HOPE Taskforce

MeetingsReduce Drug Access, Reduce Drug Misuse, Overdose Response, Treatment and Recovery, and Prevention

  • Occur Quarterly
  • Linda Kurzawa Community Center
    115 N County Farm Road
    Wheaton, IL 60187

Meeting Dates

Meeting dates for 2023 include:

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

  • Andrew Anselm, Director, DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group
  • Karen Ayala, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department
  • Bob Berlin, State’s Attorney, DuPage County State’s Attorney Office
  • Karyn Charvat, Powerforward DuPage
  • Megan Corrigan, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
  • Laura Crawford, President and CEO, Chamber 630
  • Grant Eckhoff, Board Member, DuPage County Board
  • Brad Gerke, Community Member
  • Kenneth L. Popejoy, Chief Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit Court
  • Bernadine Howard, Program Manager, DuPage County Drug Court
  • Dr. Richard Jorgenson, Coroner, DuPage County Coroner’s Office
  • Keith Krestan, Fire Chief, Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District
  • Deb Lewin, Community Representative
  • James Mendrick, Sheriff, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dr. Michael Nelson, Cook County Health
  • Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, Superintendent, DuPage County Regional Office of Education
  • Jim Scarpace, Executive Director, Gateway Foundation
  • Lisa Schvach, Executive Director, DuPage County Workforce Development
  • Greg Schwarze, DuPage County Board
  • Rich Veenstra, Mayor, Village of Addison
  • Greg Vesta, Police Chief, City of Wood Dale
  • Dr. Lanny Wilson, Vice President, DuPage County Board of Health
  • Jeff York, Public Defender, DuPage County Public Defender’s Office

About the Taskforce

The Heroin/Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce is a joint operation of the DuPage County Board and the DuPage County Board of Health. The Taskforce consists of members from across many sectors in our community, specializing in:

  • Adjudication
  • Education
  • Law enforcement
  • Mental health
  • Prevention
  • Substance abuse treatment

Responsibilities to Elect Programs

The Taskforce is responsible for advising DuPage County elected leaders on needed program development, supporting infrastructure, and policy recommendations to address DuPage County’s opioid issues and may assist with other related issues as necessary. The Taskforce reports jointly to the County Board Chairman and the President of the DuPage County Board of Health.

Goals

The HOPE Taskforce is an interagency-interdisciplinary advisory task force with the following goals:

  • Measure success from desired program and initiative benchmarks and deliverables
  • Professionally and comprehensively assess opioid use within DuPage County
  • Recommend effective and actionable policies, initiatives, and programs

Sponsors

The HOPE Taskforce is sponsored by:1945 DuPage County Health DepartmentThe County of DuPage - Wheaton Illinois

  • The County of DuPage
  • DuPage County Health Department

Taskforce Documents

  1. HOPE Charter (PDF)