Renz Addiction Counseling Center

Renz Center was established in 1961 as Community Concern for Alcoholism with John W. Johnson, Rev. Paul Bicknell, Judge Withers and James Renz leading the way. In 1970, treatment for addictive drugs was added, and in 1977, the Passage Program for Women was introduced and is now the oldest women's treatment program in Illinois. Prevention Services became more structured and focused on youth programming in the early 80s, and in 1986 the agency was renamed to honor the founding executive director, James Renz. Certified compulsive gambling counselors started services for gamblers and their family members in 1996, and two years later, the Center added HIV/AIDS Prevention Services. The Employee Assistance Services (EAS) program established by a consortium of local agencies in 1987, was aquired by Renz Center in 2002. Renz Center has expanded prevention services for youth in recent years using evidence based curriculum programs aimed at increased positive decision making skills and reducing alcohol and drug use. The HIV prevention services have also expanded to include outreach, prevention education, partner notification, follow up to care, support groups, counseling and free testing for high risk individuals. Renz Center provides clinical servives utilizing a sliding fee scale, bills third party insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare. Renz Center understand the struggle of recovery and will work with indiviudals so that no one is refused for an inability to pay.