COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DENNIS DEER WAS JOINED BY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN ADVOCATING AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer. Photo provided STH Media LLC

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DENNIS DEER WAS JOINED

BY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN

ADVOCATING AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

COMMISSIONER DEER, CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS, AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO ANNOUNCE OVER 100 MILLION DOLLARS OF AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT FUNDING GEARED TOWARDS COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS SPOKE CANDIDLY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THE NEED FOR MORE INTERVENTION

Dennis Deer-Cook County Board Commissioner of the 2^nd District- along with his fellow 2^nd District Cook County Mental Health Task force members Congressman Danny K. Davis, Commissioner Tara Stamps, Commissioner Bill Lowry, and other state and local elected officials in hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness Event. The event is being organized to bring awareness and announce new grant funded programs to combat the issue.

Commissioner Deer, along with the mass group of elected officials and advocates, will also announce to the public over 100 million dollars of American Recovery Act funding geared towards combating domestic violence.

Commissioner Deer felt compelled to assemble some of the best providers of mental health and domestic violence professionals to partake in a discussion aimed towards bringing attention and advocate for additional funding to offset many of the challenges related to domestic violence.

“Beyond raising awareness about domestic violence, it is about taking concrete action and correspondingly providing appropriate resourcing and building a supportive system. I have worked diligently with President Preckwinkle and my fellow Commissioners to increase funding to offer more services to ease the burden of bureaucracy to individuals who must deal with the mounting issues surrounding domestic violence.” says Commissioner Deer.

Commissioner Deer has continued to pass legislation to not only increase funding for matters involving domestic violence, but to also bring more attention to the ever-evolving financial costs that are associated.

Over the past year Commissioner Deer and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced plans for an all-new Cook County Department of Mental Health that has expanded mental health services. Last year $16 million was used to expand personnel and mental health support at existing Cook County clinics.

During this year’s event, Commissioner Deer will ask the various industry professionals that are present to speak of how they collectively can push for innovative programs for victims of domestic violence who look to Cook County Health as their provider. Given the enormous impact in which domestic violence is having on thousands of Cook County residents, Commissioner Deer is committed to continuing his advocacy of state funded programs now being offered to county residents.

Deer continues, “For the first time in decades, there is a firm focus to help residents in their daily struggles concerning domestic violence. We must now promote these programs and services to offset the many potentially dangerous side effects of individuals suffering from this dangerous act.”

press conference attendees and panel discussion included:

Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer

Congressman Danny K. Davis

Cook County 2^nd District Task Force

Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps

Chicago Alderman Jason Ervin

State Senator Lakesia Collins

State Representative Yolanda Morris

Survivors of Domestic Violence Yolanda Carter

Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry

Stephanie Love-Patterson - Executive Director of Connections for Abused Women and Children

Dr. Felise Binion - Director of Westside Ministers Coalition