Saturday, September 7, 2024
9/7/2024
Project Abstract Summary (Community Overview) Project Name: Coalition for a Drug Free Lyons Township (CDFLT) Lyons Township (LT) is one of 29 townships in Cook County, Illinois, and is in the near west suburban area of Metro Chicago. As of the 2010 census, its population was 111,688. Racial/ethnic makeup is: White: 82.1% (Non-Hispanic: 71.7%); Black: 6.0%; Asian: 2.2%; some other race: 7.3%; Two or more races: 2.1%; and Hispanic or Latino (any race): 19.0%. LT covers an area of 36.95 square miles. 17 municipalities are in or partially in LT. These are very diverse, with a range of income, ethnic and racial diversity. Northern LT includes Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Indian Head Park, La Grange, Riverside, and Western Springs which are middle to upper income and largely Caucasian. East, middle and South LT include Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Brookfield, Countryside, Hickory Hills, Hodgkins, Justice, Lyons, McCook, Summit, and Willow Springs. It is middle to low income, largely blue collar, has a large Hispanic population, as well as an African American and an Arab population in the southern end of LT. 15% of children below 18 are at/below the poverty line. 19% of all residents are aged 19 or under. Three high schools are in LT. Lyons Township High School has two campuses in La Grange and Western springs, and a total of students 4,072 that are middle and upper income. 12.6% are low income. The racial/ethnic breakout is 72.7% White, 3.7% Black, 19.5% Hispanic, and 2.1% Asian. Argo High School in Summit serves another large area of LT with a student population of 1,856 that is primarily non-white. 42% are lower income. The racial/ethnic breakout is 38.3% White, 13.6% Black, 40.7% Hispanic, and 2.2% Asian. Morton West High School in Berwyn serves a much smaller portion of east LT with a large Hispanic population. There are 13 middle/junior high schools (10 public, 3 Catholic) in LT. LT boarders the Southwest side of Chicago and is in close proximity to the notorious Westside of Chicago. A June 2017 DEA Intelligence Report indicates that “Chicago serves as the primary distribution hub for opioids and other illegal drugs in the region, with the West Side of Chicago being the region’s most significant opioid market. This market is easily accessible using Interstate 290, a route that has been dubbed ‘the heroin highway.’” Middle- and upper-income LT suburban youth are just a few miles away, can easily get there via the interstate, and have the resources to purchase heroin and other drugs in quantity. Opioid overdoses have impacted LT youth, primarily over the age of 19. With 17 different villages in Lyons Township, plus an unincorporated area called La Grange Highlands, it is difficult to have consistent ordinances, school policies and police response to alcohol and substance use incidents. Police departments vary widely on resources available, incidents of crime and ability to respond in their communities. For example, some do little when raiding an underage party with alcohol other than release the teens to parents without a record of the incident, or consequences. This makes it difficult for the schools to know if students have violated zero tolerance contracts, or other infractions they may have had in school. School personnel contacted Lyons Township Mental Health Commission (LTMHC) with the problems of increasing alcohol, marijuana and vaping use and requested assistance as LTMHC provides funding for Mental Health/Substance Abuse, and funds the substance abuse and youth service agencies Pillars Community Health (an FQHC) and The LeaderShop. It is a co-founder and houses the Coalition for a Drug Free Lyons Township (CDFLT). however, as Illinois has been through a severe budget crisis that impacted agencies and governments severely, many have had to cut services to its residents, especially prevention.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
