• Services are provided throughout Kane, DuPage, Grundy, Kendall and Will counties.
• Breaking Free assisted over 15,000 people and families last year.
• We assist all persons in need regardless of their ability to pay.
• Prevention programs and services incorporate evidence-based programs that help children and adolescents make healthy choices and remain drug- and alcohol-free.  Includes: after-school programs, communication campaigns, youth mentoring programs, classroom-based curriculums, Operation Snowball, character education programs, training and technical assistance for parent groups, schools, and community coalitions, and community-wide public policy development.
• Counseling programs and services for adolescents and adults incorporate evidence-based programs and practices to treat drug and alcohol problems, mental illness and relational problems. Includes: comprehensive assessments, individual, group and family counseling, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment programs for adolescents and adults, gender-specific outpatient and intensive outpatient programs for women, specialized  treatment programs for adolescents and adults involved in the criminal justice system, DUI services, specialized substance abuse treatment services at Hesed House in Aurora, drug and alcohol alternative to suspension programs for youth, school-based counseling for youth, and Anger Management classes for youth and adults.
• Family Based programs and services develop healthy nurturing parenting skills that prevent child abuse and neglect. Includes: on-site and community-based parent education utilizing the Nurturing Parenting Program, Teen Advantage Program, specialized parenting classes for families involved in the court system, and the Second Step Violence Prevention Program.

ABOUT BREAKING FREE

Breaking Free is committed to one goal: helping individuals and families live in a community where everyone reaches their full potential. We do this by building strong family foundations and rebuilding those impacted by substance abuse and other life challenges.

For over 30 years Breaking Free's passionate and proven approach has been strengthening the lives of 15,000 people annually. Our compassionate staff uses nationally recognized prevention and educational programs to build the life skills people need to thrive and make positive decisions for themselves and their families.

We understand that every client comes to us with unique challenges. That's why we help them rebuild their lives with counseling and treatment services that are tailored to individual needs and focused on individual strengths to best ensure success. And our sliding scale fees mean no one will be turned away because of economic circumstances.

While our staff helps clients develop the strength to resist and provides the support to recover from challenging life circumstances they may encounter, Breaking Free's dedicated leadership continues to research, refine and expand the agency's programs to meet the increasingly complex needs of today's families.

Breaking Free cannot accomplish its goal alone. Based in Aurora, IL, we collaborate with schools, law enforcement agencies, local coalitions and other human service organizations to help strengthen the communities in the five-county area we serve.

Breaking Free was founded in 1975 by a community coalition and incorporated in Illinois in 1977 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

LEADERSHIP

Michael Moran, MA, CADC

Executive Director

Jennifer Geltz, MSW, LSW

Director of Operations

Myrna Smar, President

Cynthia Heibel, Vice President Marlene Colombo, Treasurer Trudy Huberty, Secretary Ronald Jones, Past President

Felix Matlock

Dennis Wiggins