Maribeth Stein Director of Older Adult Services and Advocacy Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky visits with Jack Macholl to share information on Medicare Part D on episode 43 of the New Trier Township Podcast.

Her presentation deck is available at the New Trier Township website.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and we visit with the Reverend, Doctor Scott Mitchell of SamaraCare, an Illinois-based 501c3 mental health service provider and township grantee. Doctor Mitchell shares his thoughts on building public awareness about mental illness to reduce the negative stigma regarding seeking treatment. Hear this leading expert’s view on the impacts of COVID-19 on everyone’s mental health and what it will be like to reacclimate to the workplace as the pandemic declines. To learn more about SamaraCare visit www.samaracarecounseling.org

Christine Somervill Executive Director of Programs at theNational Alliance on Mental Illness of NorthSuburban Cook County (NAMI) joins Jack Macholl to discuss their advocacy work supporting people facing mental illness. Christine shares insights on their programs, including community education, support groups, classes for parents and community organizations that want to learn more about mental illness.

Township grants, foundations and donors make this important work possible free of charge.

For more information visit https://namiccns.org

The first call one makes for help takes courage, these words from Maureen McDonnell Executive Director of Peer Services, an Evanston Illinois based community substance abuse and prevention treatment services organization are heard in her interview with Jack Macholl on episode 40 of the New Trier Township Podcast. They discuss the global pandemic of 2020/21 and how this situation is impacting adolescents and young adults trying to cope with the problems created by substance abuse.

If you know someone in need of help, or wish to support their mission of education, prevention and treatment, visit PeerServices.org  

The pandemic of 2020 has added financial hardship to many families in New Trier Township. Some are now faced with a "heat or eat" decision. Melissa Versch of the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield Illinois speaks with Jack Macholl about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The Senior Center works with CEDA to help people from all over Cook County Illinois who need utility bill payment assistance. Please visit www.cedaorg.net/Pre-App  to complete an online application.

Residents of New Trier Township who are facing economic difficulty are encouraged to phone Jeanne Winsted Rosser, Township Social Worker at (847) 446-8201. Emergency financial assistance, food pantry service and access to social services through township grantees are available to income qualified individuals/families.

New Trier Township hosted a Medicare Part D open enrollment forum on October 22, 2020. Maribeth Stein, Outreach Coordinator/Constituent Advocate for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky presented as part of the township’s Educational Forum series.

The presentation deck is available at the township's website:

Medicare Part D 2021 Presentation

The Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 essentially closed down most American businesses by late March. One casualty was the local newspapers along the North Shore area in Illinois. Can dedicated local news "2.0" return with sweat equity and a Kickstarter campaign?

Learn how Joe Coughlin and his colleagues intend to do just that on episode 37 of the New Trier Township Podcast hosted by Jack Macholl.

Life during a pandemic and a reeling global economy is surely enough for all of us to cope with, but eviction or foreclosure added to the mix? How do working people at risk of losing their residence face this paradox and maintain stability? Nareen Kim of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic shares her legal expertise on episode 36 of the New Trier Township Podcast hosted by Jack Macholl.