“County to fund new gear, social worker” - The Hinsdalean

As reported by the The Hinsdalean (Pamela Lannom reporting) on June 26, 2025:

About $100,000 worth of financial support from DuPage County will fund two public safety and wellness initiatives in Hinsdale. Village President Greg Hart made the announcement at the June 10 village board meeting, characterizing the effort as “exceptional collaboration.”

A $55,000 grant will fund the purchase of new firefighter turnout gear, and a new pilot program will provide a shared social worker for four local police departments, including Hinsdale.

The grant will allow the Hinsdale Fire Department to immediately purchase new gear (helmet, coat, pants, boots, gloves and other gear designed to protect against extreme heat, flames, hazardous materials and other life-threatening conditions), which otherwise would have been obtained over the next five years. Hart worked with DuPage County Board members Kari Galassi, Lucy Chang Evans, Brian Krajewski and Andrew Honig.

“This funding will allow the village to accelerate the replacement of vital gear worn by our firefighters when responding to emergencies,” he said June 10. “It quite literally will help keep our firefighters alive.”

Replacing worn or outdated gear is vital to ensuring the safety of first responders on every call.

“I think that’s a tremendous win for public safety and reflects the kind of smart cooperation our residents deserve,” Hart said.

Galassi, who represents Hinsdale in District 3, said she ran for her county board seat because of her passion for public safety.

“The ability to bring these dollars to Hinsdale, my hometown, is really very rewarding,” she said.

Her family experienced a house fire when she lived on Grant Street, she said, offering nothing but praise for the fire department.

“It was really amazing and a blessing to my family,” she added.

The village also will benefit from a “first of its kind” regional social worker position, Hart said. Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Darien and Willowbrook are partnering with Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services to provide the service.

DuPage County is funding half the cost of the pilot, with the four communities each contributing 12.5 percent.

“I think this reflects a major expansion of our commitment to addressing mental health, not just in the county, but here at the local level,” Hart said at the meeting. “Under the leadership of our chief, Brian King, this program will help us further integrate social work in policing, providing our officers with trained support in responding to residents in crisis and helping individuals access the care that they need.”

Sabrina Shirley, a licensed social worker, will assist police in responding to calls that involve mental health issues, domestic violence and trauma. She will provide support on scene, offer resources and support to families struggling with alcohol and substance abuse and serve as a conduit to a variety of mental health resources, including DuPage County’s Crisis Recovery Center.

“Officials need trained professionals by their side to navigate these situations with the care they deserve,” Hart told The Hinsdalean. “I’m proud to have helped get this program off the ground and hopeful it can serve as a model for others.”

Police officers are able to refer cases to the social worker, but those referrals and the work done with Shirley will be completely confidential.

“This program provides us with a formalized process to link residents to services and provides comfort in times of crisis,” King said. “In the past, the police department relied on area clergy and the benevolence of The Community House to assist families after sudden deaths in the community. This is just one component of he police social worker’s duties.”

Original story can be found here: https://www.thehinsdalean.com/story/2025/06/26/news/county-to-fund-new-gear-social-worker/9580.html