From the State’s Attorney:
McHENRY COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF “A WAY OUT” PROGRAM IN 2025
Woodstock, IL — First launched on May 1, 2017, the A Way Out Program was created through a collaboration of the
- McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition,
- McHenry County Sheriff’s Department,
- Northwestern Medicine,
- McHenry County Mental Health Board,
- McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, and
- Not One More McHenry County, with additional support from
- Rosecrance McHenry County,
- Gateway Foundation, and
- local police departments.
Since its inception, A Way Out has provided McHenry County residents with a lifeline out of substance dependence by connecting them to critical recovery resources.
Since 2020, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services (NDARS) has operated the program on behalf of the State’s Attorney’s Office, expanding its reach and strengthening its role as a cornerstone of local recovery efforts.
Partnerships with police departments and Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital ensure immediate help for those in crisis.
Police serve as vital entry points into the program, while NDARS staff are present in the hospital’s Emergency Department three days a week to provide direct support.
A team of Peer Support Navigators, including bilingual staff, works one-on-one with participants and families to remove barriers to care.
In 2024, A Way Out served 2,462 participants.
So far in 2025, 1,748 individuals have been helped, with 65 percent uninsured or underinsured.
In July 2025 alone, the hotline staff and navigators:
- Provided services for 327 participants, with 283 new intakes
- Connected twenty participants with treatment programs
- Placed three participants in recovery homes
- Fielded questions and concerns through 344 incoming calls, 997 outbound calls, and 201 text messages.
“Addressing the addiction challenges of the friends and neighbors within our own communities directly impacts the safety, crime rates, and overall well-being of our county. We are extremely proud to be a part of this purposeful coalition.
“Through our partnership with NDARS, local law enforcement agencies, and the Northwestern Hospital in Woodstock, we have built a network of support that is changing lives every day,” said State’s Attorney Freese.
For help or more information, call the A Way Out hotline at (815) 347-0385.
