Panel to discuss mental health treatment in Kane County

The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County will host a panel discussion on "Mental Health Treatment in Kane County: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading" from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

According to Jean Pierce, vice president of the local league, there are timely issues of which Kane County residents need to be aware.

"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," Pierce said. "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."

Panelists and topics for discussion include:

• Jerry Murphy, executive director of INC Board, on "Available Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Services in Kane County";

• Bill Beith, member of the Kane County Mental Health Advisory Committee, on "Findings of the Advisory Committee";

• Karen Beyer, executive director of Ecker Center for Mental Health, on "Issues and Service Gaps in Northern Kane County for People with Mental Illness;"

• Denise Edwards, executive director of NAMI Kane-south, DeKalb, Kendall Counties, on "Concerns of Families of Individuals with Mental Illness in Our Community;"

• Lisa Jacino, program director of DayOneNetwork, on "The Waiting List for Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Our Community;"

• Lynn O'Shea, executive director of Association for Individual Development, on "Funding for Mental Illness and Developmental Disability Services in Kane County."

For more information on the panel discussion and the League of Women Voters, visit www.lwvckc.org.