Will County Gazette

Will County Judicial Committee met March 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

Chair Darren Bennefield called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM

Darren Bennefield Chair Present

Gretchen Fritz Vice Chair Absent

Kenneth E. Harris Member Absent

Tim Kraulidis Member Absent

Tyler Marcum Member Present

Debbie Militello Member Present

Beth Rice Member Present

Also Present: H. Brooks, M. Johannsen

Present from the State's Attorney's Office: M. Tatroe

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Mrs. Beth Rice led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. WC Judicial Committee - Regular Meeting - Feb 6, 2018 9:00 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Member

SECONDER: Beth Rice, Member

AYES: Bennefield, Marcum, Militello, Rice

ABSENT: Fritz, Harris, Kraulidis

IV. OLD BUSINESS

1. Presentation by Family Guidance Centers on Services in Will County (Ron Vlasaty)

Mr. Bennefield invited Mr. Vlasaty from Family Guidance to come today to give a presentation, last month in Executive we were informed that there was a new opportunity for a new post disposition plan that was available that Judge Policandriotes brought to Executive with Mr. Vlasaty. It sounds like a great opportunity, so I wanted to have Mr. Vlasaty come in today and share with us even though all we have done at this point is submit the application. But I wanted to hear a bit more about the grant and hopefully upon acceptance and receiving the money.

Ron Vlasaty, Executive Vice President of Family Guidance. Mr. Vlasaty reviewed the attached PowerPoint presentation titled Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services in Will County.

Mr. Vlasaty stated this is a 5 year grant for $425,000.00 a year. This is a very competitive grant, it has been issued throughout the country. The grant focuses on individuals that are released from the Adult Detention Facility and supporting their continued treatment after their release. This is a very simple and basic grant that all individuals being released from the jail that have a substance use issue can be treated under this grant. We not only ask for money, not just for Family Guidance Centers, but for Stepping Stones to do residential treatment. We have asked for money to potentially purchase recovery homes in Will County that we can operate and provide housing for individuals that are being released from the jail. We’re hoping to serve 375 patients.

We will hear from the Federal government after we make the first review, which I am confident we will make, sometime at the end of April. That grant usually runs on the Federal fiscal year which starts October 1st , so we should hear before then. We are confident that we will receive this grant.

Mr. Vlasaty also stated that we received a grant from the State of Illinois to put a counselor at Silver Cross Hospital to begin to deal with individuals that come into the emergency room that have been saved from an overdose to provide services and make sure they get transitioned into a treatment facility, whether it be Family Guidance or another facility.

Family Guidance is trying to spread themselves throughout the County to address the serious Opioid addiction, and they are proud they have not had to come to Will County for funding for these services.

Mrs. Militello asked how they choose Silver Cross vs. St. Joe’s.

Mr. Vlasaty responded that they are talking to St. Joe’s. Most of the overdoses go to Silver Cross Hospital. The have been working with St. Joe’s over a year and are very close to getting someone there.

Mrs. Rice asked if the population is increasing.

Mr. Vlasaty stated that they currently have 405 patients in treatment in Joliet. Of which approximately 120 of the are on a medication assisted treatment program, the rest are drug-free counseling which means they don’t need medication but do come in for intensive outpatient counseling. Last year at this time we had approximately 150 people total in treatment. Family Guidance is outgrowing their space and are grateful that the County has allowed them to put a counselor at the probation department, another at the public defender’s office and space and time to work at the jail.

Mrs. Rice also asked how patients pay for their services. Is insurance a stumbling block to quick health, and you have to find someone who will take the insurance?

Mr. Vlasaty stated the Family Guidance Centers is funded by the State and Federal government to serve indigent patients in Illinois, last year they gave them $26 million dollars to do this. Family Guidance does not charge any co-pays. They take Medicaid and individuals who don’t have Medicaid. They really don’t take patients with private insurance, they want to save availability and treatment spots for those patients with no insurance that cannot afford it.

Mrs. Militello stated that a lot of her district is true southern Will County, where there are very few services there and it’s hard for them to get to Joliet. Is Joliet the furthest south you have a facility?

Mr. Vlasaty responded, yes it is right now. There is a facility in Kankakee that does provide treatment services. They are talking to the city of Braidwood about opening up an outpatient facility a couple days a week and see if the volume supports them to move there full time. They are trying to identify communities that have a need. They are finding that there is a stigma with facilities in some communities. They identify that they have an Opioid use problem but don’t want one of these programs in their communities, they feel it attracts drug addicts, attracts problems and crime.

Mr. Bennefield stated how much he appreciates the partnership with Family Services. We look forward to having you back in the fall/winter to discuss this grant. Keep up the good work.

Mr. Vlasaty wanted to acknowledge Mrs. McCabe-Sterr and everything she has done for Family Guidance, she has really opened the door for us when we first started here and got the Judges involved. He really appreciates Mrs. McCabe-Sterr and her office has done to support us.

Handout from Family Guidance Centers, Guiding Families Toward a Healthy Tomorrow (Handout)

Handout from Family Service Centers, Addressing the Opioid Problem (Handout)

V. OTHER OLD BUSINESS

VI. NEW BUSINESS

1. Public Hearing for Amending the Administrative Adjudication Ordinance

2. Motion to open Public Hearing at 9:28 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] 

MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Member

SECONDER: Debbie Militello, Member

AYES: Bennefield, Marcum, Militello, Rice

ABSENT: Fritz, Harris, Kraulidis

3. Mr. Bennefield ask if anyone wanted to speak

4. Motion to close Public Hearing at 9:29 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] 

MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Beth Rice 

SECONDER: Debbie Militello, Member

AYES: Bennefield, Marcum, Militello, Rice

ABSENT: Fritz, Harris, Kraulidis

5. Amending Section 43.03 of the Administrative Adjudication Ordinance (Mary Tatroe)

RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] 

TO: Will County Board 

MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Member

SECONDER: Debbie Militello, Member 

AYES: Bennefield, Marcum, Militello, Rice 

ABSENT: Fritz, Harris, Kraulidis

VII. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

IX. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT / ANNOUNCEMENTS

X. EXECUTIVE SESSION

XI. ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to adjourn at 9:30 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] 

MOVER: Debbie Militello, Member

SECONDER: Beth Rice, Member

AYES: Bennefield, Marcum, Militello, Rice

ABSENT: Fritz, Harris, Kraulidis

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