Will County Faith-Based Community Outreach Council

(Established November 2000)

“Faith-Based Alternatives to Community Concerns”

The Faith Based Community Outreach Council is a coalition of faith-based organizations established in November 2000 by the Harvey Brooks Foundation under the direction of Bishop Robert R. Sanders and the Will County States Attorney. All faith-based organizations are welcome and encouraged to get involved.

Mission: To bridge the gap between the Will County Justice System and the Will County Faith-Based community; to help bridge the gaps for youth and families and promote awareness, skill and knowledge building and behavior modification where necessary .

This Faith-Based Coalition meets monthly (4 th Monday) at 7:30pm. Meetings are held at the Family Life Center of All Nations Church of God in Christ, 503 Bishop Robert R. Sanders Dr. ( Water Street ) in Joliet , Illinois .

The Faith-Based Coalition fosters an innovative, effective approach to coordinated and validated community service hours within the criminal justice system. The Council also serves to familiarize the faith-based community with legislative and judicial procedures and process and build collaborations to re-enforce, where appropriate, efforts to improve conditions within the community.

Coalition meetings include such topics as: Domestic violence; elder abuse; substance abuse and recovery; identity theft and consumer protection; children advocacy and support; grant writing and tax tips for charitable organizations, etc.. The faith-based council seeks to provide clearinghouses to deliver services throughout Will County (and collar counties were applicable).

Faith-Based Drug-Free Community Goals:

Reduce substance abuse among youth and over time, among adults.
Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities & organizations.

Clearinghouses: Faith Based Community Outreach Council (FBCOC):

FBCOC clearinghouses are faith-based organizations functioning as a network leader to offer services in the Will County area (and collar counties when applicable) for a specific area of need. The clearinghouse acts as the point of contact for those seeking the services in which the clearinghouse specializes. The clearinghouse directs those seeking services to the provider of those services listed with the clearinghouse: The provider that can best meet the needs, not only for the service requested, but also for location, hours available and the most suited location for the recipient's expression of faith.

Executive Committee:

Catherine Wells, Chairperson
Gloria Murtaugh
Tony Ray
Dr. Willie Weston
Bishop Robert R. Sanders

Contact Information: pathway2@comcast.net or call (815) 735-9683, Fax (815) 722-0221