As Our Number of Calls Continues to Grow Our Need for Volunteers Also Increases

PATH-O-GRAM “Like” us on A free service provided by PATH Facebook! August 26, 2013

PATH’s Community Resource Seminars – 2013-2014. 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 $20 (optional and special seminar rate) for the McLean County PATH Directory or $25 for our McLean/DeWitt/Livingston County Directory. Both go hand-in-hand with the seminar content. We have scheduled several half-day seminars for the upcoming months. Friday, October 4th Thursday, January 9th Thursday, April 24th Thursday July 10th 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. On the left of the screen, click on “PATH- O-GRAM and more,” and look for the registration brochure under “Seminars, Workshops and Other Special Events.”

As our number of calls continues to grow our need for volunteers also increases. 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 begins Thursday, September 12th. 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 Jared at 309-834-0541.

Can’t hear on the phone? Illinois has a FREE amplified phone program. LIFE Center for Independent Living is a selection center for the ITAC Amplified Telephone Program, a program that is required and governed by Illinois law. There are three simple qualifications you must meet to be eligible for this program: 1. You must be a resident of the state of Illinois 2. Have a hearing loss 3. Have a landline analog telephone line in your home To receive an application or for more information, contact Denise Iwaniw at LIFE Center by phone: 309/663-5433 or by email: [email protected]. You may also visit LIFE Center at 2201 Eastland Drive, Suite 1, Bloomington to start the process of testing and selecting a FREE amplified phone.

Marcfirst will hold its very first camp Saturday, September 21 through Sunday, September 22. Camp will be held at East Bay Camp at Lake Bloomington. Family Camp Weekend is designed for middle school age children with an intellectual or developmental disability. Camp is for families – this includes parents, siblings or other individuals that form the students’ support system. Camp is designed to provide entertainment, relaxation and exciting new activities for all children in the family and respite for the parents. Food, lodging, and activities are included in the price for camp. If you are interested in a weekend designed with fun activities, meeting new people or getting better acquainted with friends you already know contact Emily at Marcfirst 451-8888 ext. 265 or [email protected].

Recovery Honor Guard Celebrating Recovery - The Honor Guard will consist of people who consider themselves in recovery, and will be recognized as living proof of sustained recovery. We will celebrate recovery by recognizing an individual's years of recovery (0-9 years, 10-19 years, 20-29 years, 30 + years) by the color of his/her t-shirt. If you want to be recognized, please identify your years of recovery on the registration form. For more information, please visit www.addictionrecov.org or contact 309-691-1055. From the Bloomington Public Library: Thursday, September 5 - Online Resources for Students & Parents - Do you know that the Library has much more to offer than books when it comes to helping students with homework? Join us at 7pm in the Bloomington Public Library Community Room to learn about the different resources we offer, including Test Preparation resources for college entrance exams, study and research aids, language learning, tutoring, and more. Saturday, September 14 - Donation Day - Volunteers will accept donations of gently used books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, and BluRays from 10am-3pm in the Bloomington Public Library Community Room. Donated items will be sold with proceeds benefitting Library programs. Thursday, September 19 - College Q&A - Taylor Shelton of the Illinois Student Assistance Corps will answer questions about college finances, applications, and more at 7pm in the Community Room. This event is open to teens and their parents. Tuesday, September 24 - Financial Planning: Avoid Pitfalls - This 6:30pm Community Room workshop will provide tips on avoiding debt and poor tax planning. Learn how to budget and protect future income with speaker Bernie Wrezinski of the Foundation for Financial Education. Wrezinski has been in the financial services field for 35 years.

If evacuations are necessary because of a disaster in McLean County, people with functional needs would be better served if emergency responders knew about those needs while responding. That’s why the McLean County Emergency Management Agency - with assistance from the county health department - created a functional needs registry in January 2012. If you know someone or have a client(s) that may need assistance if there were an emergency evacuation please help them complete this form from MCHD http://il-mcleancountyhealth.civicplus.com/documentcenter/view/593 Spanish Form: http://il-mcleancountyhealth.civicplus.com/documentcenter/view/308 Completed forms can be mailed to: EMA, 104 W Front St. Boom B10, Bloomington, IL 61701

Community Care Systems, Inc., the Case Coordination Unit for the Illinois Department on Aging in McLean County, will be hosting an open house Friday September 6th from 1-4pm to celebrate 30 years of Case Coordination Units in Illinois. Please stop by 616 IAA Dr. in Bloomington to meet the staff and grab an afternoon snack! For more information on CCSI, contact Jen Herrman at (309) 661- 6400.

Network Christian church is sponsoring Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University starting on Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The class will run for nine weeks covering topics such as saving, paying off debt, cash management, insurance and more. This will be the ninth time we have run the course with a consistent, “This has changed my life” response. Now is the time to get better control of your money and move toward financial peace. For more information or to register call Pastor Dan 309-807-0046, email [email protected] or visit www.networkchristian.org.

Faith in Action of Bloomington-Normal (FIA) is celebrating Faith in Action Sunday with an Open House at its new location, 705 E. Lincoln in Normal on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The event will include ice cream and treats provided by Sugar Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, a Sounds of Illinois chorus barbershop quartet, and a tour of the new FIA offices. This event is free and open to the public. Faith in Action is a local interfaith nonprofit coordinating volunteers to provide free services to area adults age 60 and older. To RSVP, please contact FIA at 309-827-7780 or [email protected]. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Returns to McLean County: Illinois EPA and Mitsubishi Motors make October 2013 event possible On October 5, 2013, McLean County residents have the second opportunity in two years for safe disposal of their Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW). The Ecology Action Center has received notification of funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a fall HHW collection; Mitsubishi Motors North America is generously providing their parking lots as a venue for the public event. Proper disposal of HHW items is crucial for the protection of local water supplies. The October 5 HHW event will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free and open to all Illinois residents. Per state regulations only residential HHW can be collected – no business or commercially generated wastes may be accepted. Residents may enter the event via the main entrance at 100 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, in Normal. For an efficient event and to minimize wait times, residents are encouraged to follow these guidelines: * Items that will be accepted include oil-based paints, household batteries, paint thinners, used motor oil, herbicides, drain cleaners, insecticides, lawn chemicals, pesticides, solvents, old gasoline, antifreeze, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, cleaning products, aerosol paints and pesticides, mercury, fluorescent lamp bulbs, double bagged and wetted asbestos, old and outdated medicines and pharmaceuticals, and electronics. * Items that will not be accepted include agricultural chemicals, propane tanks, business/commercial sector wastes, smoke detectors, explosives, farm machinery oil, fireworks, fire extinguishers, lead acid batteries, institutional wastes, medical wastes, sharps, needles and potentially infectious medical wastes. * Latex paint is not hazardous and may be disposed of in household trash once it has been completely dried to a solid. This is easily accomplished by pouring the latex paint out onto several layers of newspaper or other disposable material in an appropriate amount and letting it air dry. Once it is dry and solidified it may be safely and legally thrown in the trash. This technique is only applicable to latex paints; oil paints are always considered hazardous and should be used up for their intended purpose or disposed of at a HHW event. * Materials should be kept in original labeled packaging and containers - do not mix materials together. * To reduce excessive traffic and waiting time at the event, residents are strongly encouraged to work with their neighbors and friends, especially in helping the elderly, to bring HHW materials from multiple households in one vehicle. * Materials will only be accepted during the event hours – dumping of materials before or after the event is illegal. * Volunteers are needed to help with traffic control at the event – please sign up at www.ecologyactioncenter.org. Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes pollutes our local water supplies and environment. Whether it is thrown out with regular trash going to a municipal waste landfill, dumped illegally down the drain, storm sewer, or in a ditch, these actions compromise the safety of drinking water thereby threatening the health and well-being of area residents. The Ecology Action Center, a local leader in recycling and solid waste management efforts, receives inquires daily from concerned residents who wish to dispose of materials properly. HHW collection events are the primary means for safe disposal of many of these materials.

United Way of McLean County is transitioning to a new volunteer management software for our online service, Volunteer Connection. We are offering a Volunteer Connection Agency Training on August 27 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for any organization that wants to learn how to administer their profile and manage their opportunities in the new system. Training is free and open to any organization currently using or interested in joining the site. Please email Noel at [email protected] and indicate which time you will be attending and how many people from your staff will be coming. FROM THE YWCA:

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR SMART SPROUTS PROGRAM YWCA McLean County’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is seeking volunteers, aged 18 and over, for its mentoring program. The Smart Sprouts program provides volunteers an opportunity to work and play with elementary students one-on-one and in small group settings during after school hours of 3:30–5 pm. Volunteers are able to participate as little as an hour a week, or as many as 5 hours per week, based upon their schedule and desire for fun. The Smart Sprouts program is held at 17 different schools and community centers throughout the Bloomington-Normal area (there may be a Smart Sprouts site not far from your home). We have on-site coordinators to provide any assistance that may be needed, and professional activity guides created to help with the mentoring experience as well. For more information, contact Colleen Steinberg, 309-662-0461 x267 or [email protected].

TEEN SUPPORT GROUP FOR TEEN SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT YWCA McLean County’s Sexual Assault Program, Stepping Stones will host a teen support group for teen survivors of sexual assault September 4 – December 11, 2013 every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. All support group sessions will be held at YWCA at 1201 N. Hershey Rd. in Bloomington (lower level entrance). Each session will cover topics ranging from rape culture, relationships, self-esteem and boundaries to accepting and understanding abuse, coping strategies and the difficulties associated with high school. Group size is limited. All participants must register by Friday, August 30. To register for the group or to set up an appointment for individual counseling, contact Valerie Parker, Stepping Stones Therapist, at (309) 831-5511 or [email protected] or Kelly Riesselman, Stepping Stones Counselor, at (309) 662-0461 x247 or [email protected]. **

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULT FEMALE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT YWCA McLean County’s Sexual Assault Program, Stepping Stones will host an educational support group for adult female survivors of sexual assault September 4 – December 11, 2013 every Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. or 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. All support group sessions will be held at YWCA at 1201 N. Hershey Rd. in Bloomington (lower level entrance). Each session will cover topics ranging from self-esteem, healthy relationships and coping skills to boundary setting and trauma recovery. Group size is limited. All participants must register by Friday, August 30. To register for the group or to set up an appointment for individual counseling, contact Valerie Parker, Stepping Stones Therapist, at (309) 831-5511 or [email protected] or Kelly Riesselman, Stepping Stones Counselor, at (309) 662-0461 x247 or [email protected]. **

**Stepping Stones provides free and confidential support services to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones (including adult survivors of child sex abuse). Those who seek Stepping Stones services receive the information they need to make their own educated decisions. Sexual assault advocates can be reached 24-hours a day, 365 days a year by calling PATH at (309) 827-4005 and asking to talk to Stepping Stones. Advocates can provide telephone counseling, help the victim report to the police, accompany the victim to the hospital and provide advocacy and support. For more information on YWCA Stepping Stones, contact Nicole Kirstein, Stepping Stones Director, at (309) 662-0461 x272 or [email protected]. Visit YWCA Stepping Stones on the web at www.ywcamclean.org. You Are Invited to Toastmasters Guest Day! Are you looking for a way to improve your leadership or communication skills? Or do you need a new challenge? Join the members of Voices for Service Toastmasters club for their Guest Day on September 17, 2013! Come learn how Toastmasters can help you develop leadership skills, gain confidence in public speaking, give powerful business presentations, conduct effective training seminars, and receive constructive feedback in a supportive environment-all of which can help propel you forward in your career! Tuesday, September 17th, 11:30am – 12:30pm Chestnut Health Systems, 1003 Martin Luther King Dr, Bloomington, King 1 Basement Free lunch will be provided for all who attend! We hope to see you there! If you would like more information or have questions, contact Molly Casteel Davis, VP of Public Relations, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 309.820.3545.

Healthy Mind, Healthy Life Seminar - Jonathan Lindsay, MS, LCPC, is a local therapist in private practice who holds free monthly seminars for the public the first Thursday of every month from 6 pm- 8pm. All seminars are held that Hawthorne Suites by Windham, 1 Lyons Drive, Bloomington (Directly behind Cracker Barrel off Market Street). These seminars are always free and no registration is needed. Jon started these seminars as his way of giving back to the community. Thursday September 5th: Healthy Relationship Thursday October 3rd: Grief and Loss Thursday November 7th: Seasonal Affective Disorder/Depression Thursday December 5th: Suicide ****Please note: For $10, Jon will now be offering 2 CEU's for LCPCs and LCSWs!!!!!!! If you have any questions about the seminars, please contact Amy at (309)531-2878 or Jon at (309)323-0215

Lunch with Jon - Jonathan Lindsay, LCPC, is a local therapist in private practice. He is offering CEUs for LCPCs and LCSWs at his office over the lunch hour! From 12-1 pm, bring your lunch and learn about a different topic. Cost is $10 per session, or chose to attend 8 in the next 6 months for $60! Jon's office is located in downtown Bloomington at 207 W. Jefferson, Suite 204. The schedule of topics: 8/30: Keirsey's Temperament: Idealist 9/6: Treatment planning: introvert vs extrovert 9/13: Treating non-chemical addiction 9/20: 4 C's of parenting 9/27: Intimacy 10/4: Cycle of Violence 10/11: Masculinity/Femininity 10/18: Spirituality in secular counseling For questions, or to reserve a spot, please contact Jon at 309-323-0215

David Davis Mansion's annual community event, (free and open to the public) The Honorable Raymond McKoski will shed new light on the remarkable career of Abraham Lincoln’s good friend, Judge David Davis, during a free program Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the ISU Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal, Illinois. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the center. Contact: Marcia Young, David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, Bloomington, IL 61701 at (309) 828-1084; [email protected]

In his presentation, entitled “The Hallmark of a Judge: Unwavering Impartiality,” Judge McKoski will explore how David Davis earned and maintained a reputation for judicial fairness in spite of his well- known personal and political relationships, especially with his “favorite,” Abraham Lincoln. The program is open to the public and presented as the David Davis Mansion Foundation’s annual community education offering. On October 12, 2013 Champaign County will host the 7th annual disABILITY Resource Expo: Reaching Out for Answers in their new location at the Fluid Events Center, 601 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign (just off I-72). Funded by area businesses and agencies, this event will be a place for individuals with disabilities and their families to ask questions, get information, share ideas and learn more about what supportive services, programs and technology are available in our region. New this year: A Job Fair! Talk to employers who are interested in speaking to people who may be able to help their businesses thrive! There will be over 80 exhibitors from East Central Illinois businesses and local agencies that offer services and supports to individuals and families with disabilities. Join us on October 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for this FREE family-friendly event offering different hands-on activities for children. There will be entertainment throughout the day and opportunities to win prizes! Your family will have fun while also gaining valuable information about available resources for individuals with disabilities in East Central Illinois.

Fundraising Opportunities:

WXRJ 94.9 FM, our only minority owned and operated public radio station, is having a fundraiser with Rosati's of Normal (309) 888 - 4949 (Main St. & Raab RD.) on Sept. 8th from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm. When you mention WXRJ when ordering, the station will receive 25% for dine in orders and 20% of delivery orders. Thank you for supporting WXRJ! For more information: (309) 662-4198 WXRJ

McLean County Recovery Court Advisory Board is holding their third annual GOLF OUTING to benefit clients involved with Recovery Court. McLean County Recovery Court began in May 2010, and is a Mental Health Specialty Court designed for adult defendants who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. The goal of the Recovery Court is to decrease the number of recurrent arrests that result from mental health issues by sending defendants to treatment rather than jail. Ultimately, Recovery Court seeks to provide appropriate treatment and life skills for each participant to become a productive citizen of our community. Our annual golf outing will be held on September 6, 2013 at Ironwood Golf Course. Funds raised from golf teams, dinner participants, and silent auction items, will be used for emergency medical and dental care, emergency medication and/or psychiatric care, housing assistance, clothing for job interviews and so forth. It is difficult with limited funding to meet the most basic needs of our clients which becomes a barrier to their success. Even if you are not a golfer, please consider coming for dinner and the silent auction. Golf teams of four are $360 ($90 per person), and the dinner-only option is just $20. We have a lot of good donations this year, and are even raffling off a 4-day trip to Las Vegas! Only 200 tickets are being sold and they are $20 each. Please contact Nikki Kelley at 454- 9600 or [email protected] for more information or to purchase raffle tickets.

Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital and the Proctor Health Care Foundation are pleased to announce Recovery Walks! 2013: One Step at a Time. Proceeds from Recovery Walks! 2013: One Step at a Time will assist in the Ameel Rashid Scholarship for addiction recovery treatment for individuals and families affected by addiction. The event takes place on Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The Walk steps- off at 12:00 p.m. at the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital located on the Hospital campus at 5409 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria. Registration is $20 per person, $10 (12 & under), and $50 for a family. All participants receive Walk T-shirts. Breathe Deep Central Illinois, a 5K run/2-mile walk, is a grassroots event that was started in 2009 by a Central Illinois family who lost a loved one to lung cancer. The event, held at Tipton Park North, has continued to grow and raise funds to end lung cancer. In addition to the 5K run and 2-mile walk, the event offers live entertainment, food, kids' activities including face painting, a bounce house, silent auction, and a raffle, making a day the entire family can enjoy! Our motto is "until there is an end to lung cancer...we won't stop." LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality-of-life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as providing community, support and education for all those affected by the disease. For more information and to register please visit our event website here: www.lungevity.org/centralillinois or call LUNGevity at 312-407-6100

Employment Opportunities:

Marcfirst has a job for you! Join people with disabilities to promote independence and build community connections. Become a Direct Support Professional and provide support for 1 – 5 individuals in a residential setting or as a job coach. Full time, part time; day, evening, overnight and weekend positions available. Valid Illinois driver’s license and High School Diploma or GED required. Excellent benefits. Job Fair- Saturday, September 14th 2013 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Marcfirst 1606 Hunt Drive Normal, IL 61761 *Interviews and testing conducted on-site *Please bring reference information with you. For any questions, please call Heidi Zimmerman, Associate Director of Human Resources at Marcfirst 309-451-8888 ext 250

Home Sweet Home Ministries, a non-denominational Christian homeless shelter, is seeking candidates to fill part time positions sorting donated items at their warehouse located at 1700 West Washington in Bloomington. Warehouse associates, these positions range from 20 to 30 hours per week. The ideal candidates will have great attention to detail, ability to meet production goals and work well with others. These positions involve sorting donated clothing, household goods and electronics for quality and assisting people dropping off donations. This position is located in a warehouse environment and requires standing up to 8 hours, lifting 50 lbs and bending. The Mission Mart Thrift Store in Lincoln is looking for a new part time sales associate to work 20 to 30 hours per week and join our fantastic team! We’re not just looking for anyone but someone who feels called to serve our ministry in this special way. 100% of the net proceeds from our stores funds the homeless shelter at Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington. Must be a team player- so we need someone who can work with all types of personalities. Previous retail experience and knowledge of clothes, fashion, vintage and brand names is a plus. Must be able to roll with the punches- we work in a fast paced, ever changing environment. Must have a positive attitude- we need someone who believes the glass is always half full. Flexibility in scheduling is a MUST. Must be able to work Saturday’s. Our store is closed on Sunday. Fun, we work hard so the ability to have fun while we work together and stage events for the public is key to our success. This position is located in Lincoln and requires standing up to 8 hours, lifting 25 lbs, bending and stooping. For more information contact: Jane Spooner, Human Resource Generalist Home Sweet Home Ministries, Inc., 303 E. Oakland Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701 Ph. (309) 828-7356, ext. 234 Fax (309) 827-6415 Program Coordinator position for the Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP) (25 hours per week at $10 per hour). Seeking a self-starter, highly-organized, with experience in Word, Excel, Outlook, budgeting and bookkeeping. Also desirable is an interest in the powerful impact servant-leaders can have in their community. The program coordinator will work with the executive director to insure efficient and successful implementation of MCLP program(s). This includes updating documentation, tracking program details, helping coordinate meetings, events, and resources with community leaders, MCLP committees, alumni, class, and other supporters. Long term opportunity for advancement. If interested, contact Sonya Mau, MCLP executive director by Monday,Sept 9. Call 838-9375 or send resume to [email protected].

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