Committees

If you are interested in attending committee meetings, please contact the Local Coordinator for meeting times and locations: Bev Thomas, 815-479-7792, or bthomas@mchenry.edu.

  •   meeting quarterly on the 2nd Tues of the month
This committee consists of policy makers and executive directors from the county and includes representatives from the Judiciary, Law Enforcement, the States’ Attorneys Office, the Public Defenders Office, Centegra Health Systems, local service providers, DCFS, The Health Department, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and other policy makers and executive directors. There is representation from all the major areas of family violence work and members from every aspect of community involvement in this issue. This committee sets the goals of the council and provides the oversight for the other committee’s work.

  •   meeting monthly on the 3rd Tues of the month
This committee is comprised of members of the State’s attorney’s office, the local domestic violence agency, the local sexual assault agency, senior services, partner abuse programs, schools, hospitals, mental health board etc. This committee is currently working on providing a training to health care workers, particularly nurses, on identification, evidence collection and documentation in cases of violence. In addition they are working to plan the council’s Fall Symposium, a day-long event designed to provide information to those working in the field of family violence and the community at large. They have developed a Key Indicators of Abuse referral and resource sheet that has been distributed to health care workers and law enforcement.

  •   meeting monthly on the 3rd Wed of the month
This committee is comprised of the county’s Domestic Violence Judge, law enforcement personnel, members of the State’s attorney’s office, the local domestic violence agency, probation, CASA etc. This committee is currently meeting with Chief’s of the county’s police departments and setting up roll-call trainings on the county’s domestic violence protocol, evidence collection and testifying. In addition, they are developing a website for the council that links all the agencies and services related to family violence. They plan to provide a Mock Trial training for law enforcement personnel later in the year.

  •   meeting monthly on the 2nd Mon of the month
This newly-formed committee is planning a training for clergy and church outreach personnel on effectively responding to family violence issues within their congregations. They are also putting together a resource booklet and plan to have that printed and distributed.