Fox Valley Hands of Hope names new manager of bereavement services

Fox Valley Hands of Hope has announced the addition of Erik Meeks as the manager of bereavement services.

Meeks comes to the organization with over a decade of professional helping experience as a counselor and therapist. He is licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Illinois and has received his master's degree in mental health counseling from the University of Central Florida and bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in psychology.

Through a diverse background in the mental health field, counseling adults, children, and families, Meeks brings specializations and expertise in addictions counseling along with effective treatments of grief, loss, and trauma to the bereavement team.

"Erik is a great addition the FVHH Team. His background and experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue to provide the best in compassionate care to the community," said Greg Weider, Fox Valley Hands of Hope's executive director.

Meeks brings his history of experiences working for nonprofit mental health agencies in Aurora and most recently as coordinator of the addictions program with Pillars Community Health. He has been responsible for making critical and difficult treatment decisions and collaborating with staff to help the programs he's served run as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, while also providing exceptional care to the clients he worked with focusing on substance abuse as well as other vocational, lifestyle, psychological, and trauma related concerns. In addition to individual counseling, he has a deep knowledge of the variety of levels of care having worked clinically in both inpatient and outpatient settings; facilitating groups, assessment of clients, and maintaining referrals to community resources.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to come to work for an organization making the type of impact they are having with individuals who are going through some of the most difficult parts of their lives," Meeks said. "I cherish the opportunity to come alongside those who are grieving and play a part in facilitating their healing journey. I look forward to investing in FVHH and helping it continue to grow and succeed to reach those in need of support after experiencing a loss."

The mission of Fox Valley Hands of Hope is to enhance the quality of life and to provide hope for those experiencing grief or life-threatening illness. The professional staff and trained volunteers are community-funded, allowing us to provide the best in compassionate care, free. The programs are designed to provide support for adults, children, and families, regardless of age, income level, race, or religious beliefs. They believe that every person in need should be given hope. Fox Valley Hands of Hope is supported entirely by the community, and all services are available without charge.

For more information regarding Fox Valley Hands of Hope, contact Gayle Deja-Schultz, director of development, at (630) 232-2233 x221 or gayled@fvhh.net.

Visit www.fvhh.net.