Health Department offers Summit of Hope Nov. 4

From press release

The Summit of Hope is designed to provide a “one-stop” environment for the local parolee to obtain the necessary assistance to move past barriers that may be preventing him or her from leading a successful life.

A crime-free, productive life for the recently released translates into a safer community for everyone. This community expo will provide the necessary services to guide and assist the recently released population with needed services. These are individuals who are trying to put their lives back together and are struggling every day to locate the services they need, in order to be a productive part of our communities.

The Winnebago County Health Department, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Prevention & Discharge Committee of the Boone & Winnebago Mayors’ Taskforce on Homelessness are collaborating to put on a Summit of Hope event in Rockford. The goal of the Summit of Hope is to increase public safety through reduced recidivism. Our mission is: To give those hope that have lost their hope.

The event will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Second Congregational Church of Christ, 318 N. Church St. in Rockford.

Services that will be offered include: State identification, counseling, transportation, food, clothing, shelter, primary health care referrals, screening for blood pressure, diabetes, HIV testing and care, veterans’ information, employment services, and a variety of other social service agencies. Numerous faith-based organizations are also lending a helping hand to assist this group to get back on the right track and to stay there.

Local parole offices have invited parolees to attend. Reaching out to this group will help eliminate the obstacles and expedite each individual’s chance to become a positive member of their community.

By the end of the day, the participants should be well equipped with the many needed resources, referrals and materials to be well on their way to a successful life.

For more information on the Summit of Hope, contact Todd Kisner with the Winnebago County Health Department at (815) 720-4071, or Steve Haight, at Careers Etc., at (815) 964-3491. The Summit of Hope website is www.summitofhope.org.

From the Nov. 3-9, 2010 issue