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Dear Haymarket DuPage Friends and Supporters,

As you may have learned by now, the Itasca Plan Commission last week unanimously voted to recommend denial of our zoning application to convert the former Holiday Inn into a comprehensive substance use and behavioral health treatment center. The matter will now go before the Itasca Village Board, which will hold two more public comment hearings before making its final vote.

Let us be clear: we believe we demonstrated compliance with every standard required for zoning approval through extensive testimony and evidence during this two-year process. We provided extensive 911 analysis by independent experts that proved Itasca has capacity. We entered our private ambulance contract into evidence. We offered to purchase an ambulance and we identified additional state funding for two years.

As Dr. Lustig told the Chicago Tribune, we strongly believe stigma impacted this decision.  “Everyone believes there’s a need for treatment, just not in my backyard,” he said.

This ruling is a disappointment, but it was not a surprise for Haymarket or any other treatment center in this state or around the country who have faced similar struggles when attempting to open a new facility. We will not stop fighting for everyone who desperately needs the health care services we provide. We will share details of the next steps in the process when they become available.

On a personal note, we would like to thank the inspiring individuals who attended last Wednesday’s hearing, who showed up to give personal testimony, and who have reached out following this unfortunate decision. Your support is lifting us up and inspiring us to keep moving forward.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dan Lustig, Psy.D., CODP II, CAADC
President & CEO of Haymarket Center

Karen L. Kissel
Senior Executive Vice President

The Haymarket Center Youth Prevention Services (YPS) team kicked off a new school year, partnering with James R. Doolittle Elementary, Wendell Phillips Academy, Irvin C. Mollison Elementary, the Beasley Academic Center, Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville, Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary, and Carter G. Woodson Elementary to provide in-school services and education.

In 2005, Haymarket Center introduced its Youth Prevention team, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in the South Side Chicago communities. YPS’ prevention approaches focus on helping people develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to make good choices or change harmful behaviors.

In addition to providing educational resources to Illinois Youth, you can find our Youth Prevention team out in the community! Our YPS team hosts many fun and exciting events to encourage participation among 6th through 12th grade students, including talent showcases, poetry nights, and most recently, a softball game to celebrate the beginning of the 2021 school year!

“We’re thrilled to have the ability to host events like these for our neighborhood youth,” states Spencer Jones, Youth Prevention Specialist at Haymarket Center, “We get to have fun and get to know our community members while raising awareness for a much larger cause.” Along with providing water and snacks for the teams, YPS distributed school supplies among players and park attendees.

You can learn more about our Youth Prevention Services and the team’s upcoming events by following them on Instagram or visiting their website, hcenteryps.org.

This program is funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration.

Haymarket Center is excited to celebrate National Recovery Month with activities to raise awareness and resources and celebrate our employees. National Recovery Month is held each September to bring substance use disorder and mental health awareness to light and to celebrate those in recovery. For 32 years, National Recovery Month has raised awareness of substance use treatment and mental health services and shared stories of success that help people struggling with substance use disorders live healthy and rewarding lives. This year’s theme is “Recovery is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community,” centered around how togetherness and community support make recovery possible for everyone.

We kicked off National Recovery Month with a celebration among staff on Sept. 1st, with various games for staff to enjoy on their breaks, including a dunk tank where all tried their luck at sinking senior administration and their colleagues for a small donation to the organization. We have a few other exciting events in our store for our staff this month – be sure to follow us on social to see what we have planned!

Here are some ways you can join us in celebrating National Recovery Month:

Give us a ‘Like’
Are you following us on social media? You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin!

Peer to Peer Fundraisers on Facebook
Facebook allows you to set up a quick and easy fundraiser for the nonprofit organization of your choice. You can use this link to set your own goal and deadline as well as customize your page to your liking. Download the toolkit or start your fundraiser today!

Word of Mouth
You can support Haymarket simply by talking to people about what we do and sharing your own story of recovery. By meeting new people in our community and talking to them about Haymarket, you’re raising awareness of our services and helping to remove the stigma around substance use disorder, which can ultimately help save someone’s life.

Sign up to receive our emails
Join our mailing list to receive our supporter Newsletter, client testimonials, and other news and events you may not have seen!

With your help, we can continue to serve the greater Chicago area and Illinois and help those struggling with substance use disorder on their own path to recovery. If you are interested in becoming further involved with Haymarket Center, please contact Sarah English at (312) 226-7984 ext. 485.

After successfully completing treatment at Haymarket Center more than 20 years ago, Loretta Young has dedicated her career to helping others along their own recovery journey as a peer recovery coach.

“My favorite part of what I do is inspiring people,” Loretta says, “With the right encouragement and motivation, you can help clients see something within that they don’t see in themselves.”

On May 14, 1998, Loretta Young entered our detox program. She spent her time at Haymarket learning fulfilling ways to live a sober lifestyle, while also helping our staff and the unit in any way that she could. Eighteen months later in July 2000, a clean and sober Loretta graduated from our program and completed her treatment. After experiencing Loretta’s hard work and personality shining through during her recovery, Haymarket Center hired her to join the women’s treatment team, kickstarting her career in the field of substance use disorder treatment. Loretta completed the CADC program in 2009 stating that the knowledge she gained while working at Haymarket set the foundation for her education as she worked and attended school.

Through her work, Loretta helps clients find their strengths and identify their positive attributes to shift their focus on hope and encourage recovery. Loretta, who has been in the field for over 20 years, works as part of our Care Coordination team and visits local hospitals that partner with Haymarket to assess patients for their needs and refer them to a level of care. Doctors visiting with patients struggling with substance use disorder will recommend Recovery Coaches to encourage the patient to enter treatment.

“My drive and my passion [as a Recovery Coach] comes from my empathy,” Loretta says, “If you can see the spark in a client’s eyes, you can catch it and ignite it, and that is when you’ll see positive change from someone ready for recovery.”

Today, Loretta works among some of the same clinical staff that helped her when she first arrived at Haymarket as a patient. She credits her own recovery and her career achievements to her experience at Haymarket Center.

With a message to our supporters, she states, “I am the byproduct of what you are supporting.” Each gift to Haymarket Center helps us reach individuals like Loretta who are ready to begin their recovery journey. You can learn more by visiting our Donate page.

On behalf of all Haymarket Center staff and our Board of Directors, we would like to thank all of you that have spoken in support of Haymarket or submitted your support online during our Itasca Plan Commission hearings. Your words spoke volumes. Because of you, compelling reasons were provided as to why this treatment center is needed, meets zoning requirements, and will not cause an undue burden on the Village of Itasca.

For anyone who was unable to attend or watch the August 11 or August 25 hearings, we’d like to share a quote from each of the supporters who gave a comment:

“This is an opportunity to help educate our youth by real experts in the field who have decades of experience on substance abuse (and it) should be your number one priority…Haymarket’s right to come here is not about a personal feeling that anyone may have; it is about doing what is right for Itasca and the communities around you that will save lives.” – Rena Humbert, Path to Recovery

“Addiction is not a socioeconomic issue 30 miles away in Chicago. Addiction is blind. It’s an equal opportunity destroyer. It’s like a tornado; it may only kill two or three people, like in my family, but it takes down half the town with it and the community’s resources to rebuild it.”- Lisa Danna-Brennan

“Access to evidence-based treatment is an essential part of good health and recovery from substance use disorder that is plaguing our residents…Experts say that programs like Haymarket, which allow children to stay with their moms during substance use and mental health treatment, are the kind of full-spectrum rehab needed to reduce the number of babies born to mothers who, like other Americans, are increasingly struggling with drug use disorder.”
– Dr. Lanny Wilson, Vice President, DuPage County Board of Health and Co-Chair of HOPE Task Force

“2020 saw 93,000 people die in this country from overdose, the highest number in recorded history. We don’t need to be taking resources away, we need to be adding them. And I really would like to challenge the Village of Itasca to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. If not us, who? And if not now, when? 100,000 dead, is that when we take notice? 125,000 dead, is that enough? When is it enough?”- Laura Fry, Live4Lalie

“For the last 28 years, I’ve helped people get out of their addiction. I’ve helped them understand what the problem is and I’m going to have to tell you all this: We’re all in recovery. We’re all recovering from something…What if the small town of Itasca, with all that it has, actually surrounded some people who were hurting and made a decision to love them and redeem them?”- Itasca Pastor Bob Butler

“Our team currently receives more than 600 calls a month for outpatient behavioral health and substance use services. These calls come from children, adults, and families who live in and around this community. What Haymarket can offer through this facility will change lives. It is time to evolve our community’s response to recognize that mental health and substance use services provide critical health care that keeps our neighborhoods thriving.”- Lisa Hendrickson, Kenneth Young Center in Elk Grove Village

“Many people harbor unfound fears and assumptions about people with disabilities, and in particular people in recovery. These fears and assumptions prevent full integration. One common thread is that people in recovery are prone to violence, or other criminal activity. And although this is untrue, this sentiment often sparks community opposition or efforts to assist and treat this population, including efforts to operate a recovery center.”
– Emily Ronan, AIM Center for Independent Living

“When we look at this quadrant specifically of DuPage County, we do have a very high concentration of overdose, and it’s getting worse. We definitely have enough people that have a problem to justify there being a facility of this size in our county.”- Roger & Stephen Stefani, Hope for Healing Foundation

“Addiction is no longer that street corner junkie. It’s your child who injured themselves in football… it’s the wife that has one glass of wine and accidentally finishes the bottle…the husband who has the work hard, play hard attitude…Addiction is me standing in front of you today. This is a disease who does not care who you are, where you come from or how strong you think you are. It’s progressive and lifelong and denying a treatment center for us is no different than denying chemo to a cancer patient.”- Frank Lotta of Wood Dale 

“There’s so many barriers to healthcare that people already face…if we can make it just a little easier, people will be much more willing and able to get the treatment they want and deserve.”- Nikita Dulin of Itasca 

“Let’s get through all this red tape and save some lives. All this is doing is delaying saving lives. Please, I beg of you, to get through this red tape as soon as you can and start saving lives.” – Joe Portillo

“We must take action to curtail opioid misuse and help those who are struggling with substance use disorders to get the treatment they need to live their fullest lives.” – National Safety Council, based in Itasca 

For those interested in learning more, you can read the Daily Herald story recapping the last hearing. Our next meeting will occur Wednesday, September 8th at 7 p.m. when the attorneys will make their closing statements. To learn more about Haymarket Center of DuPage, visit haymarketdupage.org.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently granted Haymarket Center funding to support our efforts to reduce opioid-related overdoses by expanding outreach and offering direct treatment services. Haymarket is one of only two organizations nationwide to receive this transformational award.

The grant will allow Haymarket to strengthen our partnerships with hospitals, drug courts, and homeless encampments in opioid “hot spots” in Cook and DuPage Counties. Through partnerships with medical centers like Edward-Elmhurst Hospital, Haymarket’s outreach team works onsite in Emergency Departments to support individuals with recent overdose, providing guidance and support to transition to treatment at Haymarket Center. This project allows us to reach more individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), expand our treatment, and make our facilities even more accessible to those who need treatment.

We are proud to offer accessible treatment to individuals Cook and DuPage counties who may not have previously had the opportunity. You can learn more about our treatment and services at haymarketcenter.org.

Raffle tickets for our grand prize vacation package are still available! Don’t miss your chance to support Haymarket’s services by purchasing a raffle ticket to win one of these great prizes:

1st Prize: The vacation package of your choice:

• Sensational Resorts in Mexico
• Lake Tahoe Splendid Alpine Setting
• Rhode Island’s Yacht Experience

For an in-depth description of these packages, visit our Golf Outing page.

2nd Prize: Chicago Favorites Sports Package:
Show your love for our local teams while snacking on your favorite comfort food. Whether you celebrate a victory with pizza or burgers, we’ll leave it up to you. This package includes:

• One pair of Cubs tickets for the 2021 season
• One autographed/authentic Roquan Smith Bears Jersey
• One $25 gift certificate to Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
• One $50 gift certificate to Shake Shack

3rd Prize: A Day on the Green:
Enjoy a golf outing at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove, IL! This package includes:

• A foursome of golf with carts and lunch included
• Golf merchandise from Dixon Golf

4th Prize: Dessert for Breakfast:
Winning this basket is cause for celebration- and cupcakes! Enjoy a cup of local coffee with a sweet treat from these desert staples. This package includes:

• Gift certificate for one dozen cupcakes courtesy of Magnolia Bakery ($47 value)
• Gift basket from la Colombe ($40 value)
• Gift certificate to Eli’s cheesecake $25 value)
• Gift basket from Colectivo ($40 value)

5th Prize: Music to Your Ears
courtesy of Res Publica Group
What better way to spend a summer day than popping in your headphones and listening to your favorite tunes?
This package includes:

•             AirPods with charging case ($125 value)
•             A wireless charging device

Each raffle ticket is $100 and or five for $250. These virtual tickets can be purchased with this link. The winner will be selected at the Annual Golf Outing on Thursday, June 24th and does not need to be present to win.

Sponsorships for the Annual Golf Outing are also available, starting at $500. To learn more, or contact Sarah English at (312) 226-7984, ext. 485 or senglish@hcenter.org.

On April 28th, Haymarket Center held a graduation ceremony for patients who successfully completed the Integrated Treatment Program (ITP). These graduates successfully maintained two full years of sobriety, obtained gainful employment, and are now living independently. Our recent grads have come a long way before reaching this point, and with the help of Haymarket’s recovery coaches, turned their lives around.

“I had gone through so much in my life while struggling with depression. I had been through the program at Haymarket twice before, but I just hadn’t lost enough,” Ryan H., who graduated from ITP last March, recounts his experience going through the court system while working with our recovery coaches. “After my grandfather passed away, the greatest father figure in my life, I needed to work through all of my past trauma and enter treatment with an open mind.”

Haymarket Center has worked alongside the Lake County legal system to offer substance use treatment to justice-involved individuals for more than 20 years. In order to reduce recidivism, individuals whose substance use disorder is a contributing factor to their crimes are referred to an appropriate level of treatment at Haymarket Center. An integral component of the program are recovery coaches who assess each client and develop an individual recovery plan. The recovery coaches work with each client on their personal goals and support clients as they determine their next steps.

Ryan was able to successfully navigate the program, secured employment, and had zero rule violations. While working the overnight shift at his job, Ryan attended a Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) certification program during the day, with the help of a grant through the College of Lake County. He was grateful for this healthy and sober environment and worked tirelessly to move forward in his recovery plan.

Upon completion of the program, patients are invited to a graduation ceremony as a badge of honor. There are several community members in attendance, including to their lawyers, the Chief of Police, the Sheriff, and the Judges that have checked in on these patients through their recovery process.

Ryan worked with Judge Christy L. Bishop, recalling the support and encouragement she offered him during his time in the program. “Judge Bishop never stunted my growth and believed in me every step of the way. There isn’t a better judge for that program,” Ryan adds.

Bill Nee, a Recovery Coach that oversees the program, beams when talking about his experience aiding Ryan through his recovery. “It’s such a great feeling to watch Ryan succeed after receiving treatment through Haymarket,” states Bill, “We stay with the client for a whole two years, even beyond that sometimes, and we have the opportunity to watch them live a successful life.”

Ryan is over two years sober and works as a truck driver using the CDL he obtained while in treatment. He plans to purchase his own truck and start his own business after buying a home next year with his wife Alyssa for their two sons and a daughter they are expecting this July. “I want to thank Haymarket and their recovery coaches for believing in me and helping me build a life for myself,” Ryan adds.

From all of us at Haymarket, congratulations to our graduates. We are incredibly proud to serve you throughout the next phase of your lives.

You can join us in this important work by making a gift today. Visiting hcenter.org/donate to learn more.

Featured image: Recovery Coach Bill Nee (left) with Ryan H. at his graduation ceremony

For nearly two years, Haymarket Center has worked to expand access to much needed substance use disorder treatment in the Western suburbs. The proposed project in DuPage County would allow patients to access comprehensive treatment closer to home and their families. Now in the final phases of planning approval, we need your help! You can voice your support for our DuPage treatment center by sending a letter of support to info@haymarketdupage.org and join our growing list of advocates.

The proposed Haymarket DuPage treatment center will offer a full array of comprehensive services including diagnosis, treatment and recovery support for adults 18+ with substance use and mental health disorders, who voluntarily seek care. Our services will go far beyond the scope of most treatment programs, including:

• Evidence-based, comprehensive interventions
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Psychiatry & counseling
• Recovery support services
• GED courses & job placement
• Partnerships that assure care coordination
• Recovery coaching

Last April, Haymarket Center purchased the former Holiday Inn, located on a 7-acre site along the west side of Interstate 290 at Irving Park Road in Itasca. Haymarket DuPage has been the subject of extensive zoning hearings by the Village of Itasca’s Plan Commission since 2019. Throughout the zoning process, Haymarket Center has presented evidence that we meet the zoning criteria for approval. The hearing process is now in the phase in which taxing bodies and interested parties can present evidence in opposition or “concern” relative to grant zoning approval.

As a new business in Itasca, Haymarket is committed to being a good neighbor and strong community partner. Haymarket pledges to support community events in the Village, offer educational and training programs, partner with first responders and DuPage-area hospitals, and identify grant opportunities that bring additional financial support to the community. We have recently joined the Village of Itasca Chamber of Commerce and are excited to contribute in any way we can.

“We are deeply devoted to our mission and to those we serve,” says Karen Kissel, Senior Executive Vice President of Haymarket, “Haymarket is committed to opening a treatment center in Itasca because we know we can help people on their path to recovery.”

With your help, we can build on our ever-increasing coalition of supporters. Voice your support for our health care facility in Itasca. Reach out to us at info@haymarketdupage.org if you’d like to join our list of supporters or help our efforts in a way that works for you and your organization.

You can learn more and visit our FAQ by visiting HaymarketDuPage.org.

This spring, Haymarket Center welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors, John T. “Jack” McCarthy and Daniel Nudelman. Learn more about our newest members by reading below.

Daniel Nudelman

Daniel Nudelman is an Associate General Counsel at Facebook, Inc., where he advises on legal and regulatory requirements in the areas of election law, campaign finance and political advertising law, lobbying regulations, political activities and government ethics. Before joining Facebook, Daniel was Counsel in the Political Law Group at Perkins Coie, LLP and served as compliance counsel on President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign. Daniel has been actively involved with Haymarket Center since 2019, serving as an inaugural member of the Leadership Council.

Daniel graduated from McGill University, holds a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and received his J.D., Cum Laude, from New York University School of Law.

We had the opportunity to speak with Daniel about his involvement at Haymarket:

Q: What brought you into the Haymarket community?
DN: I was first introduced to Haymarket a few years ago when I moved back to Chicago, and I was living just a few blocks away from the main office on Washington. I was immediately drawn to the organization’s mission and was really impressed at the scale and scope of treatment services it was providing to underserved populations. When I heard that Haymarket was launching a Leadership Council, I jumped at the opportunity to join.

Q: What is your favorite part about the organization?
DN: The energy and commitment that I’ve seen Dr. Lustig, the staff and the Board consistently bring to their work. It may be an established organization, but it still manages to maintain the passion of a start-up.

Q: What are you most looking forward to as a member of the Board?
DN: Mostly just getting the opportunity to better understand the organization’s challenges and needs and how best I can help address them. I also think that a lot of younger Chicagoans don’t know about Haymarket or the critical work it does, and that they would be particularly receptive and supportive of its mission and the innovative approaches it takes. I just barely qualify as a millennial (I think the technical term is a ‘geriatric millennial’) but hopefully I can still help find ways to get the organization more exposure and tap into that enthusiasm.

John T. “Jack” McCarthy

Prior to retiring from the private practice of law, Jack McCarthy concentrated his practice in corporate and securities law matters. During a career spanning almost 50 years he was involved in more than 100 public offerings, six hostile takeovers, two proxy fights and numerous negotiated transactions.

His representations included serving as primary outside acquisition counsel for Waste Management, Inc. for 25 years; issuer counsel in connection with the approximately one billion International IPO of Waste Management International PLC; counsel to the special committee of Independent Directors of Blockbuster in connection with the sale of Blockbuster to Viacom; counsel to several individuals in connection with SEC enforcement actions over a seven-year period; and counsel to the Board of Directors of Reorganized Enron Corp. (now known as Enron Creditors Recovery Corp.) in connection with the collection and distribution of $23 billion to creditors.

In addition, Mr. McCarthy served as chairman of Bell, Boyd, & Loyd, a Chicago-based firm of 250 attorneys with offices in Washington, D.C. and San Diego, California for over 20 years prior to its combination with the K&L Gates firm in 2009.

A member of the Illinois Bar, he received his J.D. (cum laude) from Northwestern University School of Law in 1966 and a B.S. from St. Joseph’s College in 1963.