Until a little over a year ago, Lincolnwood police officers, firefighters and paramedics handled social service problems themselves as they spotted them in the community. Now they have a specialist.
The village hired Geri Panozzo-Silic, a licensed social worker with Services for Disability Inc., for a part-time position. She splits her time between the Fire Department and the Police Department, going over reports that officers have red-flagged to indicate people with potential problems.
If the officers see signs of possible elder abuse, for instance, or the need for neighborhood mediation, they share the report with Panozzo-Silic. She calls the resident and, if necessary, visits to see if there is a problem.
Her task, she says, is fourfold: “Referral, connection, stabilization, close.”
When she receives the referral, has contacted the resident and identified a need, she can offer short-term crisis intervention counseling, but, more likely, she will refer the resident to an agency that specializes in that need.
“I sometimes follow up with a phone call or a letter to the resident, but when the agency indicates that I am no longer needed, then I am done,” she said.
In addition to Lincolnwood’s social services department, the village also has the Seniors Club, which offers many social and educational programs, and the Human Relations Commission, which plans events to promote mutual respect and cooperation among Lincolnwood’s diverse population.
Panozzo-Silic said she wants to “pull together a volunteer force to offer services that the referral agencies have a hard time providing quickly, such as transportation for seniors. I would also like to see victim advocacy services.”
Panozzo-Silic and the police detectives handle the victim advocacy, but she “would like to see it strengthened, and a full-time counselor made available to our residents.”
Skokie’s office of human services has operated for more than 22 years. Director Meryl Rivenson oversees a staff of 10, including a full-time and a part-time social worker. It was formed to serve Skokie’s seniors but has broadened over the years to offer intervention programs to people of all ages.
New youth outreach
For example, because of the increase of young families in town, Skokie three years ago started a Youth Outreach program. When a Skokie youth gets a citation for a violation such as truancy, fighting or drinking, the coordinator from the Youth Outreach program reviews available resources. The judge listens to the youth and the parents, and reviews the recommendations of the Youth Outreach coordinator before deciding on an individualized program that might include family counseling, community service and educational classes such as anger management. About 75 percent of the youths served by Youth Outreach have not received another citation.
Other Skokie programs include SOCKS, which makes gently used clothing available to local children, and Adopt-a-Family and Thanksgiving Dinner, which provide needy families with food, clothing and household items while keeping their identities confidential.
A program for home-delivered meals provides the disabled and seniors who have mobility problems with inexpensive meals tailored to dietary needs, five days a week. Qualified residents also can get special parking privileges or rides on handicap-accessible buses that take them to medical facilities, grocery stores and malls. Skokie also offers crisis-intervention counseling, fair housing investigations and neighborhood mediation.
Both towns belong to a network of referral agencies that meet monthly to discuss community issues. The Youth-at-Risk task force, for example, includes representatives from youth-oriented referral agencies, community representatives and school personnel. Another group, Adult Wraparound, meets to discuss mental health and social services issues for adults and seniors.
Assistance a call away
Abuse
Child Abuse Hotline, 406 E. Monroe St., Springfield, 800-252-2873
Jewish Children’s Bureau JCC, 5150 Golf Rd., Skokie, 847-568-5100
Metropolitan Family Services, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Lincolnwood Police Department, 6900 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-673-2167
Skokie Police Department, 8350 Laramie Ave., Skokie, 847-982-5900
Child Care
Child Care Network of Evanston, 1416 Lake St., Evanston, 847-475-2661
Jewish Community Center, 5050 W. Church St., Skokie, 847-675-2200
Niles Township Community Day Care Center, 5255 Main St., Skokie, 847-677-0185
Oakton Community College Day Care Center, 7701 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, 847-635-1441
Skokie Park District, 9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie, 847-674-1500
Counseling
Catholic Charities, 1717 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, 847-376-2100
Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310, Park Ridge, 847-823-0453
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services, 840 Dodge Ave., Evanston, 847-864-3721
Jewish Children’s Bureau JCC, 5150 Golf Rd., Skokie, 847-568-5100
Jewish Family and Community Services, 5150 W. Golf Rd., Skokie, 847-568-5200
Metropolitan Family Services, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Response Center, 9304 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-676-0078
Turning Point Behavioral Health Center, 8324 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-933-0051
Employment
CEDA/Neighbors at Work, 1229 Emerson St., Evanston, 847-328-5166
Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310, Park Ridge, 847-823-0453
Illinois Dept. of Employment Security, 1615 Oak Ave., Evanston, 847-864-2580
Jewish Vocational Service, 5150 Golf Rd., Skokie, 847-568-5150
Skokie Public Library-Employment Resource Center, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, 847-673-7774
Village of Skokie, Office of Human Services, 5120 Galitz St., Skokie, 847-933-8208
Financial Assistance
CEDA/Neighbors at Work, 1229 Emerson St., Evanston, 847-328-5166
Circuit Breaker, 800-624-2459 or 217-524-0084
Consumer Credit Counseling Services, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Metropolitan Family Services, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Niles Township General Assistance Program, 5255 Main St., Skokie, 847-673-9300
Public Aid State of Illinois, Dept. of Human Services, 5822 N. Western Ave., Chicago, 773-989-3600
SOCKS, free clothing for children, 9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie, 847-677-9497
Social Security Administration, 2116 Green Bay Rd., Evanston, 800-772-1213
Food/Food Stamps
The Ark, 6450 N. California Ave., Chicago, 773-973-1000
CEDA/Neighbors at Work, 1229 Emerson St., Evanston, 847-328-5166
Community Nutrition Network, 1655 Foster St., Evanston, 847-864-2850
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Niles Township Food Pantry, 5255 Main St., Skokie, 847-674-2263
Public Aid/Food Stamps (State of Illinois, Dept. of Human Services), 5822 N. Western Ave., Chicago, 773-989-3600
Village of Skokie, Home Delivered Meals, 5120 Galitz St., Skokie, 847-933-8208
Village of Skokie, Office of Human Services, 5120 Galitz St., Skokie, 847-933-8208
Disability Services Mental/Physical
Access Living, 614 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, 312-253-7000
Center for Enriched Living, 280 Saunders Rd., Riverwoods, 847-948-7001
Glenkirk, 3504 Commercial Ave., Northbrook, 847-272-5111
Illinois Dept. of Rehab Services, DORS, 715 W. Algonquin Rd., Suite A, Arlington Heights, 847-758-3483
Maine-Niles Association for Special Recreation, 6820 W. Dempster St., Morton Grove, 847-966-5522
Orchard Village, 7670 Marmora Ave., Skokie, 847-967-1800
Rush North Shore Medical Center, 9600 Gross Point Rd., Skokie, 847-677-9600
Turning Point Behavioral Health Center, 8324 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-933-0051
Health
Cook County Dept. of Public Health, 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, 847-470-7227
Rush North Shore Medical Center, 9600 Gross Point Rd., Skokie, 847-677-9600
Village of Skokie, Health Dept., 5127 Oakton St., Skokie, 847-933-8252
Homemakers
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services, 840 Dodge Ave., Evanston, 847-864-3721
Hospice
Hospice of the North Shore, 2821 Central St., Evanston, 847-467-7423
Rainbow Hospice, 444 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 145, Park Ridge, 847-685-9900
Housing
Access Living, 614 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, 312-253-7000
CEDA/Neighbors at Work, 1229 Emerson St., Evanston, 847-328-5166
Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310, Park Ridge, 847-823-0453
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Interfaith Housing Center, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, 847-501-5760
WINGS, 887 E. Wilmette Rd., Suite E-2, Palatine, 847-963-8910
Legal Services
Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310, Park Ridge, 847-823-0453
Cook County Legal Aid Foundation, 828 Davis St., No.201, Evanston, 847-475-3703
Legal Aid Foundation of Chicago, 111 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, 312-341-1070
Metropolitan Family Services-Legal Aid Bureau, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Niles Township, 5255 Main St., Skokie, 847-673-9300
Senior Citizens Services
Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310, Park Ridge, 847-823-0453
Council for Jewish Elderly, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services, 840 Dodge Ave., Evanston, 847-864-3721
Great Opportunities Adult Day Care, 4555 Church St., Skokie, 847-982-3318
Interfaith Housing Center, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, 847-501-5760
Jewish Family and Community Services, 5150 W. Golf Rd., Skokie, 847-568-5200
Metropolitan Family Services, 5210 Main St., Skokie, 847-676-2404
Village of Skokie, Health Dept., 5127 Oakton St., Skokie, 847-933-8252
Village of Skokie, Office of Human Services, 5120 Galitz St., Skokie, 847-933-8208
Substance Abuse
Peer Services, 906 Davis St., Evanston, 847-492-1778
Response Center, 9304 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-676-0078
Transportation
Council for Jewish Elderly-Shalom Bus, 3003 Touhy Ave., Chicago, 773-508-1000
RTA Travel Information Center, 847-836-7000
Village of Skokie, Office of Human Services, 5120 Galitz St., Skokie, 847-933-8208
Youth Programs
Jewish Community Center, 5050 W. Church St., Skokie, 847-675-2200
Maine-Niles Association for Special Recreation, 6820 W. Dempster St., Morton Grove, 847-966-5522
Response Center, 9304 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-676-0078
Skokie Park District, 9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie, 847-674-1500
Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, 847-673-7774
— Compiled by Bonnie L. Kath
