Glasgow Cuts Ribbon on Unprecedented Residential Facility Serving Problem Solving Court Participants
June 25, 2019
Joliet –Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow officially opened the doors to the Connor Kelly Residence, a new transitional housing facility for eligible Will County Problem Solving Courts participants established to provide long-term help and support to individuals reentering society and the workplace. Joining Glasgow in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride; Will County Executive Larry Walsh; Will County Circuit Court Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt; Will County Board Speaker Denise Winfrey; Friends of the Will County Problem Solving Courts board members Anne Dralle, Suzanne Hart, and Tyler Marcum, who also is a Will County Board member; a resident of the facility; and relatives of Connor Kelly, in whose memory the residence is named. Connor Kelly died of an opioid overdose on March 13, 2014, at the age of 18. Will County Board Member Rev. Herb Brooks offered the dedication.
“The Connor Kelly Residence is yet another step in the unprecedented accomplishments of the Will County Problem Solving Courts, which are at the forefront not only here in Illinois, but nationwide, in helping non-violent individuals reintegrate back into the community through innovative initiatives,” Glasgow said. “Instead of simply punishing people who often come to us broken, we are working together with them to rebuild their lives. Together, we are helping participants make their way out of the dark tunnel of addiction.”
Connor Kelly’s family provided a generous donation that assisted the State’s Attorney’s Office in turning the vision of a longer-term residence into a reality.
“The Problem Solving Courts want you, your neighbors, your friends, and any of your family members struggling with addiction to know that there is a place and there are people they can turn to,” McCabe Sterr said. “Our residents are stretching their fledging wings so that they can soar into their new lives of recovery.”
Located in Joliet, the Connor Kelly Residence is the third residential facility Glasgow has established for Will County Problem Solving Court participants. The first two residences, the Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House, provide temporary housing. The Connor Kelly residence provides longer-term transitional housing that offers increased independence while maintaining a support system.
“These residences provide a much-needed support system for participants by offering safe housing, counseling, treatment, and on-site support services to assist these individuals on their journeys toward a better future,” Glasgow said. “By offering long-term transition housing, the Connor Kelly Residence maintains the supportive system these individuals continue to need as they increase their levels of independence.”
Participants are employed and allowed into the program after careful screening. They have faced drug addictions, previously committed non-violent offenses, and receive on-site supportive services. A recovery support specialist lives on site.
