2 National Achievement Awards Earned By DuPage County

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL —DuPage County organizations recently received Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for their work improving the lives of residents.

Recognition was given to the DuPage County Sheriff's Office for its program offering tattoo removal and coverups to prison inmates. DuPage County also earned recognition for its partnership with DuPage PADS to provide housing for residents via the new Interim Housing Center.

“We are pleased that once again, DuPage County’s creative and innovative services have captured national attention. We are grateful for the recognition from NACo and for the opportunity to share information about these initiatives with government leaders across the nation,” DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said in a news release.

DuPage County's tattoo removal program was designed to help inmates leave their former gang-involved lives behind and help inmates get jobs once they are no longer in prison.

“We created the program based on our inmates’ strong desire to leave the gang life. No one had ever shown them another path or given them some of these opportunities," DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said.

We have removed or covered up 48 gang tattoos so far and over 100 inmates are on a waiting list to have their tattoos removed. This opportunity is something new to them and their desire to improve themselves within our facility is significant," Mendrick added.

DuPage PADS received a $5 million grant via the DuPage County Board in December to help transform the Red Roof Inn at 1113 Butterfield Rd. into a new Interim Housing Center. The facility, which was first use for interim housing during the start of the coronavirus pandemic, offers emergency housing for homeless residents. Priority will be given to domestic abuse victims, children and residents with limited mobility.

“The Interim Housing Center completely transforms the way individuals experiencing homelessness receive shelter and services. Rather than moving between the night-by-night shelter locations, families and individuals now have a place to land and heal,” Julie Renehan, Chairwoman of the County’s Health and Human Services Committee, said in a news release.

Renehan added, “The center gives people the privacy, safety, and dignity they need to gather themselves and work their way back toward self-sufficiency and housing stability.”

NACo President Larry Johnson said, “All across the country, counties are working tirelessly to support residents and drive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's Achievement Award-winning programs showcase how counties work every day to build healthy, safe and thriving communities.”