The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) announced today that the Marshall/Putnam/Stark Probation District team was chosen as a 2024 Reaching Rural Fellow. The Reaching Rural Initiative brings together professionals from rural areas to address the persistent challenges of substance use in their communities.

This initiative is a year-long program where fellows learn directly from rural practitioners, receive coaching, participate in skill-building workshops, and engage in peer-to-peer learning experiences. Fellows participate in a mixture of in-person and virtual meetings and workshops as well as receive Reaching Rural staff in their local, rural, community for on-site planning meetings. Additionally, this year was especially competitive with only nine teams and 14 individuals selected to participate in this initiative.

Upon completion, teams are eligible to apply for funding to implement a project planned during their fellowship. The Reaching Rural Initiative is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State Justice Institute.

AOIC staff Scott Block, Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator, and Lynn Moore, Grants Manager with Probation Services Division, were able to assist the Marshall/Putnam/Stark Probation District Team in securing this fellowship.

“We are thrilled and honored to be able to assist local Probation and Court Services Departments in rural Illinois,” Moore said. “With this initiative, the Marshall/Putnam/Stark Probation District will be better equipped to serve residents in their community and address substance abuse challenges in their counties.”