Special Path-O-Gram Summer Program Guide – It’s time for us to work on our special summer guide, if your organization offers a program please send the information to so that it can be included in our annual guide.
PATH’s Community Resource Seminars – 2014-2015. We want to answer your questions about our local system of social services -- register today for our ½ day (4 hour) training! The cost is $35/individual, plus $25 (optional and special seminar rate) for the McLean/DeWitt/Livingston County PATH Directory or $20 for the McLean County only Directory. Both go hand-in-hand with the seminar content. Our next half-day seminar is Thursday, May 21st. Seminars run from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. To register, contact Amanda at 834-0580 or download the registration brochure from our web site www.pathcrisis.org, you can find the form under Community Resources.
HOW FRESH IS YOUR PATH DIRECTORY? If you currently own a PATH directory, check your “freshness date” at the bottom right-hand corner. Is it over a year old? Make sure you have the very latest information to make the right referrals for your clients. Resources are constantly changing. If you do not own PATH’s Directory and you are working with people in nearly any capacity, you need one! Cost is $30 per directory for McLean County only information, $35 per directory for McLean, DeWitt & Livingston Counties combined. Additional charges apply if shipping is required. Contact Amanda at 834-0580 or and order a directory printed fresh for you.
Pratt Music Foundation Music Lesson Scholarships:
Do you know a student who would benefit from privatemusic lessons for piano and strings but who is restricted by finances?
The Pratt Music Foundation’s mission is to providetalented youth an opportunity to enhance their musical ability through privatelessons. Musiclessons are expensive and simply not an option for some childrenand families: this is where the Pratt Music Foundation comes in.TheFoundation grants full music lesson scholarshipsto the Illinois Wesleyan University Music Preparatory Program.
Instruction is available in piano or strings (violin,viola, cello). Music scholarships are awarded to area students ingrades K through 12 each spring, and are based on financial need, motivation,and talent.
Applications are due by June 1. Eachscholarship covers one school year of instruction, starting in thefall (2015-2016) and includes summerlessons (2016). Free musicbooks are supplied from the Music Shoppe.
Downloadableapplications are available: Go towww.PrattMusicFoundation.com. For questions or to request an application, call309-827-5534, or .
YouthBuild McLean County is seeking strong and positive mentors for a new scholarship based mentoring program! Opportunity Corps Mentoring is a component of the national AmeriCorps program and provides qualified mentors with an opportunity to earn a scholarship of $1,195 for mentoring a YouthBuild student over the course of 12 months. Scholarship can be used to further education or repay student loans. YouthBuild mentees range in age from 16 - 20 and are eager to have strong positive role models in their lives to help them remain on track. Group activities, training and intensive support is ongoing for mentees and mentors throughout the match. For more information please contact Breana Calloway at . Applications being accepted through May 15th.
NEXT DENTAL CLINIC: Saturday, May 9, 2015, 109 N. Regency Drive, Bloomington
TIME: 7:00 a.m. until 120 patients registered (NO APPOINTMENTS)
·Residents of McLEAN COUNTY ONLY
·Adults in dental pain, needing 1 or 2 teeth extracted/no access to care/no health insurance.
·The clinic is not for routine cleaning, exam, denture repair, fillings, or multiple extractions.
·Children’s Dental should be accessed through the McLean County Health Dept.
·Call Scott Health Resources (823-4224) to request flyers in English and Spanish. We urge you to
share this information with other agencies to help us inform the public of the next free dental clinic.
Women to Women to Present Panel on Mental Health Issues in Schools
The Women to Women Giving Circle of Illinois Prairie Community Foundation will present “Mental Health Issues of Children and Youth in Our Schools” as part of its Issues and Solutions Series. The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 21 at the Illinois State University Alumni Center, 1101 N Main St, Normal. The event is free and open to the public.
Professionals from local schools and community agencies will spotlight the challenges they face in addressing mental health needs of school-aged children. The goal of the forum is to learn what schools and the larger community can do to deal successfully with the mental health issues of our kids.
Moderators and panelists include, Carrie Chapman, Special Education Administrator, Unit 5, Leslie Hanson, Special Education Director, District 87; Scott Hogan, Executive Director, Tri-County Special Education Association; Stephanie Barisch, Center for Youth and Family Solutions; Nancy Braun, Special Education Supervisor, Unit 5; Rob Lusk, Clinical Director of The Baby Fold; Ashley Schnittker, Special Education Instructional Coordinator, District 87; and Cory Tello, Unit 5 and District 87 retired Illinois Technical Assistant.
For more information, contact Kathi Davis, IPCF Associate Program Director, at (309) 662-4477 or .
Welding Skills Program
Do you or someone you know want to be a welder?
Heartland Community College provides:
· Courses required for a welding certificate
· Extra help with math, reading and career readiness
· Tuition assistance
· Textbooks and materials at no cost
· Evening classes starting in August
Who is eligible?
· GED, ESL, and Read Center students preferred
· Others who need extra help with reading and math may qualify
Only 10 seats available. If interested call Sandy at (309)268-8048.
Mid Central Community Action is pleased to announce that we will be participating in Money Smart Week here in McLean County! We will be hosting two sessions at MCCA (1301 W. Washington) from 6-7:00 p.m.:
· Monday, April 20: College Planning Strategies
· Thursday, April 23: Ladies, take control of your finances and make a plan for your future
If you are interested in attending either of these workshops, please contact Phyllis at or 309-834-9234 to register. RSVP is strongly encouraged for these sessions to ensure materials are available.
For more information about the other courses offered throughout the community for Money Smart Week (April 18-25), please visit their website or grab a brochure next time you’re at Mid Central Community Action.
If you or your loved one has a disability of any kind, this is not to be missed!
PROTECT THE SERVICES YOU NEED - LIFE CIL will host three information sessions to explain how the Governor’s proposed budget will affect people with disabilities. We’ll explain how you can help prevent funding and service cuts. THE PROPOSED STATE BUDGET WILL CUT SERVICES THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES and their ability to live independently! IF THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET PASSES, YOU MAY LOSE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR SERVICES. It is important for you to attend one of these sessions and learn more. Each session will cover the same information and will last about 60 to 90 minutes.
Topics will include:
· Which services will be cut or eliminated.
· Who these cuts will affect.
· How human service programs such as those that LIFE CIL offers actually SAVE the State money.
· Where some possible budget solutions are.
· What you can do to help.
DATE: Tuesday, April 28th
TIME: 9:00 a.m., Noon, 5:00 p.m.
PLACE: LIFE CIL, 2201 Eastland Dr., Ste. 1, Bloomington
RSVP: Rickielee Benecke (309)663-5433, 888-543-3245, or .
Reasonable accommodations provided upon request (must be received by April 22).
Evergreen Place - Dessert With The Doctors - FREE
Date & Time: Thursday, April 23, 2015
Topic:Chronic Pain Treatments for the Elderly
Where: Evergreen Place - 801 Gregory St., Normal, Illinois 61761
Refreshments and dessert provided. All are welcome to attend.
HYPED UP (Helping Young Parents Excel Daily Under Pressure) is having a Spring Kickoff Party on Monday, May 4th from 4:00-5:30pm at Children’s Home + Aid’s Healthy Start House. This is a great time for parents in the community to learn about the group, ask questions, and meet the members, facilitators, and other group staff. There will be drawings for fabulous prizes – some big, some small – but everyone will walk away with something! HYPED UP is a free support group for parents of young children. It meets every Monday from 4-5:30 at Children’s Home + Aid’s Healthy Start House. During group meetings, moms and dads get to take a break from the stresses of parenting while kids have fun being kids, under the supervision of trained child care staff (older siblings are welcome!). The group meets in a relaxing and fun atmosphere and features music, food, games, relaxation, stress relief and more! Parents never have to RSVP; they can just show up. Feel free to bring a friend. Hope to see you at the kickoff!
In celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month, bring the whole family out on Tuesday, April 21st between 4pm and 6pm for our Annual Blue Bow Family Fun Night. This year’s theme is "A Night at the Movies". We will have activities surrounding popular movies, such as "Frozen", "The Lego Movie", "Spider-Man", and many others. There will be a dress-up photo booth, cake walk, obstacle course, make-and-take crafts (including superhero masks!), and much more. Pizza, popcorn, and snacks will be served. PLUS…Elsa from Frozen and Spider-Man will be at there to greet the kids, take pictures, and do some Frozen karaoke! Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite movie family or character (adults and kids welcome to dress up)! Free food, giveaways, and more. Come anytime and stay as long as you want. This event is sponsored by Parents Care + Share and will be held at Children’s Home + Aid’s Early Learning Center gym, located at 1119 E. Taylor Street in Bloomington. Call (309) 834-5266 or email for more details. Hope to see you there!
Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) Is Accepting Applications
Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) at Illinois Prairie Community Foundation is accepting applications for participation during the 2015-2016 school year. Currently in its second year, YEP is a program in which 20-25 high school students learn about the important role of the nonprofit sector and the impact that philanthropy has in creating a vibrant, inclusive community.
YEP members learn to assess community needs, implement a granting cycle, evaluate grant proposals and hone communication and decision-making skills while developing teamwork and leadership qualities.
Applicants must currently be in 8th-11th grade and live in one of the following counties: McLean, Logan, Livingston, or DeWitt. We are looking for a diverse, enthusiastic group of students to be a part of this exciting philanthropic initiative.
To apply, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KDHHQHL Applications are due by May 15, 2015.
For more information about YEP, go to go http://www.ilprairiecf.org/yep-homepage./
Money Smart Week at Extension! - McLean County
Tomorrow - April 21, 2015!
University of Illinois Extension Office - McLean County, 1615 Commerce Pkwy, Bloomington, IL 61704
Join us at the new Extension offices for a full day of FREE money classes. A free booklet of all of the classes offered are available at the Extension offices in your county. Throughout the week, booklets will be available for pickup at the extension office or online.
Listed below are classes that are being held at the Mclean County Extension offices unless noted otherwise. For complete descriptions for each class please refer to the Money Smart Week Calendars or online.
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Fraud Awareness
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Tax-Free Investing: It's not what you make, it's what you keep!
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Five Money Questions for Women
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Illinois Probate: What is Probate...and the strategies to avoid it
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Building a Healthy Financial Future
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. How to Repair Your Credit for Free
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Money Mentor Help Desk
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. It Pays to Ride Public Transportation
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Social Security Maximization
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Home Buying: as easy as 1, 2, 3
FREE - LIFE Center for Independent Living (LIFE CIL) will have a desk & filing cabinet to donate on Monday, May 4. The desk is dark brown wood, in good shape, dimensions 3’ X 6’. We also have a beige lateral filing cabinet, 42”W X 18”D X 63”H. If you are interested in making arrangements to get these on Monday, May 4 or soon after, please contact Brianne Anderson at LIFE CIL at 309/663-5433 or email her at . We will give these to the first person who contacts us.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Become a PATH Hotline Volunteer: Adult volunteers are needed to answer phones on the 24-hour hotline. Volunteering your time on the hotline offers a rewarding experience and a great opportunity to give back to your community. A complete training program and professional back-up is provided. Our training program teaches you everything you need to know, including communication techniques and community resources. The next 8-week training class session begins June 11th. If interested, the volunteer application is available on-line at www.pathcrisis.org. Classroom training meets on Thursdays from 6 to 9 pm. Questions? Call PATH at 827-4005 or 2-1-1.
Parents Care + Share is looking for Children’s Program Specialists to join their team. This is a PAID volunteer position that involves supervising children while their parents attend a support group meeting. You will receive $20 for each group you help provide child care for. There are groups that run every day of the work week at various times throughout the day and evening, and they each require about 1 ½ to 2 hours of your time. Please contact Parents Care + Share Regional Coordinator Jenn Rients at (309)834-5266 or by email at for more information.
Employment Opportunities:
Direct Support Professional—MARCFIRST
Marcfirst is seeking motivated and caring individuals to work with developmentally and physically disabled adults in residential settings in the Bloomington-Normal area. Direct Support Professionals assist in providing opportunities and assistance in areas of work, recreation, and community inclusion. Full time and part time positions available. Hours vary including days, evenings, overnights, and weekends. Qualifications include: High School Diploma or GED, good written and verbal communication skills, valid Illinois Driver's License, and good standing driving record. Must pass background check. Employment application can be found at www.marcfirst.org For more information contact or (309) 451-8888 ext 221.