Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition

09/03/2026

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.
Not every struggle is easy to see. Knowing the warning signs can help us recognize when someone may need extra support and remind us that reaching out can make a difference.

During 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, take a moment to learn the signs, check in on the people around you, and share this information. A simple conversation can be an important first step toward getting someone connected to help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑩𝑨𝑯𝑪𝑪 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒆❜𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚.

***dePreventionMonth

09/01/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮
What kinds of programs, activities, and events would you like to see for youth and families in our community?

Our community survey is still open, and we’d love to hear from more of you! Your feedback can help us better understand what people are interested in and guide future positive, healthy, and substance-free opportunities for local youth and families.

The information can also help beyond what BAHCC may offer directly. We regularly collaborate with other community organizations on events and activities, so knowing what our community wants can help identify new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities to work together.

We’ve also received some feedback that we need to hear more directly from our youth, and we absolutely agree. We are exploring additional ways to allow local kids and teens to share their ideas and tell us what they would like to see in their community as well.

If you live in Braidwood or the surrounding area, please take a few minutes to complete the survey, and please share it so we can reach even more. The more input we receive, the more useful this information becomes when planning for our community.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆: 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀.𝗴𝗹𝗲/𝗾𝘂𝗦𝗡𝘄𝗔𝟵𝗙𝘆𝟵𝗧𝗨𝗶𝗬𝗛𝘁𝟴

Have a specific idea? Add it! Sometimes the best suggestions are the ones that weren’t on our list in the first place.

PLEASE HELP US BY ANSWERING A FEW QUESTIONS. Your feedback will help guide future programs, activities, and events that give local youth and families fun, healthy, and substance-free ways to connect and get involved. (This is a confidential survey unless you choose to provide your information at the...

08/31/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁)
[brought to you by New Lenox Safe Community Coalition ]

The "ThinkFirst for Parents of Teen Drivers" program is a 90-minute VIRTUAL educational presentation designed to help parents understand teen driving risks and how to guide their new drivers using proven safety strategies and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws. The program equips parents with the knowledge and tools needed to reduce teen crashes, injuries, and fatalities through active involvement and positive role modeling.

Participants will learn:
• How to recognize the unique risks associated with teen drivers.
• Driver Licensing (GDL) laws help protect new drivers.
• Practical ways parents can monitor, coach, and support their teen to build safe driving habits.
• Hear from a New Lenox Police Department Officer regarding current GDL laws.

Your involvement can make a real difference in helping to keep our teens safe! Feel free to share with other parents of teen drivers!

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Time: 7pm–8:30pm
Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thinkfirst-for-parents-of-teen-drivers-tickets-1997635849601?aff=oddtdtcreator

For questions regarding this presentation OR for a list of Safe Community Coalition event offerings, please contact:
Megan Applegate
Safe Community Coordinator
[email protected] or (815) 462-6427

08/25/2026

08/19/2026

A message from Will County EMA: The Multi-Agency Resource Center at 90 Town Center Dr., University Park, remains open to all Will County residents affected by the storms through Saturday, Aug. 22. Hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM-6 PM; Sat 9 AM-1 PM. Recovery resources may include SNAP replacement benefits, insurance assistance, cleanup and emotional support, school and pet supplies, and more. Food will also be available in the parking lot this Friday 10-11:30 AM and Saturday 9:30 AM-noon. Resources and food are available while supplies last. Follow us on Facebook for updates: facebook.com/WillCountyEMA

🌪️ Impacted by the recent storms? Recovery resources are available.

Beginning Monday, August 17, a Multi-Agency Resource Center will be open to all Will County residents at the Village of University Park Community Room.

📍 90 Town Center Drive, University Park
⏰ Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
⏰ Saturday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

The Resource Center will serve as a place for residents to connect with storm recovery information, resources, and available assistance. Help may include:

• SNAP replacement benefits
• Insurance claim navigation assistance
• Cleanup support
• Emotional support
• Veteran support
• School supplies
• Pet supplies
• And more

Agencies currently scheduled to participate include: American Red Cross, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Salvation Army, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County, Will County Animal Protection Services, Will County Health Department, and Will County Regional Office of Education.

Please share this information with anyone who may have been impacted by the storms.

08/16/2026

❗𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮, 𝗪𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀❗
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮?
We’re looking for YOUR input to help guide future opportunities that give local youth and families 𝗳𝘂𝗻, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
The survey is quick, confidential, and there are no wrong answers. Have a specific idea? We want to hear that too! Sometimes the best ideas are the ones we never thought to put on the list.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey AND share it! The more people we hear from, the better picture we’ll have of what our community actually wants.
Parents, grandparents, teens, community members... everyone is encouraged to participate!

https://forms.gle/quSNwA9Fy9TUiYHt8

PLEASE HELP US BY ANSWERING A FEW QUESTIONS. Your feedback will help guide future programs, activities, and events that give local youth and families fun, healthy, and substance-free ways to connect and get involved. (This is a confidential survey unless you choose to provide your information at the...

08/15/2026