The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, with the collaboration of 17 other law enforcement agencies, officially kicked off the countywide Police Social Work Program on Tuesday, June 7, at an event at The Community Foundation for McHenry County.
Michael Buehler, County Coordinator Chalen Daigle, PSW Program Clinical Supervisor Alana Bak, and Sheriff Bill Prim
In attendance were stakeholders, participating agencies, and families of the social workers. Speakers included Sheriff Bill Prim, Chairman Michael Buehler, Mental Health Board President Connee Meschini, McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, McHenry County Coordinator Chalen Daigle, and Police Social Work Program Director Sgt. Aimee Knop.
With four police social workers and a clinical supervisor now on board, the PSWs are currently undergoing training to begin assisting police departments with mental health crises and connecting residents to resources.
Each Police Social Worker will be assigned a grouping of participating police departments, allowing them to learn the nuances of each department and build relationships within the agencies. From there, the PSWs will work to garner resources for citizens in need and help alleviate the toll of mental health-related calls for service.
Director Sgt. Aimee Knop noted that “In a short time during training the Police Social Workers have already helped make an impact,” and continued to list several recent examples of PSWs helping individuals and families in need of mental health resources.
Chairmen Buehler said, “The Police Social Work Program shows how McHenry County is getting things right. Not only does it support our local law enforcement, but it does so in a shared, collaborative and fiscally responsible way. I am proud to see this program get off the ground, and I can’t wait to see the difference it will make in our community.”
Crystal Lake Police Chief Black also said, “We are looking forward to the opportunity to provide our residents with the additional resources that the Police Social Work Program can provide.”
Participating agencies include:
- Algonquin Police Department
- Bull Valley Police Department
- Cary Police Department
- Crystal Lake Police Department
- Fox River Grove Police Department
- Harvard Police Department
- Johnsburg Police Department
- Lakewood Police Department
- Marengo Police Department
- McCullum Police Department
- McHenry County College Police Department
- McHenry County Conservation District Police Department
- McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
- Oakwood Hills Police Department
- Richmond Police Department
- Spring Grove Police Department
- Wonder Lake Police Department
- Woodstock Police Department
With the ambitious support of all 18 law enforcement agencies, McHenry County Mental Health Board, McHenry County, and The Community Foundation for McHenry County, the Police Social Work Program looks forward to the productive development of this countywide asset.
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