Participants

PARTICIPANTS

The following pages contain a detailed listing of organizations and participants involved in the Advisory Council. The information provided is to aid in networking and collaboration among agencies. Listed in alphabetical order, you will find detailed information about the following organizations and representatives:

• 100 Club of Illinois • Illinois Fire Services Institute

• Chicago Fire Department • Illinois Firefighter Peer Support

• Cornerstone Retreat Center • Illinois Sheriffs’ Association

• First Responders Wellness Center • Illinois State Police

• Heroes Family Fund • McHenry County Sheriff’s Office

• Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors • Training and Research Institute for Public Safety • IL Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Teams

June 2021 100 Club of Illinois www.100ClubIL.org The 100 Club of Illinois provides resources, several forms of financial support, access to training, and moral support to both the families of first responders killed in the line of duty and active duty first responders throughout the state of Illinois. All sworn federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Illinois are included. Specific programming includes: For families of fallen first responders: For active duty first responders:

• $50,000 financial assistance • Individual emergency response funding • Educational assistance for dependents • Department emergency response funding • Emergency response funding • Wellness First training series • Wellness programming • LODD response

Caitlyn Brennan, CEO [email protected] Caitlyn Brennan has been with the 100 Club of Illinois for the past seven years. She moved into the role of Chief Executive Officer in March of 2020. Previous to Caitlyn’s leadership of the 100 Club, she served as the Assistant Director for DePaul University’s School of Public Service. Caitlyn continues to work with the students of the School of Public Service as an Adjunct Faculty Member. She is the Vice President of The Difference Engine, a nonprofit which hosts a web development apprenticeship program to assist those who do not have a typical background for entering the technology sector to launch new careers in the field. Caitlyn is a member of the International Chiefs of Police Association (IACP); International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); InfraGard, an FBI Infrastructure Alliance; The Chicago Cyber Fraud Task Force, an USSS Group.

Danielle Brengel, COO [email protected] Danielle has worked in the fields of prevention education and health and wellness for 10 years. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Marquette University and her Masters in Counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Using her knowledge from these experiences, has previously led statewide program implementation of health and wellness programming. Being married to a first responder, she is excited to be leading efforts in wellness programming for the first responder community though the 100 Club of Illinois. Chicago Fire Department https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cfd.html 5,000 firefighter and single roll paramedic employees.

Elizabeth Crowe [email protected]

Francisco Velez, Deputy District Chief [email protected] Francisco has 26 years of experience providing administrative support to the Chicago Fire Department’s sworn members and civilian employees. He serves as the Deputy District Chief/Coordinator of Special Events Liaison and the Commander in the 1st Deputy Fire Commissioner’s Office. Cornerstone Retreat Center https://cornerstoneretreatcenter.com/ The mission of CRC is to provide preventative and restorative emotional health and wellness services and education to 1st Responders and their families. The CRC property exists to provide a safe place for the 1st Responder Community to connect with one another, to learn, and to recover from the unique stressors inherent of the job- all in a naturally peaceful environment. In addition to the CRC property (in development), we offer Individual/Group Peer Support, Spiritual Direction, Chaplain Services, and Presentations/trainings on trauma, resiliency, and Spiritual Wellness.

Tammy Roach, COO [email protected] Serving as our Chief Operating Officer, Tammy is an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC); In her pastoral role, Tammy regularly preaches and presides over worship, funerals, and weddings. She develops/teaches adult curriculum, teaches Spiritual Practices, and plans/leads Women's Retreats. Tammy provides Spiritual Direction to the First Responder Community and serves as a chaplain for both Plainfield PD/ FD and CRC.

Dan Roach, CEO [email protected] Serving as our CEO, Dan worked as a law enforcement officer/executive for 31 years. He retired from the Illinois State Police as an Investigations Commander having served there for over 26 years. He then served as the Deputy Chief of the Schaumburg (IL) Police Department for five (5) years. He has extensive experience (over 23 years) in criminal investigations, undercover narcotics/gang enforcement, homicide investigations, and officer-involved shooting investigations. Dan is an active member of the 'We Never Walk Alone" IL Peer Support Team, and the NICISM team (currently serving as a LE Peer Supporter and Training Coordinator. Additionally, he has extensive peer support training, and holds several certifications in peer support. Dan is currently working towards a Certificate of Spiritual Direction First Responders Wellness Center, LLC https://www.firstresponderswellnesscenter.com/ Full psychological services and presentations of officer wellness.

Dr. Carrie Steiner [email protected] Dr. Carrie Steiner is nationally recognized police psychologist & trauma expert Carrie Steiner is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the First Responders Wellness Center, a private practice full service agency to meet the needs of police and first responders’ emotional wellness. As a psychologist, she conducts police and public safety psychological evaluations and specializes in trauma therapy utilizing EMDR, exposure, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Further, she develops wellness programs for police and fire departments including yearly wellness checks and does individual and group de-briefings after critical incidents. Dr. Steiner is a certified trauma professional and member of the ILCAP and ICAP. Dr. Steiner is a 13 year former Chicago Police Officer, Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator, peer support member, and Chicago Police Academy instructor. While working for the Chicago Police Department she spearheaded their veteran CIT training and autism spectrum training for law enforcement. She also has FBI hostage negotiation training, has worked as a psychologist for Cook County and Kane County Jails as well as collaborated with federal government agencies on high-risk cases. She speaks national on officer wellness, police suicide, mental illness and police response, de-escalation techniques, cumulative trauma, CIT, Peer support, PTSD, and has several national and local awards.

Heroes Family Fund https://ippfa.org/services/heroes-family-fund/ The Heroes Family Fund is the charity wing of the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA). We originally offered monetary assistance following a line of duty death, however; we have expanded our ability to assist firefighter and police officer families in financial need due to illness or injury not necessarily related to the line of duty. The IPPFA also offers PTSD awareness training through our Blue Lives Matters program as well as financial training to help alleviate that form of stress in one's life.

Dan Collins [email protected] Dan Collins is a career firefighter paramedic with 25 years of service in the field. Dan currently serves at the rank of Lieutenant with the Skokie Fire Department. As a 22 year pension board trustee, Dan has seen the anxiety and stress which accompanies line of duty injuries or death. Families face significant hardships due to line of duty injury and Dan has done everything within his capability to assist them through these difficult times. He has helped to transform the Heroes Family Fund into an entity which assists public safety officers and their families who have slipped through the cracks of traditional benefits. His focus is on helping those who do not have anyone else to turn to or cannot find the resources necessary to weather difficult times. Dan and his wife, Julie, have two adult children who they fostered and subsequently adopted at the ages of nine and thirteen.

Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors https://www.ilcops.net/ Provides support and ongoing resources to families and co-workers of fallen law enforcement officers. The mission is to rebuild shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty deaths. Nationally each year, between 140 and 160 officers die in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S. Today, C.O.P.S. membership is over 54,000 survivors. Survivors include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and co- workers of officers who have died in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria. C.O.P.S. is governed by a national board of law enforcement survivors. All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. C.O.P.S. has over 50 chapters nationwide, including IL C.O.P.S. that work with survivors at the grass-roots level. C.O.P.S. programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors' Conference held each May during National Police Week, scholarships, peer-support at the national, state, and local levels, "C.O.P.S. Kids" counseling reimbursement program, the "C.O.P.S. Kids" Summer Camp, "C.O.P.S. Teens" Outward Bound Adventure for young adults, special retreats for spouses, parents, siblings, adult children, extended family, and co-workers, trial and parole support, and other assistance programs. C.O.P.S. also offers training and assistance to law enforcement agencies nationwide on how to respond to the tragic loss of a member of the law enforcement profession. C.O.P.S. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. C.O.P.S. programs and services are funded by grants and donations.

Keith Dorwart, President [email protected]

Deb Wiseman, Vice-President [email protected]

David Johnson, Treasurer [email protected] Illinois Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Teams http://www.ni-cism.org/ The IL CISM Teams are made up of trained volunteers from the mental health and emergency service professions. Peers from law enforcement, fire service, dispatch, emergency medical services and hospital emergency room staff are all represented on the team. The unique collaboration between skilled peers and mental health professionals is the foundation of the organization and produces a high level of integrity and acceptance within the emergency service community.

Jen Ahrens, President: Northern IL CISM Team [email protected] Jen Ahrens is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Board Certified Counselor. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University, a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Illinois State University. Jen is a retired police officer with 30 years of experience in the field and knows the challenges, strengths and sacrifices associated with those in the public safety field. After retirement, Jen now provides private practice counseling at Barnum Counseling Services in St. Charles with focus on the therapeutic needs of first responder clients. She provides support in the area of health and wellness maintenance and developing the psychological resiliency necessary in these stressful lines of work. Jen also provides counseling and support for the spouses/significant others of first responders. She has been a member of the Northern Illinois Critical Incident Stress Management Team for 14 years and counting, helping hundreds of first responders deal with critical incidents.

Tara Ulis, Decatur CISM Team & Ulis Crisis Intervention & Consulting [email protected] Tara Ulis, LCSW, has 16 years of experience in the social work field including trauma social work in the hospital and therapy with law enforcement and their families. Tara is a part of the Critical Incident Stress Management team out of Decatur, IL. Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) https://www.fsi.illinois.edu/ Mission: Helping firefighters do their work trough training, education, information and research. IFSI is the State Training Academy. The IFSI Resiliency Project offers no cost resiliency /mental health training to first responders throughout the state of Illinois.

JP Moore [email protected] Chief James P. Moore, a 35-year veteran of the fire service. Chief Moore currently serves as the Assistant Director for Leadership Development and Command Programs for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. He oversees the IFSI First Responder Resiliency Project, Leadership Development and Decision Making Program, Fire Officer Certification Program, and the National Incident Management System Program. Chief Moore serves as the Co-Chairman of the Office of the State Fire Marshal– Fire Officer State Certification Advisory Committee and Vice President of Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Education and Research Foundation. Chief Moore served as the Fire Rescue Chief / Emergency Manager of the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department (IL) for 9+ years. Previous to Chief Moore’s service in Crystal Lake he served the Naperville Fire Department (IL) for 21+ years.

Paul Gardner [email protected] Deputy Chief Paul Gardner is a 37 year veteran of the fire service. He currently serves as a Field Staff Instructor for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. Paul serves as the Program Manager for the IFSI Resiliency Project and Leadership Development and Decision-Making Program. Paul possess a strong ability to contact with firefighters of all ranks. Deputy Chief Gardner has experience teaching officer classes, leadership, NIMS, and incident command. Prior to his regular involvement at IFSI, Paul served as Deputy Chief of the Berwyn Fire Department in Berwyn, IL, where he rose through the ranks during his highly active career. Illinois Firefighter Peer Support https://www.ilffps.org/ Provide peer support and mental health awareness training to first responders.

Tom Howard [email protected] Tom Howard has been in the fire service for over 30 years, 28 of those in a full-time capacity. He became involved with Illinois Firefighter Peer Support after completing his Masters in Divinity. In 2017 he moved into the role of Executive Director as well as President of the ILFFPS 501c3 board.

Illinois Sheriffs’ Association https://www.ilsheriff.org/ Representing Sheriffs across Illinois.

Jim Kaitschuk, Executive Director [email protected]

Illinois State Police https://isp.illinois.gov/ The mission of the ISP is to promote public safety and justice and the right of every Illinois citizen to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ISP is committed to ensuring its employees are provided with assistance and support systems, whether professional or personal. These support systems include the Chaplain’s Program, Peer Support, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Keith Dorwart [email protected] Keith Dorwart is the President of Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (IL C.O.P.S) and works in ISP Special Agent Zone 4.

Mary Dowdy [email protected] Mary Dowdy is an ISP Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Advisor. McHenry County Sheriff’s Office http://www.mchenrysheriff.org/ The McHenry County Sheriff's Office Faithfully Serves the Community, promoting the safety and equal protection for all. While the Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to serving the community and providing support to others, it is also dedicated to ensuring our employee’s workforce is mentally and physically healthy and well too. The department employees a police social worker who spearheaded the creation of our Peer Support team in 2020. We continue to train and develop our Peer Support team while working with other agencies in McHenry County on developing their programs as well. We have learned from the best, worked to bring a professional Peer Support Training to our area, and developed a model that works for our law enforcement community. We had others support our efforts and we are happy to help and share others in the officer wellness and Peer Support efforts. Our agency is also dedicated to sharing and helping others when tragedy occurs through organizations like the 100 Club of Illinois and Illinois COPS.

Alana Bak [email protected] Alana Bak comes from a first responder family and has been in the field of mental health for 10 years. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider. She has been with the department as their Police Social Worker since 2017. Prior to that, Ms. Bak served a wide variety of ages, populations and mental illness diagnoses in a non-profit setting. She is passionate about helping others along their journey to better themselves. She also has a strong dedication to officer wellness and suicide prevention.

Sgt. Aimee Knop [email protected] Serving since 2001, Sgt. Knop started as a patrol deputy, Community Relations Deputy and Department PIO. She was promoted in 2017 to the rank of Sergeant, served as a Patrol Supervisor and most recently supervising Training, Community Relations and our Police Social Worker. She is a proud Mom and wife. She is proud of her career path and desire to empower others to have a great career as well. Sgt. Knop is dedicated to taking care of our own, internally and externally. Training and Research Institute for Public Safety (TRIPS) https://trainpublicsafety.org/ Training and Research Institute for Public Safety (TRIPS), is a non-profit with the mission of providing low-cost, evidence-based training in mental health and wellness for first responders and their families, in addition to conducting research in health and wellness among first responders.

Michelle Lilly [email protected] Dr. Michelle Lilly is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU). She completed her undergraduate training at Brown University before earning her doctorate in clinical psychology at University of Michigan in 2008. Throughout her professional career, Dr. Lilly has studied the psychological and physical impact of violence and trauma. Her dissertation focused on how world views and coping affect risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in female survivors of domestic violence. Early in her career at NIU, she became involved in research with 9-1-1 telecommunicators and has continued to focus on this understudied population. Dr. Lilly’s research on mental and physical health in the 9-1-1 industry has been used to argue for job reclassification for 9-1-1 telecommunicators across the nation. She has done trainings across the country on the topics of PTSD, stress management, and resilience for a variety of public safety audiences. Currently, Dr. Lilly holds a grant from the state of Illinois to provide free trainings on PTSD and suicide for law enforcement. She is also the owner of 9-1-1 Recovers, a telebehavioral health practice for public safety and their families that provides evidence-based intervention for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. In addition, she provides organizational assessment and consultation through Lilly Consulting. Dr. Lilly is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois with APIT approval to provide therapy services across state lines.