| Ron Baer left the
business world after 17 years to pursue a career which he
felt had more meaningful endeavors. He completed a master's
degree in Communication Science, operated a private counseling
practice, and expanded his efforts by purchasing The Counseling
Center in 1982. Ron stopped his direct counseling in favor
of directing the Center's growth. He has taken a leadership
role in the State's fight against the D.U.I. problem as evidenced
by his activities below:
The McHenry County DUI
Programs Steering Committee
Founding Member and principal initiator of
the McHenry County DUI. Programs Steering Committee established
in 1984. Chairman from its inception through its first eight
years, and continuing active member in good standing.
The Illinois Association
of Professional DUI Service Providers
This Association was established in 1994,
and grew to approximately 67 members statewide. Ron has lead
the Association as Chairman of its steering Task Force from
its inception. The Association had authored two important
documents related to the State's DUI effort:
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"Critical Choice" which successfully
offered the State an alternative to a State sponsored
plan at that time to change, on a Statewide basis, the
way DUI Services were delivered. A portion of this document
presented the McHenry Steering Committee model, which
model is now being followed in other counties.
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"Code of Conduct and Standards
of Practice" which is the first attempt in Illinois,
and perhaps the nation, to formalize and professionalize
a DUI Service Provider system.
Illinois Department of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse (D.A.S.A.)
As Chairman of the Illinois Association mentioned
above, Ron and two other Association members sat on D.A.S.A.'s
Advisory Council Sub-Committee on DUI. As a Sub-Committee
member, he helped draft new State Regulations finalized and
published in the fall of 1996, that govern the DUI Evaluations
and Education Classes most DUI offenders must take. Such regulations
also govern the alcohol abuse/alcoholism treatment which is
court ordered for the vast majority of offenders.
McHenry County DUI Sheriff's Task
Force
1995-1997 A member of the McHenry County
DUI Sheriff's Task Force since inception, Ron Baer led the
subcommittee on the recommendation for Improved Treatment
Outcomes from its creation as one of the Plans of the Sheriff's
Task Force.
McHenry County Board Sub-Committee
on Alcohol Abuse
Ron previously served for several years on
the McHenry County Board Sub-Committee on Alcohol Abuse, representing
himself as a DUI Service provider, and representing the McHenry
County DUI Programs Steering Committee. In 2001, Ron became
the Committee's chief spokesperson for their recommended legislation,
Senate Bill 727. He testified twice in Springfield for the
bill, which targets improved remedial outcomes for D.U.I.
offenders.
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