Will County School Safety Partners to Conduct Reunification Exercise at University of St. Francis

Local first responders, school safety personnel, and emergency management agencies from across the region will gather at the University of St. Francis Main Campus in Joliet for a full-scale School Reunification Exercise on Wednesday, July 23. The public is advised of an increased presence of emergency vehicles in the vicinity from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on that day.

The training is hosted by the Will County Emergency Management Agency and the Will County Regional Office of Education, with support from the University of St. Francis. The goal is to enhance community-wide preparedness by providing school officials and public safety partners with a realistic, hands-on opportunity to practice family reunification protocols following a school emergency. The full-scale School Reunification Exercise is focused on the nationally recognized Standard Reunification Method developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.

“Reunifying students with their families after an incident is one of the most emotionally charged and logistically complex aspects of school safety planning,” said Will County Emergency Management Agency Director Allison Anderson. “This exercise ensures we are building strong partnerships and communication channels long before a real crisis occurs.”

The exercise will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of St. Francis – Pat Sullivan Center (500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Illinois 60435).

The exercise will include a series of scenario-based drills designed to promote coordination among school staff, law enforcement, emergency responders, and behavioral health professionals. This includes training related to verifying parent/guardian identity, coordinating and securing reunification areas, managing internal and external communications, and supporting students with access and functional needs.

“The safety of our students and schools is a shared responsibility and a top priority of county-wide emergency personnel,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Exercises like this help ensure we are ready to respond in a unified way to emergencies in a compassionate and effective manner.”

For more information, please email ema@willcountyillinois.com.