Agency Updates from HSC Meeting on Oct 14, 2014

Bloomington Housing Authority: Section 8/Housing Choice is open, have client come in early to apply. Currently 640 people on the waiting list and growing.

Department of Human Services: Still experiencing increased workload per staff (1 case work per 800+ clients).  Delays in answering phones – Have clients walk into offices to apply for SNAP and Medicaid for quicker service.

LABYRINTH OUTREACH SERVICES TO WOMEN – PRESENTED BY KRISTIN MANZI, MSW ON OCT 14, 2014

Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women is a nonprofit organization that provides services for women who were formerly incarcerated, free of charge.

Through helping these women with securing:

  • State identification
  • Transportation
  • Employment preparation
  • Housing, food, and clothing resources
  • Medical and prescription assistance
  • GED, education, and job training linkage
  • Long-term counseling and case management
  • Family reunification including parenting resources
  • A spiritual community of their choice
  • A support system
  • Special opportunities when available such as vocational training, art therapy, and holiday gatherings

Qualifications:

  • If currently in jail or prison, release date is within 1 month of intake meeting
  • On parole or probation or has a felony/misdemeanor in her background
  • Willing to seek employment
  • Willing to complete any recommended treatment for substance abuse and/or mental health issues
  • Willing to work with staff in an effort to achieve independence and remain free from further police involvement

Labyrinth Transitional Housing Program (Opening 2015)

Eligibility:

  • Formerly incarcerated
  • Willing to seek employment
  • Willing to complete any recommended treatment for substance abuse and/or mental health issues
  • Willing to work with staff in an effort to achieve independence
  • Former resident of McLean County prior to incarceration
  • Willing to volunteer in the community

Contact Kristin Manzi, MSW – Program Coordinator & Case Manager

Labyrinth Outreach Services To Women

616 W. Monroe St. Bloomington, IL 61701

General e-mail: info@labyrinthoutreach.org

Coordinator e-mail: kristin@labyrinthoutreach.org

Tel: 309-831-6491

CAREGIVER CONNECTIONS – PRESENTED BY CRIS STANEK, LCSW ON AUG 12, 2014

Caregiver Connections – Early Childhood Mental Health

Emphasis on health vs. illness (ie. Community mental health centers)

  • 60% of children in IL are in the CHILDCARE SETTING due to working parents.
  • Inevitably, the caregiver has an integral part on the SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SELF-REGULATION of child and MENTAL HEALTH.
  • DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST with the childcare provider is very important.

Development of social emotional health, self-regulation, and mental health seen of a 3-5 year old are seen as PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS.

  • Pre-school children are 3x’s more likely to be EXPELLED from school than others in grades K-12 due to BEHAVIORAL incongruities.
  • 17% of children can be DIAGONOSED with DSM’s MENTAL ILLNESS.
  • Can be extremely challenging for childcare providers, especially when student to caregiver/teacher ratio is 10:1.
  • 90% of BRAIN DEVELOPMENT occurs within the FIRST 5 YEARS of LIFE. Children NEED EXPERIENCES in order to reach MILESTONE MOMENTS.

 The EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANT – CRIS STANEK, LCSW

  • Does NOT DIAGNOSE children.
  • Instead, looks at BEHAVIORS ONLY
    • THROWING CHAIRS, then figures out how to coach caregiver and/or children and provide techniques to rectify/change/alter behavior. For example, HOW TO HANDLE AGRESSION instead of labeling with diagnosing and providing mental health counseling.

3 JOBS of Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants

  • CONSULTANT ROLE: watch/OBSERVE the BEHAVIOR
  • TRAINER ROLE: Trains childcare providers, DCFS staff, CCR&R networks.
    • Teaches SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS to “BUILD BABY BRAINS”
  • BRIDGE BUILDING: Referrals to mental health, community resources, and childcare.

WHO’s ELIGIBLE?

  • Children AGES BIRTH THROUGH 5 YEARS OLD.
  • Children in CHILDCARE CENTERS, HOMEBASED, and LICENSE OR LICENSE EXEMPT (ie: Grandmother with grandchild).
    • Does not provide services for parent/child relationships.
  • NO SERVICES to Head Start or Public Schools (they have social workers).

CAREGIVER CONNECTIONS IS STATEWIDE, see: www.caregiverconnections.org

  • CRIS STANEK, LCSW services 4 COUNTIES: MCLEAN, DEWITT, FORD, and LIVINGSTON.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST and WHAT IS THE DURATION OF SERVICES?

  • FREE PROGRAM
  • Need parental consent
  • Help as LONG AS IT IS NEEDED and PEOPLE are WILLING to WORK WITH THEM.
    • Can follow children if moved/expelled from a childcare setting.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL?

  • To answer questions and find solutions for (to include but not limited to):
    • “Why won’t he sit still during circle time?”
    • “Why does she continue to bite?”
    • “WHAT TRIGGERS HIS AGGRESSION?”
    • “How can I get him to nap?”
    • “I can’t seem to connect with the parents.”
    • “SHE JUST WON’T LISTEN TO ME!”
    • “He bothers kids by touching them all the time.”
    • “I THINK WE MAY NEED TO DIS-ENROLL HIM.”
  • To find solutions to challenging childlike behavior like:
    • Difficulty listening and cooperating
    • Biting or hitting
    • Over-activity
    • Eating and sleeping problems
    • Shyness, inability to play with others
    • Anxiety
    • Tantrums or excessive crying
    • Aggression
    • Delays in development
  • …or have family problems including:
    • Substance abuse
    • Depression
    • Divorce/blended families
    • stress

Agency Updates from HSC meeting on Jun 10, 2014

The Next Step collaborative will be hosting several financial education workshops at Mid Central Community Action, Inc. on Monday evenings for 7 weeks, beginning June 16, 2014. You can find detailed information about the workshop series and scheduled workshops in the attached flier.

Please note that the first workshop, Credit Building, will be held Monday, June 16 at Mid Central Community Action (address below) from 5:30-7:00 p.m., with light dinner provided for participants and child care available if needed.Class size is limited so registration is required for all of the workshops. Additionally, if child care is needed during the workshop, please be sure to include that information when you RSVP.

If you have questions or would like to RSVP for one of the workshops, please contact Kelley Staub, Program Data Specialist by email or phone at (309) 834-9244 or kelleys@mccainc.org.

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