Mental Health in Kane County to be subject of league forum
"Mental Health Treatment in Kane County: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading" will be the theme of a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County. It will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. (Route 25).
Experts in mental health services throughout the county will be part of a panel: Karen Beyer from Ecker Center for Mental Health, Jerry Murphy from the INC Board, Lisa Jacino from DayOneNetwork, Denise Edwards from National Alliance on Mental Illness-Kane South, DeKalb and Kendall Counties, Lynn O'Shea from Association for Individual Development, and Bill Beith from the Kane County Board's Mental Health Advisory Committee.
They will share their perspectives on the current state of the county's services and impacts of anticipated reduced state funding.
According to Jean Pierce, vice president of the local league, there are timely issues that Kane County residents need to be aware of. "State funding is crucial, since Kane County has no mental health budget. With mental health treatment being coordinated from different sites in the county, it is essential that no areas are excluded. And there is a special concern that jails in Kane County are serving as a major treatment facility, with estimates of up to one third of the inmates needing mental health care."
This forum is the first of two programs which the Central Kane League is sponsoring on mental health this spring.
At the league's annual meeting on Thursday, May 21, Kane County Chief Judge Judith Brawka will discuss "The Criminalization of Mental Health." It will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Eaglebrook Country Club, 2288 Fargo Blvd. in Geneva. There will be a cash bar at 5:30 p.m., followed by a brief business meeting at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program and dessert will start at 7:15 p.m. Cost is $40 or $10 for just the program and dessert. Dinner will feature bacon-wrapped garlic stuffed chicken served with toasted sun-dried tomato orzo and lemon beurre blanc or potato-crusted salmon, with caramelized Brussels sprouts with honey Dijon beurre blanc, grilled vegetable terrine, served with local greens and a Pinot Noir reduction. Reservation deadline is May 11. Email jeanpierce@aol.com to say how many will attend and menu selections (including dietary restrictions), and mail a check to LWVCKC, 902 S. Randall Road, C-297, St. Charles, IL 60174.
More information is available at www.lwvckc.org/annual-meeting.html.