The Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community (WCHC) partners with many other groups and organizations with the goal of reducing the toll of opioid and other drug overdoses in Southern Will County. 

• In 2016, the WCHC spearheaded community fundraising efforts to provide a canine officer for the community.  Thanks to funding from residents and from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Wilmington Police Department Canine Officer Mao began work in early 2017.
• The WCHC works with other organizations funded by the federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program and other local drug-free coalitions to share information and collaborate on projects to reduce opioid and other drug abuse.
• The WCHC recently worked with Free Press Newspapers in a series of stories to educate the community about the opioid overdose epidemic as seen below:
  • Public encouraged to take Narcan training
  • Coalition makes progress, but foresees change
  • New purpose proposed for old police station
  • National Drug Take Back Day
  • Students polled about social norms
  • Coalition hosts heroin forum
  • How we deal with addiction
  • Canine crime fighter sworn in
    
• The coalition participates in the Will County MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership) Collaboration to obtain information and link to resources in other communities.

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