Treatment counselor held in abuse of 16-year-old

Treatment counselor held in abuse of 16-year-old

By Barbara Bell
Special to the Tribune
Published June 27, 2007

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...l=chi-news-hed

A counselor at a treatment center for alcohol and substance abuse in
Lake Villa was arrested this week on charges that she had a sexual
relationship with a 16-year-old former client who police found hiding in
a closet at her Antioch home, authorities said.

Lori Zolno, 32, of the 200 block of Joanna Court, has been charged with
aggravated criminal sexual abuse, obstructing justice and harboring a
runaway, said Lake County Assistant State's Atty. Stephen Scheller.

Police went to Zolno's home after being contacted by a Department of
Children and Family Services caseworker. Zolno told police the boy
wasn't there, but officers searched her home and found the teen in a
closet, Scheller said.

She was arrested Monday night, authorities said.

Zolno had counseled the boy at Gateway Foundation's facility in Lake
Villa from December until his release in late May, Scheller said.

The teen called Zolno about a week later on June 3 from Chicago,
Scheller said. Zolno picked him up and took him to her home, where he
lived until Zolno was arrested, Scheller said. While living together,
the two had a sexual relationship, he said.

Zolno, who appeared Tuesday morning in Lake County Bond Court, was being
held in the county jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. Authorities could not
say whether the boy was turned over to DCFS.

Gateway Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides substance
abuse counseling for people of limited resources, according to its Web site.

Billie Alexander Avery, director of the Lake Villa facility, referred
calls to CEO Michael Darcy. Darcy could not be reached for comment.






CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...