Kane Co. Health Offers Free Mental Health Training Sessions

KANE COUNTY, IL — The Kane County Health Department is offering free monthly training sessions that will address a variety of topics related to the mental health of the community. The training sessions will be presented online.

The presentation, titled "Transforming the Children’s Behavioral Healthcare System by Strengthening Families & Communities," will discuss the future of children’s mental health care. The event will run from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The event will be held on Zoom and registration is required.vThose interested in attending can register online.
Featured speakers include:

• Dana Weiner, Ph.D., a Chapin Hall Senior Policy Fellow currently serving in the office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as the Chief Officer for Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation. Dr. Weiner oversees the implementation of recommendations to adjust capacity and streamline access to mental health services for youth.
• State Senator Karina Villa who currently serves as Chair of the Public Health Committee, as well as the Behavioral and Mental Health, Human Rights, and Health and Human Services Committees.
• Bernadette May, Executive Director, Family Service Association of Greater Elgin
• Carrie Ray, LCPC, Director of Youth and Family Support Services, Heritage Behavioral Health Center
• Jerica Moyer, a parent leader
• Macon County officials
• Liliana Olayo, Parent Leader, Kane County System of Care. The mental health training series is offered by the Kane County Health Department in association with the Kane County System of Care.

The Kane County System of Care is supported by a grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and is comprised of the Kane County Health Department, All our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Resources, Kane County Behavioral Health Council, Kane County Regional Office of Education, and Kane County Juvenile Justice Council.

Member organizations include Family Service Association of Greater Elgin, Ecker Center for Mental Health, Tri City Family Services, Association for Individual Development, Family Counseling Services, Family Focus, VNA, the Parent Council, and parent leaders, according to the news release.