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 834-0580or nd order a directory printed fresh for you.

PATH’s Community Resource Seminars – 2016. 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 upcoming half-day seminarsare on the following Thursdays, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.

January 21st, March 17th and May 19th.

To register, contact Amanda at 834-0580 or download the registration brochure from our web site you can find the form under Community Resources.

University of Illinois Extension Nutrition & Wellness Educator, Jenna Smith, has a program coming up in Livingston County!

Fresh Fare: Comfort Food Makeover- Comfort food gets a makeover! We’ll lighten up some of your favorites so you can enjoy these delicious dishes without the guilt. The program will be presented in a pleasant dining room setting with tables set just for you! Food demonstrations and tastings will be provided. Fresh Fare: Comfort Food Makeover will be held January 13 at Evenglow Inn, 1303 E. Indiana Eve., Pontiac from 6-7 pm There is a $5 suggested donation that goes to Evenglow Inn. To register, call Evenglow at (815) 842-9040.

REGISTER FOR YWCA BABYSITTING CLINIC
The YWCA Babysitting Clinic offers training in basic safety, first aid, emergency procedures, age-appropriate activities, and tips for acquiring clients. Training is provided, in part, by guest speakers from the McLean County Health Department, YWCA Stepping Stones staff, YWCA infant teachers, as well as “Introduction to Babysitting” videos.

  • Participants must be 11 years old.
  • Cost for two-day clinic is $40.
  • Certification is awarded to those who complete all sessions and pass a test.
  • Early registration is encouraged as class size is limited.

The winter Babysitting clinic will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 29 and 30 from 1-5 pm at YWCA McLean County. Register online at For questions or if you would like more information, please contact Anita Conrad at or call (309) 662-0461.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to improve your communication and leadership: visit the Voices for Service Toastmasters club! - You may have heard about Toastmasters before -now is the time to see the fun in action.

Toastmasters is an excellent and cost-effective way to learn and practice speaking and leadership skills which everyone uses daily with friends and family. You have something to say and Toastmasters can help you say it with confidence!

Our Voices for Service Toastmasters club meets at Chestnut Health Systems: 1003 Martin Luther King Dr., Bloomington, IL. The club meets twice per month on the first and third Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. After checking in at reception follow the blue and white Toastmasters signs.

All are welcome to learn about our Voices for Service club and the Toastmasters organization. For more information contact: Todd Smith at <mailto:>, or call 820-3518. Hope to see you at a meeting! Check out our Voices for Service promotional video to hear from current and former members:

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 January 28th. If interested, the volunteer application is available on-line at Classroom training meets on Thursdays from 6 to 9 pm. Questions? Call Kevin at PATH at 309-834-0541.

Faith in Action Desk Volunteer needed.We’re looking for special individuals to answer the phones and add seniortransportation requests into the RideScheduler software. Training provided. Must have pleasant disposition. 3.5 hour shifts available. Variable schedule.May work one shift a week orone a month.Call 827-7780.

Make a difference!Faith in Actioncan help connect you to neighbors that need a little bit of assistance to stay independent.Join over 300 volunteers in a very flexible opportunity to choose when and where to drive or shop. You choose the ride that fits your schedule.

Call Doretta Herr at 827-7780 to see how you can utilize your talents to assist our senior neighbors in need.

BECOME AN ADVOCATE - Be there for someone in crisis, either directly or indirectly, by providing support through Stepping Stones, YWCA’s sexual assault program. Forty hours of free training is required for all volunteers. Training is Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 12 - February 4 from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays, January 16 and February 6 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Please visit to learn more or to submit an application to become a crisis intervention volunteer. A pre-screening interview is required prior to training. No previous experience is required. Please contact Gabe Cripe with questions at or (309) 662-0461, ext. 267.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR READING TO END RACISM- Reading to End Racism is a racial justice program that uses trained volunteers to read to children in the classroom and, through books and personal stories, stimulate an insightful conversation about discrimination. Opening this dialogue with students and teachers empowers individuals to work to eliminate racism in their lives, schools, and communities. A two-hour training will be required for all Reading to End Racism volunteers.

If you are interested in learning more or volunteering, please contact Norene Ball , (309) 662-0461, ext 265 or visit

Fundraising Opportunities:

CIRCLE OF WOMEN - YWCA McLean County will host Circle of Women on Friday, February 26, 2016. This annual philanthropic luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, with a social hour before the event beginning at 11 a.m. To make your reservation, please contact Emily at (309) 662-0461, ext. 298 or .

Employment Opportunities:

Children’s Home + Aid Employment Opportunities:

Part-time Registered Nurse – Foster Care (Bloomington) - As a part-time Registered Nurse for Foster Care services, you will visit clients in their foster homes, and may have some clients visit you in the office, to assess and manage their complex medical and psychiatric needs. You will train and support our staff, foster parents and biological parents to meet the complex medical and psychiatric needs of the youth in their care. You will consult with other medical providers and social service agency staff to coordinate care. This position provides a flexible schedule and requires travel to client homes up to 90 minutes away from the office.

Qualification:

  • Current State of Illinois Professional Nurse’s Registration.
  • BSN degree from an accredited university preferred.
  • A minimum of 2 years of professional nursing/medical experience required.
  • Valid driver’s license, auto insurance and reliable transportation required.
  • Sound judgment in a variety of medical situations required.
  • Ability to maintain strong working relationships with clients, agency personnel, and staff members of other social service and medical agencies.
  • Ability to work successfully as a healthcare professional in a multi-disciplinary setting.

Early Learning Teacher Part-Time (Bloomington) - Join our team of passionate educators who are committed to making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. As an early childhood teacher, you will assist the lead teacher to manage the classroom, conduct age-appropriateactivities,provide individualized care to children, assist in assessing the development of children,and communicate with parents.

Qualifications:

  • High School Education or equivalent required.
  • Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent is preferred.
  • 1-3 years of experienceworking in a program serving children ages0-5preferred.

Therapist - Family Centered Counseling Services-Children’s Home + Aid believes that all children deserve a good home, a place that grounds them in a secure and loving present and gives them the confidence to make their own future. Children’s Home + Aid Family Centered Counseling Services provide therapeutic intervention for children and parents involved in the child welfare system in foster care, intact families or adoption situations. Therapists meet with clients at various office locations to provide individual and family therapy to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and maximize the family well-being and academic achievement of these children.

Therapist responsibilities include:

  • Provide individualized assessment, diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning for children and families.
  • Provide therapeutic interventions to address the issues of each child and family.
  • Monitor progress toward clients' goals and objectives and make recommendations for on-going services when necessary.
  • Coordinate services with other agencies, systems and community providers to meet the needs of clients.
  • Refer clients to other community resources, as needed.
  • Develop aftercare service/treatment plans with the client and ensure that any recommended services or providers are in place prior to client's discharge.
  • Comply with Medicaid standards of practice and documentation.

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in social work or related field.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
  • Licensure in candidate’s field (i.e. LCSW, LCPC) or ability to become licensed within one year of employment required.
  • A valid driver’s license, car and proof of auto insurance required.

Please apply on-line at any of the above positions.

Compensation includes paid time off, as well as medical, dental, vision and life insurance and a 401(k) employee savings plan. Children’s Home + Aid is an equal opportunity employer: minority/female/disability/veteran.

For details on these positions as well as a complete list of current career opportunities at Children’s Home + Aid, please visit our website at

YWCA Employment Opportunities:

TEACHERS NEEDED - YWCA Young Wonders Early Learning and Youth Development has multiple teaching positions available. Join our great team who make a difference every day! To view positions and apply please visit

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE - YWCA is hiring a Director of Finance. Join our great team who make a difference every day! This position is responsible for the overall management of fiscal operations of the YWCA including supervision of Finance Office staff, accounting functions, budget, reporting requirements and requests, and record keeping for all fiscal accounts. Operates as a key member of the leadership/administration team. To view position and apply please visit

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All information is printed as it is received (cut and pasted), if you have any questions about a specific listing please contact the appropriate agency. If you would like to submit an item for publication please send a paragraph or two about your announcement electronically to . Fliers and graphics cannot be included but we can include a link to your website.

The Path-O-Gram is sent out every other week. Current and previous issues, as well as “Special Editions” and more can be found on our website: under community resources.