Morton Grove social worker outlines free resident services, senior rides and emergency aid

Liz Shield, a licensed clinical social worker attached to the Village of Morton Grove Police Department, described the village services she provides to residents at a recent community presentation.

Shield said she began working part time in August 2020 and later secured a full-time position after local advocacy. She said referrals come from the police and fire departments, village staff and residents themselves, and that her work includes victim advocacy, court accompaniment at the Skokie Courthouse and help applying for orders of protection.

The presentation focused on services available through the village’s American Legion Civic Center senior center and other local programs that aim to help older adults and residents in short-term crisis.

"I usually get referrals through our police and fire departments, the village, or self referrals," Shield said. She described a health equipment lending closet at the Civic Center that loans items such as wheelchairs and shower seats at no cost, a prescription drug and sharps disposal program, and a document-shredding service.

Shield listed regular offerings for older residents, including monthly health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar), AARP tax-preparation services each year and a daily events calendar of classes and activities at the senior center. She said information and paper applications are available in person at the Civic Center and via the village website.

Shield outlined a village-supported transportation program that uses Lyft Concierge to provide one ride per week for eligible seniors. She said riders must be able to enter and exit a vehicle independently and must have access to a cell phone for the return trip, which Shield described as a "flexible ride" activated by calling a number from the rider’s phone. The program covers trips to medical appointments, pharmacies and grocery stores, with some geographic limitations.

The village’s snow-removal and lawn-care program connects teenage workers with older or disabled residents. Shield said the program began as volunteer-based but shifted to allow negotiated pay after volunteer participation proved insufficient; the village acts as a connector by providing contact information for participating students.

On financial help, Shield said the village offers limited water-bill assistance for income-eligible households (applicants may apply once per year and the finance director determines approval and the amount). She also said the village is a Salvation Army extension site that provides a small, annually allocated pool of emergency funds for rent or utilities in qualifying crisis situations; applications for that assistance are processed through her office.

Shield explained that most of Morton Grove lies in Niles Township, with a small pocket in Maine Township near the Maine East school area, and noted that township services vary; Maine Township, she said, offers broader behavioral health services.

She encouraged residents to contact her for help with long-term counseling referrals, legal-aid connections and other supports, and said business cards were available at the meeting and contact information was provided on presentation slides. "If anyone has questions, happy to answer them," Shield said.

The presentation was informational; no formal votes or actions were reported during the session.