First Step House, 1029 Graceland Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60016, US

HistoryThe South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse was given life by a group of people seeking to help others. Its origin dates back to 1967, when a group of concerned individuals, some of whom were recovering alcoholics, and a social worker had the desire to sustain their sobriety and share their inspiration and recovery with others struggling with alcoholism. Among these visionaries was Herb Perkins, a retired long-time employee and counselor of The Council. Their persistence would eventually result in the establishment of the area's first alcoholism treatment center. Their dream was not only to support each other's sobriety but also to reach out to help others who wanted to stop drinking. Their dream would provide a new alternative to sobering up in a local jail cell, on a unit of a state mental health facility or at the closest formal detoxification center at Manteno Mental Health Center. In October of 1967, the founders' dream became real when one of the founders donatSpecialtiesOur mission is to deliver a continuum of treatment and recovery support services to residents of the greater Chicago South-land and Northwest Indiana areas and surrounding communities.