Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Safe Community Coalition met July 26.

Here is the agenda provided by the coalition:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call, Welcome, and Introductions

3. Approval of NLSCC Minutes from May 31, 2023 Meeting (Zoom Videoconference)

4. Guest Speaker – Linda Pacha

Linda Pacha lost her teen son to suicide in 2013. She is the founder and president of Nick's Network of Hope nicksnetworkofhope.org, a suicide prevention and grief support nonprofit. Linda's book, Saving Ourselves from Suicide—Before and After: How to Ask for Help, Recognize Warning Signs, and Navigate Grief, is an Amazon best seller. Linda practiced law before raising her family. Prior to receiving her law degree, she received her undergraduate degree in psychology and completed postgraduate studies in clinical psychology.

5. New Business

a. None

6. Old Business

a. Task Group Reports

i. Domestic Violence Prevention

1. 2023 – “One Thing: Speak Up, Speak Out”

This event will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. The focus for this event will be on Elder Abuse – what it looks like, how to prevent it, available resources, etc… Resource tables will be available from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, followed by a panel discussion from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Ariel Ruttenberg will Chair the Planning Committee and will be supported by Amirrah Abou Youssef and Meaghan South.

ii. Substance Use Prevention

1. HERO “Hidden in Plain Sight” (HIPS) Trailer Update

2. 2023 “Your Light Still Shines”

This year’s event, in support of International Overdose Awareness Day, will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Parkview Christian Church, 2121 S. Schoolhouse Road. Schedule of events as follows:

• 5:00pm to 6:30pm – HERO’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” trailer

• 5:00pm to 6:30pm – Unwanted Medication Takeback (NLPD)

• 5:00pm to 6:30pm – Informational Tables and Memorial Tables

• 6:00pm to 6:30pm – Narcan Training

• 6:30pm to 7:30pm – Showing of Addiction Resource Council Film and Panel Discussion with the following:

• Pastor Matt Williard / Parkview Christian Church

• Jim Scarpace / Ascension Illinois Hospital System

• Mary Ellen Miller / HERO – lived experience (son died of drug OD)

• Jason Moss / HERO – lived experience (addiction and recovery)

iii. Motor Vehicle / Traffic Safety

1. New Collaborative Partner - ThinkFirst – National Injury Prevention Foundation

2. New Lenox Police Department Crash and Injury Data

• 2023 and 2022 Causation – Top 10 Contributing Factors, Driver Actions, Vehicle Actions, Driver Status Factors Vehicle Event Collisions, Road Surface Conditions, Traffic Ways, and Traffic Controls.

• 2023 and 2022 Accident Stats – By Month, By Time of Day, By Day of Week, Injury, Alcohol Related, Weather Conditions, Commercial Crashes, Distracted Driving, Teens, Elderly, and more…

3. “Teen Driver? What Every Parent Should Know”

4. “ThinkFirst for Parents of Teen Drivers”

• “An evidence-based program offered to parents of teen drivers. We also invite their teen to join in for maximum benefit. ThinkFirst For Parents of Teen Drivers is a 90-minute program. In partnership with General Motors and Honda funding, the ThinkFirst for Parents of Teen Drivers program is offered at no cost. Parents make the first impact on their teen drivers and are the number one influencer for Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law adherence. The objectives of the program are to increase: Awareness of teen driving risks, understanding of GDL law, GDL monitoring and adherence at home and the importance of being a positive role model.”

5. Driver Refresher Class for Seniors (formerly “AARP Smart Driver Program”)

iv. Suicide Prevention and Awareness

1. “Mental Health 101: Tips and Tricks for a Healthy Mind”

Marie Goulet, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, presented “Mental Health 101: Tips and Tricks for a Healthy Mind” at the New Lenox School District #122 Haven-Manville Administrative Center, 102 South Cedar Road in New Lenox on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Approximately 30 people were in attendance for the presentation.

2. “Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training” (ASIST)

This NEW offering from Gia Washington and her colleagues at Sertoma Centre, Inc. was held from 8:00am to 4:30pm on May 17th and May 18th in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. Approximately 20 people attended the 2-day course.

3. “Question, Persuade and Refer” (QPR) will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Gia Washington and her colleagues from Sertoma Centre, Inc.

4. A Pathway to Hope and Healing” will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at the Spencer Campus (Spencer Pointe / Spencer Crossing School)

Gymnasium. Informational tables will set-up around the gymnasium from 5:00pm to 5:30pm. A section for memorial tables will be added where photos of loved ones lost to suicide may be displayed. The panel discussion will be held from 5:30pm to 6:30pm and will include Marie Goulet, Mike Mecozzi and Linda Pacha. Michelle Jackson will be the keynote speaker from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. Following the keynote, time will be allotted for Q & A and additional time to visit the informational tables.

5. “Mental Health First Aid” - The next MHFA Class (Youth Version) will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 from 8:00am to 4:30pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Gia Washington and her colleagues from Sertoma Centre, Inc.

6. “RELAX – 5 Tips to Master Anxiety” will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. Mike Mecozzi, Hope with Me, will be the presenter.

7. “safeTALK will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 8:30am to 12:30pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This class will be taught by Gia Washington and her colleagues from Sertoma Centre, Inc.

v. Emergency Preparedness

1. New Lenox CERT / SAR Update and July 2023 Newsletter

2. Seeking New Collaborative Partners, Courses and Programs.

3. “Active Shooter and Safety Awareness 101” will be held on Monday, September 18, 2023 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. Joe Malone, CEO, Southern Cross Company, will present this course.

4. “Stop the Bleed” will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall.

5. Emergency Preparedness Month (September).

6. Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (TERC)

Christopher Thunherst, Detective – Markham PD & Assistant Director – Manhattan ESDA, has recently been certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Threat and Reporting Office as a Master Trainer. Chris is offering to teach the Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (TERC) locally. TERC is a course that will teach participants how to apply Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) best practices to assist in preventing acts of targeted violence, such as, but not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces, by identifying those threats or observable behaviors that may indicate the potential for violence. It can be offered as a 3-day, 1-day or 4-hour course.

vi. Older Adults Falls Prevention

1. “A Matter of Balance” Update

• A Matter of Balance Class #49 was held at the VFW #9545 from May 1 thru May 25, 2023 on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00-11:00am. The roster of 14 participants graduated from the class on May 25th as New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann presented their certificates and congratulated them on their success. The class was coached by Laura Regis and Judy Butler.

• MOB Class #50 will be held at the New Lenox Village Hall Community Room from September 12, 2023 thru October 5, 2023 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-11:30am (meeting on Wednesday, 9/20 instead of Thursday, 9/21 due a calendar conflict). The class will be coached by Anna Schultz, Darlene Purler and Linda Bunting. Ideas are being generated about how to celebrate the milestone of 50 MOB classes.

• MOB Class #51 will be held at the New Lenox Public Library from September 25, 2023 thru October 18, 2023 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am. The class will be coached by Colette Loecke and Gloria Bodnar.

• MOB Class #52 will be held at New Lenox Horizon Senior Living facility from January 15, 2024 to February 7, 2024 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am. The class will be coached by Anna Schultz and another MOB Coach to be named.

2. “Fit and Strong!” Class #9

• The Spencer Campus is once again the site of this summer’s “Fit and Strong!” program. The 8-week program began on June 5, 2023 and will end on July 28, 2023. It is held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30am-11:00am. There is a current roster of 23 participants with a strong record of attendance. Instructors for Fit and Strong include Laura Regis, Dan Martin, Anna Schultz, Darlene Purler, Kathy Beaudry, Colette Loecke, Gloria Bodnar, and Linda Bunting. While teams of two or three instructors are assigned specific days, many instructors attend most, if not all, days and share the responsibilities.

3. “Seniors With Sole” Summer Session #3

• Tom and Mercy Nolan are once again leading the “Seniors with Sole” walking program this summer. The 8-week program began on June 6, 2023 and will end on July 27, 2023. It is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am-9:30am in the Village Commons. The current roster has grown to more than 30 participants. Gift cards will be given as raffle prizes at the close of the program.

4. “One Fall Could Change It All”

• “One Fall Can Change It All” will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 (during National Falls Prevention Awareness Week) at the VFW #9545 from 8:30am to 11:30am. 2023 Planning Committee members are Laura Regis (Chair), Anna Schultz, Norma Cason, Linda Bunting, Colette Loecke, Gloria Bodnar, and Lori Gibson. The committee met via Zoom on June 28 at 3:00pm to further discuss vendor confirmations, table assignments, presentations, scheduling, and volunteer assignments.

The next meeting is TBD.

7. Announcements / Organization Updates

8. Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / 10:30am via Zoom videoconference.

9. Adjournment

New Lenox Safe Community Coalition

“Through a collaborative process, the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition will improve the health, safety and quality of life for residents and visitors through injury analysis and the implementation of programs designed to increase safety and prevent injuries.”

https://www.newlenox.net/files/documents/SafeCommunitiesAmericaAgenda07-26-23043928072523PM1352.pdf