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Free Seminar for Religious Leaders and Organizations  Share
Pastors, church leaders and organizations are encouraged to attend a free seminar on ''A Faith Response to Family Violence'' scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 29, at Eastern Will County Senior Services, 25864 S. Chestnut Street in Monee. It is sponsored by the 12th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council. In conjunction with child abuse awareness month, this seminar will focus on a variety of issues involving: child abuse, domestic violence, senior abuse, senior scams and identity theft. Samantha Mosher, prevention coordinator at the Guardian Angel Family Service Center, will address the staggering number of growing incidents and affects of child abuse. A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds, and while three million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States, experts estimate that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect is three times greater than reported. Rev. Tim Filkins, pastor of Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Frankfort, will speak on ''A Faith Response to Domestic Violence''. He served in the USMC for six years and then as a police officer for 12 years. Pastor Filkins resigned from police work in order to enter full-time ministry. He regularly teaches an eight-hour domestic violence response course to police officers. He also teaches clergy response to domestic violence and has written numerous op-ed pieces on the subject.
Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Pastor Filkins says that ''domestic violence is a problem for the whole family, but it isn't a family problem. The abuser alone is at fault and must be dealt with.'' Herb Brooks Jr., pastor of St. John M. B. Church in Joliet, will address ''A Faith Response to Elder Abuse.'' Pastor Brooks has served on numerous committees including the Senior Service Center and Senior TRIAD, Silver Cross Hospital's Healthy Community Commission, Illinois Health Care Authority Coalition, Joliet Herald News Editorial Board and as an organizer of the Building Bridges Project in Joliet. He is president of JECA, president of Rainbow PUSH, board member of NAACP, and he serves as an elected official for the Board of Inspectors of School District 86. More than half a million reports of abuse against elderly Americans reach authorities every year, and millions more cases go unreported. ''Every year, tens of thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes and we need to break the silence now,'' said Pastor Brooks. Detective Pete Piazza and Crime Prevention Director Jenn Cain, both from Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's Office, will address the ever-growing problem of scams and identity thefts that affect senior citizens. State's Attorney Glasgow, who also will be a featured speaker at the seminar, established a Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit in 2008 to untangle complex cases of financial exploitation and identity theft. In many of those cases, senior citizens fall victim to scammers and unscrupulous financial planners. ''I formed the Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit to crack down on swindlers who take advantage of trusting senior citizens,'' State's Attorney Glasgow said. ''But the best way to fight con artists is through education and prevention. Pete Piazza, who heads my investigations unit, and Jenn Cain, who is my office's crime prevention director, provide senior citizens with the tools they need to keep their savings secure.'' ''We held a similar seminar in Joliet last year and had a request to do the seminar in south-east Will County, so this is it'' said Tony Ray, coordinator of the 12th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council. ''This is a wonderful opportunity for pastors, church leaders and organizations to obtain valuable information and resources about these important issues facing society today,'' said Ray. For more information and to RSVP for the seminar, call: (815) 774-4587. Russell Publications prints several community newspapers each week, serving Will, Kankakee, and Cook counties.
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