Illinois First Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William J. Thurston, Access to Justice Improvement Grant, Williamson County Presiding Judge Stephen R. Green, and Centerstone, will host “A Trauma-Informed Courts and Community Symposium: Creating a Culture of Belonging” featuring Gaelin Elmore as the keynote speaker on Thursday, March 21 from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, 800 Tower Square Plaza, Marion, IL.

To register for the symposium, click here. To download the event flier, click here. To download the symposium agenda, click here.

This free event plans to offer various continuing education credits, including:

• Attorney continuing legal education (CLE): 6 hours approved
• Teacher continuing professional development unit – 6 hours provided by the Illinois Regional Office of Education #21
• Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals continuing education units (CEU) – provided by Cairo Women’s Shelter
• Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Illinois Nursing Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Nurse CEUs – 5.5 hours of continuing education approved under IDFPR Professional Counselor CE License No. 197.000263 and IDFPR Nurse CE Sponsor License No. 236.000184
• Counselor II, Preventionist II, CARS II, Co-occurring Disorder Professional (CODP) I or II, Certified Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor (PCGC) II, Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) II, Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) I or II, Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (CPRS) I or II, Medication Assisted Addiction Treatment Professional (MAATP) II, Certified Family Partnership Professional (CFPP) II, Veterans Support Specialist (CVSS) II CEUs – 5.5 hours of continuing education approved by the Illinois Certification Board, program number 20019.

The following continuing education opportunities have been applied for:

• Law enforcement Mobile Team Units (MTU)
• Committee on Judicial Education (COJE)
• Committee on Probation Education (COPE)
• Trial Court Administrators/Administrative Assistants (TCA/AA)

For more information, call Brenda Sprague, Office of the First Judicial Circuit Chief Judge, at (618) 997-1234.

This symposium is a part of “The Belonging Need” training series, which includes:

• “The Belonging Need: Part 1” – January 24 from 9-11 a.m. CT via Zoom
• “The Belonging Need: Part 2” – February 21 from 9-11 a.m. CT via Zoom
• In-person “A Trauma-Informed Courts and Community Symposium: Creating a Culture of Belonging” – March 21 from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center featuring Gaelin Elmore as the keynote speaker presented by Illinois First Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William J. Thurston, Access to Justice Improvement Grant, Williamson County Presiding Judge Stephen R. Green, and Centerstone
• “The Belonging Need and Deficit for Youth Navigating Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)” – March 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. CT via Zoom