Category: Illinois

By Talisa Paul, Program Director As part of WestCare Illinois’ recent holiday party, we presented The Stan Brooks Award, an honor that is held very dear for our team at the Sheridan Correctional Center. This is the 7th annual presentation of the award with our team missing one in 2020 due to COVID-19. Stan Brooks […]

By Sean M. Hoyer, LCSW, DCSW, Area Director The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded WestCare Illinois a five-year grant to provide integrated Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and workforce development services for adults diagnosed with a SUD and in need of employment with the goal of living independently. The individuals […]

By Carlos G. Rodriguez, Program Director On Oct. 26, WestCare Illinois and Pathways in Education staff took students from our Partners for Success program to the Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm & Fall Festival. Students involved in the program take part in activities and groups to help prevent the use of drugs and alcohol. All who attended […]

By Linda Cox, BA, CADC, Clinical Supervisor, Logan Dual Diagnosis Program  In the last week of June, the WestCare Illinois’ Dual Diagnosis and Women of Dignity programs at the Logan Correctional Center participated in a LGBT Pride Month event. We had a peer-led group to help others better understand the LGBTQIA+ community and the challenges […]

By Kelley England, Office Manager On Friday, April 8, the WestCare staff at the Sheridan Correctional Center hosted a team-building staff day. They broke into eight teams of about six or seven people and engaged in an ice breaker game and several different team building games including one that consisted of solving murder mysteries. Each […]

By Carlos G. Rodriguez, Program Director On January 26, WestCare Illinois staff took 14 students from ourpartnering school, Pathways in Education to Jak’s Warehouse for food and fun. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded WestCare a five-year grant, Partnerships for Success. The goal of the grant is to reduce underage drinking […]

By Carlos G. Rodriguez, Program Director On a chilly Wednesday morning in November, the Pathways in Education program in Chicago welcomed poet, writer, and peacemaker, Luis J. Rodriguez to its campus. Mr. Rodriguez is the award-winning author of the book, “Always Running – La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.” To date, he has published […]

By Melissa Valentine, Program Coordinator, WestCare Dixon Springs SIP/DuQuoin SIP In Southern Illinois, the month of October was bittersweet and uplifting. In June, Dixon Springs and DuQuoin Structured Impact Program (SIP) staff were able to return to work at the Murphysboro Life Skills Re-Entry Center where the program is temporarily being housed. SIP focuses on a […]

By Melissa Valentine, Program Coordinator, WestCare Dixon Springs SIP/DuQuoin SIP Earlier this year, WestCare Illinois had a unique opportunity to embark on a brand-new journey that was funded by the Chicago Region Food System Fund (CRFSF). We applied for and received funding from a new grant that enabled us to work alongside two different Chicago-based […]

Compiled with submissions by John E. Zidek, MSW, CADC, Community Treatment Director, Chicago Office and Talisa Paul, MBA, MSW, CADC, Program Director, Sheridan Correctional Center WestCare Illinois has several exciting updates from the months of August and September! On August 31st, several of our staff participated in the International Overdose Awareness Day outreach event hosted by the […]