Prevention Specialist

My name is Cathy Rager, I am married and have raised four children. I’ve lived in the village of Downers Grove for over 24 years. I’ve been a prevention specialist with the Township of Downers Grove for the past 4 1/2 years and have a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science. Previous to my work at the Township, I was in the retail grocery industry for over 25 years and a manager for fourteen. I am also a coordinator for the Township Peer Jury Program as a volunteer.

As a prevention specialist, I work under a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services providing prevention information about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) to Burr Ridge Middle School (BRMS) and the local community. I teach a model program called Too Good for Drugs to the 6th and 7th grade students at BRMS. The curriculum allows for lecture, activities and discussion. At the conclusion of the program we do a related presentation either during the school day or in the evening in order to involve students’ parents. I am currently developing a small leadership group of 7th & 8th graders to do peer mediation for conflict resolution at the school as well.

I am a technical advisor (TA) for a coalition called Willowbrook Corner Initiative, which serves Hinsdale Lake Terrace, Hinsdale Point, Echo Lane and Waterfall Glen. In order to better collect and maintain data, share information and efficiently plan programs and events, we have created an executive committee within the past year and are making tremendous strides to give our coalition a “face.” As a TA, I interact with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Police, property management and a multitude of other agencies that are gathered together for the purpose of collaboration of services to help this underserved community. We have recently added new members and are in the process of creating a brochure about our coalition that includes a service matrix and coalition history. We will be creating a new survey this spring to be administered in May and June 2008. This survey will help us better understand how best to meet the needs of this constantly changing area.

I am also a support for a local community resident group called Community Pride. In coordination with this activity, I partnered with the YMCA to provide a Summer Basketball Camp in 2007 for boys and with a local resident to do a summer Step Group for girls. We also do a yearly Summer Fest that involves the whole community and all the agencies in the coalition.

I am actively involved in a Social Marketing campaign aimed at adults/parents in this same community to better inform them of the dangers of marijuana. The campaign is called “The Truth about Marijuana…the Not so Harmless Drug” Community Pride-Helping our Kids Succeed. I have put articles in the school & community newsletter, participated in school events and created posters for the school and community. We arrived at this theme based on data from the 2004/2005 Illinois Youth Survey, additional local data and surveys addressing residents’ concerns. I will be providing additional related articles and information for this website. I enjoy interacting with the communities, schools and agencies in our Township.

Email: cathy.rager@dgtownship.com
Phone: (630) 719-6686

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