SAVE the DATE 2018 Hero Helps Community Forum May 11, 2018

The 2018 Hero Helps Community Forum is slated for Friday, May 11, 2018 at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville, Ill.
This year’s event will bring together all of the efforts being made towards reducing opioid use and overdose in Will County and across the State. The seventh annual event will again be sponsored by HERO (Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization) and Will County HELPS (Heroin Education Leads to Preventative Solutions) as well as the Village of Romeoville and the Southwest Coalition.
“Laura Porter, our keynote speaker, will discuss the effect of childhood trauma on substance use, said Paul Lauridsen, co-chairman of the event. “We will also examine the work that has been done to address the issue of opioid use and overdose. We know there is still work to be done and we will also hear from leaders at the state health department about these efforts.”
Porter is with ACE Interface and has more than a decade of experience implementing statewide ACE (adverse childhood experience) Study Concepts. She will speak about the effect of childhood trauma on substance use which the Center for Disease Control has widely reported.
Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will speak about work of the Illinois Opioid Task Force and Maria Bruni, Associate Secretary with the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, will share details of the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council.
CPDU’s, CME’s and CEU’s are being provided for education, medical, social work professionals, licensed professional counselors, and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery support professionals.
While pre-registration is not required, those planning to attend are encouraged to visit the website: www.herohelpsswc.org to sign up.