Welcome to the Adult & Family Counseling and Youth Services Department web page. As with all Elk Grove Township Departments, these two departments are committed to efficiently and professionally meeting targeted needs of Township residents. The Adult & Family Counseling Department provides sliding fee based counseling services to Township youth and their families, while the Youth Services Department offers “life skills” building groups through its Challenge Program.
To inquire about these services, call 847-981-0373 or visit the links below for further information.
Download our printable brochure.
Download our parental permission form.
Adult & Family Counseling Staff
- Clinical Director – Luanne Pross LCSW, CADC
- Karina Balderas – LCSW
- Carmen Martinez – LPC
Youth Services Staff
- Challenge Program Director -Renee Dorn, B.A: Mrs. Dorn has a bachelors Degree in Sociology from Northeastern University. Renee has been on staff since 1989, initially as a course facilitator and now as the Director of the Challenge Program. Renee is married with three children.
The Challenge Program helps children develop social skills and leadership through experiential learning in small groups. We offer groups for ASD children, children who have trouble making friends, for girls (Girls Empowerment), bullying prevention and others. We also offer team building for groups such as boy scouts, girl scouts, sports teams and church groups. Please contact Program Coordinator Renee Dorn (RDorn@ElkGroveTownship.Com) for additional information.
Youth Services Programs Listed Below:
- Summer Programs – 2023
- Boys Expedition Groups
- Bullying Prevention Program in Schools
- Girls Empowerment Group – Winter 2024
- Managing Emotions – Anger Management Groups for Teens
- Middle School Leadership – Winter 2024
- Leadership Development
- Parenting Seminars
- Social Skills Groups – Winter 2024
- Youth Services Program
How to Talk to Your Kids About Alcohol Use (video)
When Mom receives a text from her 10-year-old daughter, Luci, asking to go to a friend’s house for a sleepover, she realizes she needs to talk to her about the dangers of underage drinking. But where does she begin? Listening to Mom’s thoughts, we catch a glimpse of the sometimes difficult and awkward process most parents go through when trying to initiate a conversation about drinking. Mom finally seizes the moment to talk with Luci on the stairs of their home and advises her to say “no thanks, not my thing” if a friend ever offers her alcohol. Although it seems as if Luci is not listening, like most children, she really does hear what Mom is saying. Click here to begin the video “Talk. They hear you.”
The “Discussion Starter” is the newest product for SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” is set on a within a community setting showcasing a variety of situations that parents and caregivers could have a conversation about alcohol, and culminating into and school basketball court where 12- to 13-year old boys are playing a Saturday morning game. The parents (Bill and Diane), arrive after the game is underway, and sit down with other parents in the stands. Each parent is engaged in conversation with other parents, and then engaged in a discussion in the car that leads the parents (Bill and Diane) recognition that they needed to talk with his own son (Tim) and younger daughter (Katie) about alcohol use. Click here to begin the video.