Note from the Director:
As of July 1, 2015, PATH will no longer be the administrator of the Emergency Care Fund for United Way of McLean County. PATH has served as this access point for rent and utility assistance for more than 20 years.
Our goal was to provide the service at a low cost so that there was more money available to the people who had unforeseen crises, were at risk of becoming homeless or losing subsidized housing, or for transitioning people into permanent housing. We did not disburse funds to people without income or whose living expenses were more than 75% of their income. We were able to provide quick turnaround on checks.
To provide the service, if we assessed 1,000 people for the fund who were ultimately denied, we collected 1% of the amount the individual requested for the assessments.
If we disbursed $60,000 to people who qualified, we took 4% for administration, $2,400 in this example. This is a very labor intensive process. When the funding began the amount available was very low ($20,000) and we were able to add it in to our workload. The program fell under our mission statement: Providing Access to Help.
Over the years, the money from United Way increased and the task grew larger but the reimbursement rate stayed the same. We could have requested more money for administration but after much discussion, we decided to give the money back to United Way to find a new provider within our area.
We will continue to refer to other organizations for rent and utility assistance and all other human needs. Just dial 2-1-1!
Karen Zangerle
Executive Director
PATH, Inc.
PATH’s Community Resource Seminars – 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 upcoming half-day seminars are:
Thursday, September 17th Thursday, October 15th Thursday, November 19th
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.
The Salvation Army Fan Distribution Program begins June 29 and runs through August 28, Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Clients will need to present a photo ID and current piece of mail to receive a fan. Fans are only available to McLean County residents, and there is a limit of one per household. The entire program will operate from the Corps Community Center at 611 West Washington, Bloomington.
Financial Literacy Workshops hosted by State Farm-
Did you know- 78% of US adults agree that they could benefit from additional advice and answers to everyday financial questions from a professional? State Farm and Milestones Early Learning Center are collaborating to teach FREE financial literacy courses to the community. There is no registration required, we do encourage you to join our Facebook events at www.facebook.com/milestoneselc
Credit – Secret Scores That Run Your Life
July 7th, 2015 5:30 – 6:45pm
Budgeting – I stink at budgeting
July 16th, 2015 5:30 – 6:45pm
Home Ownership 101
August 4th, 2015 5:30 – 6:45pm
Location:
Milestones Early Learning Center, 1207 Six Points Road, Bloomington, Illinois
We are providing free childcare, refreshments, and a chance to win a $25 Walmart Gift Card! Don’t miss out! If you have any questions, please contact Tara Isenberg at
Domestic Violence 40 hour Training - Mid Central Community Action’s Countering Domestic Violence Program will be offering its 40 hour Domestic Violence training on July 22 through July 31, 2015 from 12pm-5pm. The training is open to professionals and individuals interested in learning about the dynamics of domestic violence and helping domestic violence survivors. The training will be held at Mid Central Community Action Conference room. Registration fee is $150. There are discounts for students, community partners, and volunteers.
For more information and registration, please go to the MCCA website at http://www.mccainc.org/programs/countering-domestic-violence/cdv-40-hour-training/. You can also contact Senna at or 309-834-9249 to reserve a spot by July 13.
MCCA is excited to offer another Money Matters financial education workshop, which will be hosted at Mid Central Community Action (1301 W. Washington) on Wednesday, July 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in coordination with Heartland Bank.
The workshop will cover several topics, including:
· Importance of a realistic spending plan
· Steps in developing a spending plan
· Setting financial goals and making a spending plan to meet your goals
· Trimming expenses and making money management easier
· Using strategies to increase savings
· Understanding your credit rating
· Credit reporting
· Common credit problems
· Repairing credit problems
· Establishing credit
Registration is required for this workshop and space is limited. If you are interested in attending, please contact Kelley at or 309-834-9244 to RSVP.
If this workshop does not fit into your schedule, please take a look at the upcoming 2015 Money Matters Workshops and let us know if you would like to register for one of the other dates.
University of Illinois Extension and Evenglow Inn are partnering to bring you Fresh Fare: Outdoor Grilling! Nothing beats the taste of a grilled meal. You’ll learn how to grill a variety of foods, and brush up on grill safety. Jenna Smith, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, will present the program at Evenglow’s beautiful outdoor patio! Tastings of the dishes she prepares will be served to your table. Outdoor Grilling will be held July 8 at Evenglow Inn, 1303 E. Indiana Ave., Pontiac from 6-7:00 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested. You can register for this program by calling Evenglow at (815) 842-9040.
University of Illinois Extension will be offering Yes! You CAN! Preserving Safely. This two part program will take place on July 15 and July 22 from 9-11 a.m. at the McLean County Extension Office, 1615 Commerce Parkway. At the July 15 program, you will learn the most up-to-date home food safety guidelines, take home recipes, taste-test home canned foods, and have your dial gauge pressure canner tested (just bring in the lid). The July 22 program will cover how to safely freeze and dehydrate foods. You will also take home recipes and taste-test dried foods. There is a $5 fee per person/session and pre-registration is preferred. To register, call 309-663-8306 or online at web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/register.
University of Illinois Extension is partnering with Heartland Community College for the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager’s Certification Course. This course meets the eight-hour coursework and examination required by the State of Illinois for the Food Service Sanitation Manager’s Certification. It will be held July 16 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and July 17 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Heartland Community College. You must attend both days to sit for the examination. There is a fee of $124 per person for materials and the test. To register, call Heartland at 309-268-8160 or online at http://www.heartland.edu/communityEd/ .
Parents Care + Share Updates:
Heart-2-Heart Group – A new session has recently started up and we would welcome any and all young moms to join in the fun! The group is centered around healthy relationships and is very interactive. Child care and snacks are free! Heart-2-Heart meets every Monday from 3:00-4:30pm at Children’s Home + Aid.
Dads Group – Know any dads who could use some “guy time”? Our Dads Group is run BY dads FOR dads and is a great place to connect, share experiences, or just hang out. The group currently meets in the Early Learning Center conference room at Children’s Home + Aid from 5:30-7 on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Play With a Purpose – This group is all about having FUN with your kids! We recently started back up after a brief hiatus and we are ready to show parents and kids how to put “purpose” into playtime. Our facilitator will demonstrate short, simple activities for you to do with your children during group time, but we think you will have so much fun, you’ll be using the same techniques at home too! All materials are supplied and there is a free snack at each group. Play With a Purpose is for parents and children ages 6 or younger and meets every Tuesday from 10-11am in Children’s Home + Aid’s Family Visitation Center.
ROCK – ROCK stands for Raising Our Children’s Kids, but can be for anyone raising a relative’s child. This group is a great place for “second-time-around” parents to connect and focuses on the unique issues that come with raising a relative’s child. ROCK group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month and includes a free dinner. Children are cared for by trained staff while the adults meet separately. If you know anyone who might benefit from a group like this, please send them our way!
For individual group flyers or a complete local group listing, please contact Jenn Rients, Parents Care + Share Regional Coordinator at (309) 834-5266 or by email at .
Volunteer Opportunities:
Want to do something truly meaningful in 2015? Make a resolution to help a child in foster care! Become a CASA volunteer. You don’t need to know how. We will train you and stand by your side as you advocate for your child.
So, what is it? “CASA” stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. We train volunteers, like you, to assist children as they navigate their way through the foster care system. You will learn to become the voice for children who often cannot speak for themselves. You will report to the court how your child is doing and what your child needs to flourish.
Okay, but, why does this matter? Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer, like you, have a much brighter future. They do better in school, get better health care, and find a permanent loving home faster than those children without an advocate. YOU are the key to their bright future.
Make 2015 count! The next training will be held September 14 – November 2, 2015. Applications are due by July 14, 2015. For more information, contact Margie Jordan, CASA Program Director, at 309-888-5852 or .
Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community in Meadows, IL (off Rt. 24 between Chenoa and Gridley – a short 20 min. beautiful drive) and Meadows @Mercy Creek – (right off Raab Rd. in Normal, IL).
We are in need of volunteers for both our campuses. There are a variety of ways in which you can volunteer and become a special part of a very fulfilling mission – while enriching the lives of our Residents. We have a number of both indoor and outdoor volunteer openings as well as “internship” needs. Right now our most urgent needs are:
· Finding volunteers who love to plan events or help on the sidelines (we have several events coming up; including B’day parties!)
· Greeting and meeting our guests and family members at our Information desks during the day, (short shifts)
· Clerks/sales within the Gift Shop of Meadows @Mercy Creek
· Help with games and activities for our residents to include chaperoning outings, reading to and visiting with residents
Volunteering with Meadows is rewarding for both you and for our residents and their families. Please consider these opportunities and give us a call; we can then share any of the many additional options we have as well. Speak with Tracy our Volunteer Coordinator @ 309.747.3628 or email: .
MONEY MENTORS NEEDS YOU! We are now accepting applications for the August 2015 Money Mentor Training for Livingston and McLean Counties! The need is great and we need YOU!
The University of Illinois Extension Money Mentor volunteers build financial capacity in our local communities by providing free financial education and coaching to individuals and couples. In addition to mentoring, volunteers help to increase financial capacity locally by providing community outreach through youth programming, community talks, or other outreach projects.
Mentors will successfully complete 30 hours of initial training, both online and in-person as well as attend a monthly professional development meeting. Mentors agree to volunteer for at least 50 hours over the course of a year.
To become a Money Mentor, contact Amanda DeRew at or (309) 663-8306. You may also visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/moneymentors/.
Employment Opportunities:
PATH Positions
Clinical Follow-Up – Part-time - Provide a tracking system for people who have had contact with crisis services. The work consists of providing continuous assessment of suicide risk, assessment for other services, and documentation of client contacts for up to five weeks. The goal of the program is to be a part of the continuity of care in the mental health arena.