HR0734 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0734 LRB101 20544 LAW 70160 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to extend their congratulations to Jerry Skogmo on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Renz Addiction Counseling Center; and

WHEREAS, The Renz Addiction Counseling Center is a non-profit organization that began in Elgin in 1961; it was founded by a small group of concerned business leaders in order to combat rising issues involving alcohol misuse they witnessed in the local workforce; today, it provides a continuum of care dedicated to the prevention, intervention, and treatment of addictive behaviors related to alcohol, drugs, and gambling; services range from prevention programs for youth in schools to outpatient treatment programs for adolescents and adults; priority is given to pregnant women and women with dependent children; and

WHEREAS, The Renz Addiction Counseling Center is funded in part by the federal government, Elgin Township, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Hanover Township, Geneva, St. Charles 708 Mental Health Boards, and other local community organizations; it has offices located in Elgin, St. Charles, and Streamwood; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Skogmo became the Renz Addiction Counseling Center's third Executive Director in 1996; for the last 24 years, his efforts were instrumental in the center's expansion and evolution; he expanded programing to include gambling use disorder treatment, DUI services, and intensive outpatient services in the clinical program as well as the Employee Assistance Services program; he obtained federal SAMHSA grants to expand services to reduce HIV infection, increase access to substance use disorder treatment for women, and enhance community coalitions to reduce underage drinking and drug use/misuse; he also played an integral role in the Renz Addiction Counseling Center's merger with the Ecker Center for Mental Health in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Previously, Jerry Skogmo worked as a clinician and program director at the Ecker Center from 1978 to 1990 and a clinical director at Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center from 1990 to 1996; he served on the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (formerly IADDA) for 15 years; he is a current member of the Kiwanis Club of Elgin; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Skogmo will continue his work with the Elgin for Mental Health Referendum, an initiative to support the creation of a 708 Mental Health Board for Elgin Township; he will also remain in the private practice he shares with his wife Mindy Skogmo as a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and certified addictions counselor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jerry Skogmo on the occasion of his retirement as the Executive Direction of the Renz Addiction Counseling Center after 24 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jerry Skogmo as an expression of our esteem and respect.