Suburban times weekly 032818 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

Citizen Week of March 28, 2018

| Vol. 1 | No. 33 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

DISABLED VETERAN WENT FROM WRITING HER OWN OBITUARY TO TRAINING FOR PARALYMPICS

At first glance, disabled military veteran, Babette Peyton is a typical resident of St. Leo Residence for Veterans in Auburn Gresham. However, once she shoots her bow and arrow using only her good arm and her teeth, it is undeniable that she is far beyond typical. See more on Page 3

Travel: Hotels.com Reveals U.S. Travelers Spent Their Money On Experiences Abroad - Page 2 Politiscope: MS-13 is a Street Gang, not a Drug Cartel – and the Difference Matters - Page 3 |

advertising@thechicagocitizen.com thechicagocitizen@thechicagocitiz www.facebook.com/durrell.garth.9 www.thechicagocitizen.com

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

ART SCENE

Rock Legends To Perform At The 2018 Illinois State Fair SPRINGFIELD, IL – This August, Ag

Director Raymond Poe and State Fair Manager Luke Sailer are proud to welcome rock legends Foreigner and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand stage on Sunday, August 12 at 2018 Illinois State Fair. Foreigner is among the top 40 bestselling music artists of all time, according to Business Insider magazine. The group is universally known as one of the most popular acts in the rock world with a playlist that continues to sell out tours and albums. While the band has been around for more than 40 years, a younger generation is exposed to the band’s music through popular films and television shows such as, “Rock of Ages,” “Orange Is The New Black,” “Kung Fu Panda 3,” and “Stranger Things.” Foreigner is best known for anthems such as, “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like the First

Time,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” Joan Jett is an originator, an innovator, and a visionary. As the leader of the hard- rocking Blackhearts, with whom she has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she’s had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” Her independent record label, Blackheart, was founded in 1980 after she was rejected by no less than 23 labels. Blackheart is one of the longest running indie labels and continues to give voice to new bands. As a producer, she has overseen albums by Bikini Kill, Circus Lupus, as well as the Germs’ LA punk masterpiece, GI. Jett’s music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. Jett and the Blackhearts released their latest record, ‘Unvarnished,’ in 2013

and continue touring the globe with headline shows alongside fellow rock icons like The Who, Green Day and the Foo Fighters. Additionally, Jett has acted and appeared in movies & television, including the film Light Of Day. Jett was also able to see her story told in The Runaways, the film based on (lead singer of The Runaways) Cherie Currie’s book Neon Angel, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett, and Dakota Fanning as Currie. Jett was close to the project, serving as executive producer. In January, the documentary film based on Jett’s life, “Bad Reputation,” – produced by Blackheart’s SVP Carianne Brinkman and directed by Kevin Kerslake – premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, with the New York Post hailing that “‘Bad Reputation’ does it right, tracing Jett’s trailblazing path as one of the first, and still the hardest-rocking, women.”

TICKET PRICES have been announced for the already announced 2018 Grandstand concerts. An on-sale date has not yet been announced. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11: Halestorm & Mastodon Tier 3 - $28 / Tier 2 - $33 / Tier 1 - $38 / Track $38 / VIP - $48 SUNDAY, AUGUST 12: Foreigner with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Tier 3 - $25 / Tier 2 - $30 / Tier 1 - $35 / Track $35 / VIP - $45 SATURDAY, AUGUST 18: Brett Eldredge Tier 3 - $29 / Tier 2 - $34 / Tier 1 - $39 / Track $39 / VIP - $49 SUNDAY, AUGUST 19: Brantley Gilbert Tier 3 - $35 / Tier 2 - $40 / Tier 1 - $45 / Track $45 / VIP - $55

TRAVEL

Hotel Price Index From Hotels.com Reveals U.S. Travelers Spent Their Money On Experiences Abroad

fter three years, prices travelers paid for overnight accommodations rose 2% globally in 2017, according to the latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). In a year where cryptocurrencies flooded the market, hashtags took over the red carpet and political debate turned well, political, the needle has also moved for travelers, with a twopoint rise in the global Index to 116, the closest it has been to the 2007 peak of 118. “The slight increase in average accommodation prices globally, combined with numerous markets having record visitor growth, has signaled a strong travel economy and a growing desire from consumers to experience the world,” said Johan Svanstrom, president of Hotels.com. “Cultural events have inspired travel more than ever before as we aspire not to just stand by and observe the action, but to instead actually be a part of it. “ In the U.S., more citizens have a passport than ever before, and as a result they are looking to get out and experience the world, despite an increase in prices paid* for hotel stays. A few of the study’s key findings: • Las Vegas was the most popular destination for U.S. domestic travel

as visitors continued to flock to Sin City for leisure and conventions • New York City was the second most popular U.S. domestic location despite relatively high average prices paid • Next on the list of “Most Popular Domestic Destinations for American Travelers” include Orlando (ranked 3rd), San Diego (ranked 4th) and Chicago (ranked 5th) • The largest average price drops for overnight stays for international visitors were in Chicago, Honolulu and Philadelphia, all decreasing by 4% since 2016 • London was the most popular international spot for U.S. travelers, followed by Paris, Toronto, Tokyo and Rome • Thailand was the most popular country in Asia for U.S. travelers • Americans found the largest average price increase in Lisbon at 13% and the largest average price drop in Dubai with a decrease of 6% SUNSHINE SOUTH OF THE BORDER – MEXICO There is no doubt that travelers are looking to relax and enjoy the sunshine while on vacation. Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Mexico City were the top destinations in Mexico for U.S. travelers. Among the cities

analyzed, Americans traveling to Mexico paid the most for rooms in Playa Del Carmen– which had an average price of $247 per night – an increase of 2% from 2016. Americans Flocked Across the Pond  With more than 40% of Americans traveling overseas in 2017, Europe topped the charts for the most desirable outbound region and London was first on the list of international destinations. Despite the high prices, the capital’s long-standing appeal as a bucketlist city got some help from the pound – which has brought average accommodation prices down by 2% since 2016. Travelers had fiestas in Spain, which became the 2nd most visited country in the world, and 6th for U.S. travelers in 2017 with an average of $163 per night. Americans looking to explore without breaking the bank found the best value in Istanbul, paying on average of $92 per night. Stretching the Budget in Asia  U.S. travelers found themselves paying more for their overnight accommodations in 70% of their Top 50 international destinations, but not in Asia. The HPI reported that Chiang Mai (ranked 49th), Ho Chi Minh City (ranked 34th) and Bangkok (ranked www.thechicagocitizen.com

Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®) Snapshot

5th) had the lowest international average prices paid per night - all averaging below $100 per night. Thailand was the most popular country in the region for U.S. travelers, welcoming 35 million visitors in 2017. In addition to the great value destinations and hidden gems found in the HPI, travelers that haven’t yet padded their wallets with cryptocurrency can take

advantage of programs like Hotels. com™ Rewards, which lets you earn free** nights while you sleep and gain access to instant savings like Secret Prices***. Secret Prices are lower rates that aren’t available to everyone and offer up to 50% off thousands of properties in popular destinations every day. With Hotels.com Rewards, you earn a free night for every 10 booked. It›s that simple.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

COMMUNITY

Disabled Veteran Went From Writing Her Own Obituary To Training For Paralympics Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

t first glance, disabled military veteran, Babette Peyton is a typical resident of St. Leo Residence for Veterans in Auburn Gresham. However, once she shoots her bow and arrow using only her good arm and her teeth, it is undeniable that she is far beyond typical. Growing up in the projects of Hyde Park and Chatham, Peyton watched many of her family members enlist in the military. Eventually, she followed their examples and joined the military herself. “I went into the military and I got a training injury that progressively left me paralyzed a couple of times and then this final time was the last time and for about ten years, I’ve been in a wheelchair and I’m paralyzed on my left side and unable to walk. I had to start my life all over again,” said Peyton. After leaving the military Peyton went to live in a nursing home where she was told that she would never be able to leave and that they were going to send her to hospice care. She knew that hospice was where people went to die so she wrote her own obituary and waited. “After my progressive injury

left me paralyzed I was living in a nursing home and I had lost everything. My mom had died, my dad, my older brother, and my younger brother had all passed so I didn’t have nobody to advocate for me and they told me I would never be able to leave the nursing home because I couldn’t take care of myself, and I couldn’t really,” said Peyton. She was feeling defeated until someone from the military suggested that Peyton travel with them to a Paralympic Military Sports Camp. She saw it as an opportunity to leave the nursing home and accepted the offer. This decision changed the direction of her life. “I went up there and I had to agree to participate in all the activities. One of the events was archery because I only had one arm, the other one wasn’t working. There was a Paralympian that was there and pulled out this piece of leather and started sewing it and told me that I was going to pull it with my teeth. I didn’t imagine I could do that, but he made me do it,” said Peyton. Peyton held the bow in her right hand and pulled back on the leather strap with her teeth for the first time. Bullseye. Bullseye. “When I found out that my first two shots were bullseyes I was

Babette Peyton has already won 105 medals over the last five and a half years and has competed across the country and began to travel the world. Peyton is actively training to compete for a spot at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

extremely excited. I thought, I guess if I shot the bullseye then I’m not dying,” said Peyton. She is indeed not dying, Peyton is actively training to compete

for a spot at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Peyton has already won 105 medals over the last five and a half years and has competed across the

country and began to travel the world. She has a long road to go before Tokyo, but she said God has already shown her what she can do with so little.

POLITISCOPE

MS-13 is a street gang, not a drug cartel – and the difference matters

BY STEVEN S. DUDLEY

n October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that pursuing the Mara Salvatrucha, a Salvadoran gang also known

as MS-13, was “a priority for our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.” “Drugs are killing more Americans than ever before, in large part thanks to powerful cartels and international gangs and deadly new synthetic opioids like fentanyl,” Sessions told the International Association of Chiefs of Police on Oct. 23. He concluded that “perhaps the most brutal of these gangs is MS-13.” President Donald Trump also cites MS-13 to justify his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration from Latin America. In his 2018 State of the Union address, Trump threatened

to “destroy” the group, which is responsible for a spate of brutal, high-profile murders in Boston, Long Island, Virginia and beyond. There’s a problem here – and it’s not just MS-13’s violent ethos. It’s that the Trump administration is getting this gang all wrong. I spent three years at American University’s Center for Latin American and Latino Studies chronicling the MS-13’s criminal exploits for the National Institute of Justice. Our study proves that MS-13 is neither a drug cartel nor was it born of illegal immigration. That misconception is fueling www.thechicagocitizen.com

failed U.S. policies that, in my assessment, will do little to deter MS-13. MS-13 IS NO YAKUZA The Trump administration is not the first administration to mischaracterize MS-13, which conducts vicious but rudimentary criminal activities like extortion, armed robbery and murder across Central America, Mexico and the U.S. In 2012, the Obama-era Treasury Department put the group on a organized crime “kingpin” list with the Italian mafia Camorra, the Mexican criminal group the Zetas and the Japanese mob known as the

Yakuza. That designation gave the group a rarefied status in the underworld, which must have pleased its leadership. But our research found that MS-13 is hardly a lucrative network of criminal masterminds. Instead, it is a loose coalition of young, often formerly incarcerated men operating hand to mouth across a vast geographic territory. MS-13 was born in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, when scores of Salvadorans, many of them fleeing the country’s civil war, arrived to California. Like other Continued on page 4

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FOOD

Frustrated Seniors Are Often Served Meals They Dislike Or Can’t Tolerate

nyone who has aging parents knows how frustrating it can be to get them to eat -- never mind eat well. Experts say that the reason for this “fickleness,” is lack of control over their food choices as they begin to lose their independence. In addition, as we age, our stomachs often become more sensitive to different types of food, such as onions, peppers, tomato sauce, dairy, and hot spices. For these reasons, many seniors end up feeling hungry or deprived because they are stuck eating meals without choosing foods they crave. Most seniors would much prefer to pick their own meals rather than having them dictated to or chosen for them. They want the flexibility to pick their entree of choice with the starch and vegetables they prefer, instead of being

forced to eat items they dislike. Also, for good reason, they want the flexibility to eliminate items from their meals that they cannot tolerate or are allergic to. If these choices aren’t available, then it’s a good bet that you or your senior parents are frustrated with the food choices, and parents end up not eating or at the very least not eating well, which can affect both temperament and health. To that point, eating well is vital for everyone at all ages. Daily food choices affect how you look and feel, and give you the nutrients needed to keep your muscles, bones, and organs healthy. Good food choices also help keep up your energy levels. If, like many adult children, you aren’t close enough to cook a few meals for your aging family member or they’re finding it harder to cook the meals they like themselves,

you’re relegated to ordering in, which is both unhealthy and expensive. You can solve this problem by turning to a service such as TopChefMeals.com which meets the needs of elderly parents and relatives. Unlike other services, all their meals are chef-prepared to order, and thus can be customized for diabetic, high protein, low carb, Paleo and other therapeutic needs. TopChefMeals.com is also a great option for single adults, empty nesters and people who are too busy to cook, but want healthy, familiar meals, in which they can choose every component, at an affordable price. Top Chef Meals are cooked to order and flash-frozen fresh. They are then delivered to customers in 1-3 days, depending on location, and are kept safe during

Many suffer or feel hungry or deprived because they are stuck eating meals without the choice of foods they crave.

transportation with dry ice. Any meal, once defrosted, needs to be baked for approximately 20 minutes. You can even use a microwave if you want to cheat. Most customers order bi-weekly because of lack of freezer space, even though meals can last up to four months frozen. The average meal is $7.50, much cheaper than even trying to cook at home. In addition, the company offers a 15 percent discount for everyone over 60, or those who are disabled or homebound. Top Chef Meals is the solution for seniors and for boomers with older parents who can’t regularly cook for

themselves or get to a grocery store. Orders can be placed online, via email or over the phone, making it convenient for your parents, or for you, no matter where you’re located. All of the meals are handmade, home-style dishes, prepared one plate at a time with both care and safety. Have questions? Helpful service is available at 800-616-8044 or go to www.topchefmeals.com to see the enormous selection. By Stephen Zadrick, an associate member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association.

POLITISCOPE Continued from page 3 Latino immigrant groups, the new arrivals formed a youth gang of the sort proliferating in L.A. at the time. Then as now, MS-13 acted as a surrogate family for its members, though not a benign one. MS-13 created a collective identity that was constructed and reinforced by shared experiences, particularly expressions of violence and social control. It has since spread to at least a halfdozen countries on two continents and has become a prime source of destabilizing violence, particularly extortion, in Central American countries like El Salvador and Honduras. INEPT AT DRUG DEALING What MS-13 has not done is establish any real foothold in the international drug trafficking market. It’s not for lack of trying. Our study found that MS-13 leaders have made several attempts to get into the business of running illicit drugs. In the early 2000s, one MS-13 boss named Nelson Comandari tried to use the gang’s national criminal infrastructure to establish a drug distribution network. Comandari was well positioned to do it. He was powerful in L.A., had underworld family connections from El Salvador to Colombia and enjoyed

strong ties to the feared Mexican Mafia, a U.S.-based prison gang with connections to Mexican cartels. Yet within a few years Comandari was frustrated. MS-13 members turned out to be inept at drug smuggling and resistant to the whole idea. Our research found that the gang frowns upon those who put their personal business above the collective’s. Comandari eventually went into the drug business on his own and was captured along the Texas-Mexico border in 2006. A few years later, one of Comandari’s former lieutenants also tried to establish an international distribution pipeline between MS-13 and the Mexican drug cartel La Familia. The deal was thwarted by U.S. law enforcement in 2013. Subsequent efforts have gotten nipped even sooner. In 2015, a midlevel MS-13 leader named Larry Naverete – spelled Navarrete in some federal documents – began smuggling small loads of methamphetamine into the U.S. via an MS-13 member operating from Tijuana. Within two years, police on each side of the border had captured Navarete, who was operating from the California State Prison System, and his Mexican partner. WHY MS-13 FAILS AT DRUG TRAFFICKING One reason MS-13 has failed so roundly

at becoming a drug cartel is that it is more of a social club than a lucrative criminal enterprise. Its members benefit from the camaraderie and support that comes with membership – not the heaping monetary rewards that never arrive. Entrepreneurs who hope to leverage its network for their personal financial gain see the same strong resistance that scuttled Comandari’s plans. Perhaps more critically, MS-13 is a decentralized organization with no clear hierarchy. The gang is broken into local cells called “cliques” – or “clicas” in Spanish – that are more loyal to each other than to the various leadership councils that operate around Central America and the U.S. Put simply, it has no leader. So what looks on paper like a tremendous built-in infrastructure for moving illicit products across borders is actually a disparate, federalized organization of substructures with highly local, even competing, interests. Finally, MS-13 is mostly about immediate gratification. It helps members eke out a living and get some perilous criminal thrills. That’s why extortion is a staple. Complex supply chains? Not so much. FAILED US POLICIES These findings suggest that the U.S. could fight MS-13 by better protecting the vulnerable young Latino kids who become

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its recruits – funding social and educational programs in immigrant neighborhoods, for example, or financing more early child intervention programs. Instead, the Trump administration has used MS-13 as a foil to push its political agenda. To justify imposing draconian immigration restrictions, Trump and Sessions link MS-13’s crimes to the issue of illegal immigration. Their rhetoric suggests that the group is staffed with undocumented migrants, thus proving that migrants are dangerous. In fact, statistics confirm that immigrants commit crimes at far lower rates than nativeborn U.S. citizens. Conflating the gang with the sophisticated cartels currently waging a bloody war in Mexico likewise serves the administration’s goal of tightening border controls. It makes MS-13 seem like a foreign invader, not a homegrown threat. I suspect this rhetoric may also help Trump make the case that the U.S. should impose longer jail sentences for drug trafficking-related crimes. What harsh law enforcement tactics aimed at ending immigration and breaking up drug cartels won’t do is address the real problems posed by MS-13 and other very violent, very American street gangs. Steven S. Dudley is a Senior Fellow at Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

NEWS

Upcoming Manufacturing Hiring Event In South Suburbs BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

he Mayor of Dolton, Riley H. Rogers, is hosting the third annual Manufacturing Hiring Event on April 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Dorchester, 1515 E. 154th Street in Dolton. Aside from offering residents with the opportunity to connect with manufacturing jobs, several community organizations will be on hand to provide a variety of resources. “What I’ve observed is that there are many manufacturing jobs available and many companies seeking workers, unfortunately, in many cases, the general public is unaware of these available opportunities and that is the reason this is so important to me,” said Rogers. This hiring event is targeted towards CDL drivers, maintenance mechanics, machine operators, forklift drivers, and welders looking for employment. According to the Village of Dolton, there are over 300 jobs available in this field, it is just a matter of finding them.

The Village of Dolton and Mayor Rogers are working closely with companies and community organizations throughout Chicago, according to information provided by the Village of Dolton. They are working with the Senior Community Service Employment Program and several universities that provide manufacturing job training like, South Suburban College, Governors State University, Olive-Harvey College, and Chicago State University. These partnerships are important and help guarantee that not only do participants receive jobs that utilize their skill sets, but also that the manufacturing companies involved are connected with qualified applicants. “We want to do our part to connect these manufacturing companies with qualified individuals who have the desire to be gainfully employed,” Said Rogers. Several companies will be present and conducting interviews at the hiring event. Interested applicants should arrive with copies of their resume and be prepared to

Photo: Edward Steave/Village of Dolton

The Mayor of Dolton, Riley Rogers, will host his third annual manufacturing hiring event on April 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Dorchester, 1515 E. 154th Street in Dolton.

interview on the spot. Mayor Rogers is very familiar with the manufacturing world outside of hosting this yearly hiring event. Prior to being elected Mayor of Dolton in 2013, he was the CEO of Rogers Transport, a regional trucking and transportation company, according

to his biography provided by the Village of Dolton. The Housing Authority of Cook County, Chicago Urban League, Aunt Martha’s Youth Organization and the Go Group will be present at the event to answer questions and connect residents with their

services. Aunt Martha’s Youth Organization is a coordinator of health care services and social services. The Go Group offers job training for youth with criminal backgrounds and assists them with job placement, according to the Village of Dolton. The Housing Authority of Cook County operates to provide adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity, and a suitable living environment free from discrimination throughout suburban Cook County, according to their website. The Chicago Urban League has been creating opportunities for African Americans for nearly a century through advocacy, collaboration and innovation, according to their website. This means that Dolton residents who might not be interested in manufacturing jobs can still find useful information at this free community event. For more information about the event and other opportunities in Dolton visit www.vodolton.org.

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Call 800.209.BANK (2265), visit a local branch, or go to usbank.com/dreambig *2.99% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Home Equity Lines of Credit with an 80% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. The Introductory Interest Rate will be fixed at 2.99% during the 6-month Introductory Period. A higher introductory rate will apply for an LTV above 80%. Offer is available for new applications submitted from March 3 – May 4, 2018. After the 6-month introductory period: the APR is variable and is based upon an index plus a margin. The APR will vary with Prime Rate (the index) as published in the Wall Street Journal. As of March 22, 2018, the variable rate for Home Equity Lines of Credit ranged from 4.25% APR to 8.25% APR. Higher rates may apply due to an increase in the Prime Rate, a credit limit below $100,000, an LTV above 70%, and/or a credit score less than 730. A U.S. Bank Consumer Silver, Gold, or Platinum Checking Package account is required to receive the lowest rate, but is not required for loan approval. The rate will not vary above 18% APR, or applicable state law, or below 3.25% APR. Choosing an interest-only repayment may cause your monthly payment to increase, possibly substantially, once your credit line transitions into the repayment period. Repayment options may vary based on credit qualifications. Interest only repayment may be unavailable. Loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Credit Line may be reduced or additional extensions of credit limited if certain circumstances occur. Property insurance is required. U.S. Bank and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Your tax and financial situation is unique. You should consult your tax and/or legal advisor for advice and information concerning your particular situation. Other restrictions may apply. Mortgage and Home Equity products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit Products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. Customer pays no closing costs. Initial escrow related funding costs may apply. An annual fee of up to $90 may apply after the first year and is waived with a U.S. Bank Consumer Platinum Checking Package. The Consumer Pricing Information brochure lists fees, terms, and conditions that apply to U.S. Bank Consumer Checking Package accounts and can be obtained by visiting a branch or calling 800.872.2657. ©2018 U.S. Bank. 180421c 3/18 “World’s Most Ethical Companies” and “Ethisphere” names and marks are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC.

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

NEWS

Free online training helps recognize the warning signs and risk factors that may contribute to youth suicide BY LISETTE GUSHINIERE

uicide is a serious public health problem that affects many young people and is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24, resulting in approximately 4,600 lives lost each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide statistics in Illinois are just as shocking. The latest statistics from the CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) shows that in Illinois, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-14, is the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 12-18 (middle and high school ages) and is the 3rd leading cause of death for college-age youth ages 18-22. Every 1.98 days on an average, a young person (ages 10-24), is lost to the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide. Four out of five people who complete a suicide gave “clear warning” signs prior to the attempt says, Evelyn Hill, senior divisional director of The Jason Foundation Inc. (JFI.) Born from a disastrous event, JFI was launched on October 1, 1997 from a back room in an insurance office on a small kitchen table after Jason Flatt, the youngest son of JFI’s President, tragically died by suicide on July 16, 1997. Since then, JFI has become a nationally recognized leader in youth suicide prevention and awareness. Today, the foundation offers a variety of programs and materials to the public at no cost. With 113 affiliate offices located in 32 states, JFI serves the entire nation and offers help in several foreign countries. “Jason was your typical All-American 16-year-old,” said Brett Marciel, director of business development and public relations at JFI. “He was an athlete, solid B student, active in his church group, had a lot of friends, and had no alcohol or drug problems. As we often describe young people, Jason seemed to ‘have everything to live for.’ However, the decision he made on July 16, 1997, changed the lives of his family and friends forever,” Marciel explained. To help train and educate others

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED, TO THE FOLLOWING:

THERE ARE CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT CAN ELEVATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUICIDAL IDEATION:

• Talking about suicide

• Perfectionist personalities

• Making statements about feeling

• LGBT youth

hopeless, helpless or worthless

• Learning disabled youth

• A deepening depression

• Loners

• Preoccupation with death

• Youth with low self- esteem

• Taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting

• Depressed youth

self-destructive behavior

• Students in serious trouble

• Out of character behavior

• Abused, Molested or Neglected Youth

• A loss of interest in the things one cares about • Visiting or calling people one cares about • Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order

Free online training helps recognize the warning signs and risk factors that may contribute to youth suicide

• Giving prized possessions away

about suicide prevention, JFI offers an online staff development (in-service) training program designed specifically for educators, but would be useful for anyone who regularly comes into contact with youth. The training program is also free. Marciel said, “The Jason Foundation Professional Development Series currently offers several staff development modules. Some of the modules are available on DVD, but all are available online, he said. “The topics of the modules range from a broad overview to more specific information regarding awareness and prevention of youth suicide.” The following is a list of modules that are currently on JFI’s Online Library. 1-HOUR MODULES: • Bullying and Suicide • Non-Suicidal Self-Injury • Childhood and Teen Depression for

Educators • Suicide Postvention: The Critical Role of Educators • Supporting LGBT Students in Schools: •Suicide Prevention Among LGBT Youth 2-HOUR MODULES: • Youth Suicide: “A Silent Epidemic” • Mental Health Issues Surrounding Suicidal Ideation • Prevention is the Key • The History of Suicide Prevention Besides its many outreach efforts, Marciel said the Jason Flatt Act is perhaps the biggest driving force behind the utilization of its Professional Development Series. “The Jason Flatt Act is legislation that we have passed in 19 states,” Marciel said. “It requires educators (and sometimes other school personnel) to complete

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youth suicide awareness and prevention training as part of their in-service licensure,” he added. “Our National Network of Affiliate Offices and Ambassador programs constitute one of the largest youth suicide prevention efforts in the country,” Marciel explained. “Working with the nation’s leading health and behavioral health providers throughout the nation, enables JFI to reach a wide demographic of the public while offering a clinical backup for its materials,” he stated. Recognizing the warning signs of youth suicide and acting on them may be key to saving a young person’s life. “If we are educated about these warning signs and know how to respond, we have an opportunity to recognize those young people who may be having suicidal thoughts and intervene before an attempt is made,” said Hill. For more information, visit www. jasonfoundation.com.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

NEWS

Dolton 149 to Swap Landline Phone Service for Internet, Saving $200,000 Annually CALUMET CITY, IL – South

Photo: Vivian D Nguyen

The American Dental Association recently launched the Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights. The program trains dental workers on how to connect with their community through case management and educational services which leads to a better dental experience for children and adults.

Local Dental Hygiene Students Learn To Connect With Community BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

he American Dental Association recently launched the Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights. The program trains dental workers on how to connect with their community through case management and educational services which leads to a better dental experience for children and adults. “The program essentially is a blend of the community health worker skill set with dental profession knowledge,” said Dr. Jane Grover, Director of the Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention, American Dental Association. “The opportunity is to have this skill set taught to dental professionals who know all of the dental world, the terminology, and the dental appointment protocols, but have less experience with the community health worker skill set.” The CDHC curriculum will be folded into the current dental hygiene program at Prairie State College. Students will participate in the standard coursework and complete their community rotations

as they always have, but now they will also have additional training in community mapping, in-depth motivational interviewing, cultural competence, and case management, according to Grover. “Case management is a science that is well accepted and established in the medical world, less so in the dental world until now,” said Grover. “The folks that have gone through this program already, if they are from a community health center they have seen their broken appointment rates decrease, they have seen an increase in intercollaborative care and interprofessional care.” The community health worker skill set has been shown to be effective in many different settings and patients who work with CDHC’s are more likely to be prevention oriented and compliant with home care, according to Grover. Prairie State College has already graduated 29 students as registered dental hygienists with CDHC certification, according to Grover. “Prairie State College is kind of a beacon to some of the other local education institutions because they have a dental hygiene program and they have a remarkable dental

hygiene faculty. They chose to adopt this curriculum because Dolores Ickis, who is the director of the CDHC program at Prairie State College, instantly recognized the opportunity this would give their students,” said Grover. The CDHC certification is a way for Prairie State College and it’s dental hygiene students to be distinguished from other institutions and registered dental hygienists who are competing for employment, according to Grover. There are18 schools in total across the country that have added the CDHC certification to the dental hygiene curriculum, according to Grover. She said there are 134 graduates already with another 220 in the educational pipeline through the United States. “There are students and dental professionals that are wired to want to do something in the community. They want to have some greater involvement in the community in addition to seeing patients. They want to have a broader possibility for impact and promote oral health in the community,” said Grover. For more information on the Prairie State College dental hygiene program visit www.prairiestate.edu. www.thechicagocitizen.com

suburban Dolton School District 149 has decided to trade its existing landline telephone service for an Internet based system to save approximately $200,000 annually. In a 5-0 vote at its January 25 board meeting, the district’s Board of Education authorized its business manager to start the process of having Dolton 149 convert it’s long-distance telephone service from the traditional Local Area Network (LAN) line system, a cable based infrastructure, to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) model. “By modernizing the district’s long-distance telephone service, which means moving away from a cable-based system to an Internet-based system, Dolton 149 will save approximately $200,000 per year,” said District 149 business manager Cedric Lewis. “That’s money that can go back into the classroom.” Lewis noted that the district will, however, retain a handful of cable-based lines for emergency telephone service. Lewis explained that VoIP technology makes telephone calls the same way as a computer sends and receives data, only there’s no computer involved, just an adapter or VoIP phone provided by the VoIP service provider. “Using the Internet to send and receive long-distance calls, calls beyond a local area network, means a VoIP-based phone system avoids the charges associated with traditional telephone services,” Lewis said. “Calls come through just as they normally would with the only difference is what the district will be paying.” Dolton 149 School Board President Darlene Gray Everett, who championed the new Internet-based telephone system, credited the board’s commitment to “squeezing savings” from administrative operations wherever possible to fund class

rooms. “Squeezing savings with vendors or pursuing efficiencies through new technologies, wherever we can, reflects Dolton 149’s commitment to sound financial management in order invest more resources in our classrooms,” said Gray Everett. “I’m thrilled that the district will save $200,000 each year on our long-distance phone service.” Dolton 149’s new initiative to slash long-distance service follows a 2017 Board of Education initiative that also cut the district’s local telephone service cost by $30,000 annually. Thanks to a service efficiency initiative authorized by district’s

“Calls come through just as they normally would with the only difference is what the district will be paying.” District 149 business manager, Cedric Lewis school board more than a year ago, Dolton 149’s AT&T bill for local telephone service dropped from $48,000 to $18,000 in Fiscal Year 2016 over Fiscal Year 2015, according to Lewis. “By contracting with a telecom expense management firm that conducts communications audits to identify billing errors and to eliminate service inefficiencies, we reduced the district’s local phone service costs by 62.5% in one-year,” said Lewis. “That’s $30,000 saved.” Gray-Everett also noted that the school board approved more than year ago a new photo copying proposal that will save the district $45,000 each year. “We look in every nook-andcranny in our budget to identify potential savings,” said Gray Everett. “With the money that we save, it can be used for educating our students.”

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of March 28, 2018

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