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At Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO), our mission is to bring transformative recovery support services to those affected by substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and justice system involvement in Lake County and the surrounding Northern Illinois region.

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Our Key Community Partners

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NIRCO works closely with a range of organizations to deliver a continuum of support services:

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Justice System & Public Safety

• Lake County Sheriff’s Office

• 19th Judicial Circuit Court (Drug Court & Veteran Treatment Court)

• Lake County Adult Probation Department

• Illinois Department of Corrections & Parole

• Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)

• Robert W. Depke Juvenile Justice Center

• Waukegan Police Department

• North Chicago Police Department

• Zion Township (Justice & Social Services)

• Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office

• Lake County Public Defender’s Office

• Advocates to End Permanent Punishment

• R3 Program – Restore, Reinvest, Review

 

Healthcare & Behavioral Health

• Lake County Health Department

• Lake County Health Department – Women’s Residential Services (WRS)

• NICASA Behavioral Health Services

• Oak Street Health

• Erie Health

• Lake Behavioral Hospital

• Haymarket Center (Chicago)

• Rush University Medical Center – Substance Use Intervention Team (SUIT)

• Arden Shore Child & Family Services

• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

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Housing, Reentry & Stabilization

• Lake County Housing Authority

• City of North Chicago Housing Authority

• Gateway Foundation – Lake Villa

• Kalimba Foundation Recovery Housing

• PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)

• Home Away From Home

• Veteran Path of Hope

• Live Free Illinois – Community Healing Center

 

Community, Faith-Based & Cultural Organizations

• Jesus Name Apostolic Church (JNAC)

• Trinity A.M.E. Church – Rev. Barbara Brown

• Waukegan Community Church (WCC) – Lion’s Academy

• Celebrate Recovery

• Salvation Army

• Catholic Charities

• Prophetess Patricia Hymon

• The African American Museum at England Manor

 

Education, Youth & Workforce Development

• YouthBuild

• SGA Youth (sga-youth.org)

• Girls and Boys of Character (GBOC)

• College of Lake County & Workforce Development

• Northwestern University

• Art Impact Project

• She Creates

 

Community Resources & Local Government

• City of Waukegan

• City of North Chicago

• Zion Township

• 211 Lake County

• Highwood Public Library

• North Chicago Public Library

• Brittane’s Event Center

 

Advocacy, Mutual Aid & Recovery Support

• Recovery Movement Consulting

• 4 Movement

• Gambling Anonymous

• Giving Kind

• Latino Club – El Puente Latino

• Coalición Latinos Unidos de Lake County

• MAR-NOW

• Black Lives Matter

 

Elected Officials & Civic Leadership

• State Representative Rita Mayfield (60th District)

• State Senator Adriane Johnson (30th District)

• Alderman Sylvia Bolton

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Collaboration and Communication

NIRCO’s partnerships are founded on respect, shared goals, and open communication. We strengthen our network through regular meetings, joint planning, and community outreach to provide comprehensive, tailored services to meet each participant’s unique needs. Our collaborative approach adheres to best practices from the National Association of Counties, closing gaps in local opioid treatment services and fostering a robust support system for individuals impacted by OUD and polysubstance disorders.

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By uniting the strengths of each partner, NIRCO is poised to set a new standard for excellence in community recovery support. Together, we are building pathways to recovery and resilience, empowering individuals and strengthening our community.