

Meet with neighbors to celebrate National Night Out, a campaign on crime prevention.

As part of the National Night Out annual event, community members are encouraged to meet with law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials.

According to National Association of Town Watch, over 37 million, from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. people participated in National Night Out 2010.

Local police departments, such as Arlington Heights Police Department and Elgin Police Department will have Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence material on hand.

Members of the Alliance organization will also display material at the Barrington National Night Out event.

For more details about a National Night Out event in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago visit the Daily Herald for the story:
Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110801/news/708019832/#ixzz1TtZSqBsh

NWSADV participates at Hanover Park Cop Day Picnic 2011

Volunteers from the Elgin Community Crisis Center and NWCASA will be hosting the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence table at Hanover Park Cop Day Picnic on July 13th in Hanover Park. Please stop by and say hi!

Blue Kid's

The “Blue Kids” are new to the Northwest Suburbs. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month the Blue Kids will be part of the Family Violence Council’s April 1st Conference at Harper College’s Wojcik Conference Center.

Preckwinkle Suburban Visit

excerpt from Article in Daily Herald:

Suburban leaders expressed many other concerns and Preckwinkle was urged by area police chiefs to keep the lockup at the Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows open 24 hours a day.

“When we're laying off police officers and not hiring those lost to attrition, taking a fully trained policeman off the street to have him sit in a chair in the jail all night long in front of a prisoner behind bars, it's a cost we can ill afford,” said Mike Alsup, chief of police at Harper College and president of the North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police.

Alsup later said he understands the challenge that presents to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart in light of Preckwinkle's call for all county departments to trim 21 percent off their budgets.

Murphy said local law enforcement departments are willing to take turns providing someone to supervise the lockup overnight.

The sheriff's department is willing to continue talks with the chiefs and might be able to work out an intergovernmental agreement, Dart spokesman Steve Patterson said. However, collective bargaining and liability issues must be considered.

The court lockup in Rolling Meadows accepts arrestees from suburban agencies from about 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Patterson said. Detainees who do not post bond are transferred to the county jail at 26th and California in Chicago.

The sheriff's department already does not have enough court deputies to cover all the court rooms in the suburbs and at the Daley Center in Chicago, Patterson added. In fact, Dart has proposed doing away with the Saturday suburban bond courts.

Preckwinkle said after the meeting that it was the first she had heard of the chiefs' request, but she would look into it.

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110126/news/701269816/#ixzz1GbTsvsGs

New Anti Bullying committee in Hinsdale

http://triblocal.com/hinsdale/2010/11/15/district-86-launches-anti-bullying-committee/