After awaiting final approval from the state as part of a thorough review process, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60’s Wraparound Center is ready to take the final steps toward possibly opening within a month.
With the approval of the district’s two partners in the social services endeavor — A Safe Place and Community Youth Network — by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), the final steps are underway.
Bridget Dotson, the director of Wraparound Center services, said with the approvals in hand, those involved are completing the necessary legal paperwork to present the complete package to the District 60 Board of Education at its next meeting on April 23
The Wraparound Center will open soon after board approval on the ground floor of the former First Midwest Bank building in downtown Waukegan, providing a variety of therapeutic support, access to services and resources from partner agencies in one place.
Filling five of the seven suites in the center, Dotson said the partners will provide the District 60 community services for needs relating to substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental health and social-emotional counseling.
Though there were originally hopes of opening the center in January, Dotson said the approval process with ICJIA was intense, as different departments of the agency sought information.
“A lot of due diligence was going on, and it took time,” Dotson said. “The process was quite rigorous.”
When approval of A Safe Place arrived from ICJIA on April 5 and for Community Youth Network Tuesday, Dotson said preparations began to ready everything for approval by the Board of Education.
Joining the Wraparound Center in the downtown midrise building will be the home to many of the district’s administrative offices and departments which are most frequently visited by members of the school community.
Renovations of the entire building began last summer as part of a $12.3 million project creating the Wraparound Center on the ground floor, district offices frequented by the community on the first floor and administrative offices on the stories above.
Nick Alatzakis, the district’s communications director, said Tuesday the seven suites comprising the Wraparound Center were complete.
LeBaron Moten, the district’s deputy superintendent for operational supports and programs, said Wednesday that renovations are on schedule to enable district staff to begin occupying their new space in late May or June.
Much of the funding for the Wraparound Center comes from a $2.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity arranged by state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Gurnee, and $800,000 from ICJIA
“The Community Youth Network provides a mixture of mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention and trauma treatment,” Dotson said. “They will provide a minimum of two therapists or counselors,” she added, referring to both the network and A Safe Place.
Though there were thoughts of seeking other partners for the center, Dotson said at this time the operation is set with A Safe Place and the Community Youth Network. The network is already offering counseling services in some of the district’s schools.
Once school ends in May, Moten said he expects those who will be making the downtown administration building their home to begin moving into their new space. The Welcome Center, family community engagement and outreach, transportation and bilingual departments will be on the first floor.
Occupying the mezzanine will be the human resources department. The upper floors will house the superintendent’s office, and some of the administrative departments. Other departments will remain at the existing administration building on Sheridan Road.
