Debra Higens is the Senior Advisor II of the National Network for Safe Communities.
Before starting at the National Network for Safe Communities, Debra worked in public safety. She worked at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, a career she finished as an Investigator. Debra was the Chief of Operations for an Adult Transitional Center for 11 years, where she worked closely with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Prior to working for Chicago VRS, Debra was the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator for the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. Debra is certified by the Department of Homeland Security as an Incident Commander (Single and Multiple), by the Illinois Department of Corrections as a Certified Investigator, and has participated in several major national conferences, including the Franklin Covey workshop.
Outside of National Network for Safe Communities, Debra is an active member of Phi8 Theta Kappa Nation Honor Society for Colleges. She serves as the Traffic Safety Commissioner for the Village of Evergreen Park, Illinois. Debra is also a certified foster parent with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She has five children, Christy, Amber, Patricia, Jonathan, and James.
Debra Higens holds a BA in Social Justice from De Paul University in June 2018 and received an AAS in Criminal Justice from Moraine Valley Community College and an award from the Nation of Islam for the work she partnered with the Prison Ministry.
