Mental Health Forum on April 28

“Mental Health Treatment in Kane County: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading” is the thee of a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 pm at the St. Charles Public Library. Experts in Mental Health delivery from throughout the county will be part of a panel: Karen Beyer from Ecker Center, Jerry Murphy from the INC Board, Lisa Jacino from Day One, Denise Edwards from NAMI, Lynn O’Shea from AID, and Bill Beith from the Mental Health Advisory Committee. They will share their perspectives on the current state of the county’s services and the potential impacts of reduced state funding.

According to Jean Pierce, Vice President of the local League, there are timely issues that Kane County residents need to know. “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. And there is a special concern that the Kane County jail is serving as a major treatment facility with estimates of up to one third of the inmates needing mental health care.

This Forum is the first of two programs which the Central Kane League is sponsoring on mental health this spring. At the group’s Annual Meeting on May 21st, Judge Judith Brawka will discuss “The Criminalization of Mental Health.”  More information is available at http://www.lwvckc.org/annual-meeting.html.