Conference on alternative lifestyles

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, formerly the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault will hold a conference for professionals on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex community.

The conference will run from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today in Auditorium C005 of College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.

The goal of the event, which is sponsored by Baxter Healthcare, is to enhance awareness of the needs and issues of this community, to create positive change and to encourage supportive service delivery from community service providers and professional groups.

Co-sponsoring the event will be Teresa Aguinaldo, co-coordinator of the College of Lake County Women's Center Pride Alliance Student Club and College of Lake County

The keynote speaker will be Lisa Gilmore, anti-violence project therapist and trainer at Center on Halsted in Chicago.

Participants may choose an interactive workshop on the needs of the community in one of the following areas:

A workshop on education and social services will be given by Dr. Michelle Emerick of Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago. Law and legal workshop will be given by Detective Jose Rios of the 23rd District Police Department in Chicago. And a medical and health workshop will be given by Joe Hollendoner of Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago.

CEU's will be available for this free conference.

For information, visit the Web site www.ZachariasCenter.org.

The workshop is geared toward nurses, doctors, social workers, social service personnel, therapists, counselors, substance abuse counselors, family therapists, behavioral health workers and administrators, prevention specialists, educators and teachers, principals, deans, police officers, lawyers and elected or appointed officials.

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center provides survivors of sexual assault or abuse with comprehensive, confidential, services at no charge including: medical and legal advocacy, emergency room and police sensitivity training, 24-hour crisis hotline and crisis intervention services, and counseling for both individuals and groups.

Zacharias Center's education department also provides prevention education to area school children each year.

To find out more about the services provided by and the volunteer opportunities available at Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, visit their Web site at www.ZachariasCenter.org or call (847) 244-1187.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the 24-hour Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center hotline at (847) 872-7799.