The program designed to get mental health professionals onto the front lines of Lake County law enforcement passed a milestone when it made its 5,000th referral for treatment, the program’s partner agencies recently announced.
The Crisis Outreach and Support Team — COaST — began with the sheriff’s office in 2018, and expanded in 2022 to include police departments in Gurnee, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mundelein and Vernon Hills.
COaST pairs an officer from each department with a social worker, clinician or peer specialist who provides assistance when departments respond to calls related to mental health. When an officer responds to a call where they believe mental health services could be helpful, the officer submits a referral to COaST.
Since its inception, the program has successfully connected 3,700 people with services — about 74% of all referrals.
“One of the biggest benefits from COaST we have seen firsthand was the positive impact on the families of those individuals in crisis,” Lincolnshire Police Chief Joseph Leonas said. “Today, the COaSt team has been able to provide significant support and services to parents, children and other family members impacted by the crisis.”
Sheriff John Idleburg said he hopes the program continues to grow beyond the seven agencies. He said that a vacant sheriff’s position was recently reallocated into a mobile crisis responder position.
“Over the last five years, we have drastically changed the way we respond to mental health crisis calls and the results we have seen from this collaboration are nothing short of incredible and inspiring. This team is making a tremendously positive impact on the community,” Idleburg said.
The Living Room Wellness Center in Waukegan is affiliated with COaST, which is supported in part by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge.
Town hall meeting
The Lake County state’s attorney’s office will host a town hall meeting to discuss gun violence prevention on Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the JIC Community Development Center, 202 Genesee St., Waukegan.
The meeting is part of the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative, a program begun by the LCSAO to address the causes of firearm violence in Lake County.
“The goal is for our community members to come together to address concerns surrounding gun violence and begin collaborative community responses,” LCSAO said.
The meeting will be held in conjunction with Jesus Name Apostolic Church and LIVEFREE Lake County. Those interested can register at https://SAO-GVPI-TownHall.eventbrite.com
Victim identified
The Lake County coroner’s office has identified the Vernon Hills area man killed on Tuesday in a head-on collision near Zion.
Harold Glasscock, 72, died when his car collided with a Ford F-150 pickup on West Russell Lane. The Lake County sheriff’s office said the driver of the pickup truck, a Milwaukee man, crossed the centerline before colliding with the oncoming car being driven by Glasscock.
The pickup driver sustained serious injuries, police said.
Alcohol sales check
The Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Task Force, with the assistance of local police departments, recently completed a fall check of businesses that sell alcohol.
During the checks, underage young adults working with law enforcement entered 160 establishments in an attempt to buy liquor. Seventeen vendors sold to the underage buyers, the task force said.
“Consistency from community to community and monitoring underage drinking issues will help us be successful in addressing this problem and saving lives. Our desire is to see 100% compliance, but it is refreshing to see the majority of businesses realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants,” Task Force Chairman Steve Husak said.
Of the 17 reported violations, six took place in Lake Forest, the task force said.
