Start the new year right and get your GED!

Spring Session will be held at the DuPage PADS Support Center: 705 W Liberty, Wheaton, IL, 60187

Register Now By Taking The TABE Test. Classes start on 01/13/2010 and tuition is free.

Step 1. Register NOW at the DuPage PADS Support Center.

Step 2. Take the TABE Reading and Math tests to determine your correct course level. Call for details 630-682-8567 X 247.

Step 3. Attend group classes taught by College of DuPage Staff at the Support Center starting January 20, 2010.

DuPage PADS Spring 2010 GED Flyer

United Way of the DuPage Area (UWDA), along with United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC), will launch its Health & Wellness Issue Area (HW) application process on October 5th, 2009.

Note: HW funding includes programs previously categorized as Health or Crisis/Safety Net. The application process will start with a Request for Information (RFI) from all applicants and will follow the timeline below:

• October 5, 2009: RFI released
• October 5-9, 2009: Agency RFI workshops
• October 14, 2009: New agency pre-qualification deadline
• October 23, 2009: RFI due
• December 7, 2009: notification to programs who submitted RFIs and will pass on to application stage, notification to programs who submitted RFIs and will not pass on to application stage
• December 7, 2009: Stage 2 Application released to selected programs
• January 15, 2010: Application due
• April, 2010: Program funding decision-making
• May, 2010: Award/decline letters sent

Stage 1: Request for Information (RFI)

All new agencies must pre-qualify before they complete an RFI, and may seek to become pre-qualified by completing a short questionnaire at https://unitedway.wufoo.com/forms/new-agencies.

Once pre-qualified, UWMC staff will provide all new agencies with the website link, as well as a user name and password to access the online application system. Agencies are encouraged to complete the qualification process prior to the RFI release date. New agencies must pre-qualify by October 14, 2009. If you are unsure if your agency must pre-qualify, please contact Tom Galassini (tgalassini@uw-mc.org).

NOTE: Agencies that currently receive UWMC funding and/or those that applied to UWMC during the Financial Stability funding process do not need to pre-qualify and may use their current CTK username and password to access the RFI. However, agencies that have not received funding from United Way in the last 2 years and that did not apply for Financial Stability funding last fall must follow the steps to pre-qualify.

Important Application Tools & Workshops

To prepare for the application process, all agencies should review the documents included below:

• UWMC Health & Wellness Community Impact Plan
• HW Measurement Framework & Definitions

In addition, UWMC staff members will conduct workshops for agencies to cover the RFI process and instructions. Those workshops will be conducted around the region and are listed below. If you are unable to attend a workshop, UWMC staff will post a training video to our website the week of October 5th. It is strongly encouraged that you attend a live training or view the video.

Tuesday, October 6th
2:00pm – 4:00pm
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
560 W. Lake Street

Wednesday, October 7th
2:00pm – 4:00pm
North Shore Senior Center
161 Northfield Road
Northfield, IL 60093

Wednesday, October 7th
10am – 12pm
Metropolitan Family Services
222 E. Willow Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187

Thursday, October 8th
10 am – 12pm
Frisbie Senior Center
52 Northwest Highway
Des Plaines, IL 60016

Friday, October 9th
1:30pm – 3:30pm
Metropolitan Family Services
10537 S. Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL 60465

Questions

Should you have any questions about this process, please contact Esther Hicks, Program Manager of UWDA, at 630-645-6333 or ehicks@uw-mc.org. You may also contact Elizabeth Cole at 312.906.2419, Annette Charles at 312.906.2410 or Tom Galassini at 312.906.2360 or via e-mail at communityimpact@uw-mc.org.

On Friday, October 23, 2009 agencies will be coming together at the DuPage PADS Support Center to connect with individuals from DuPage County to discuss their programs and services. The event will be from 9am to 12pm at 703 West Liberty in Wheaton. The purpose of this event is to gather several agencies together in one location so individuals in need of services can come speak to several service providers at one time. The event is open to ALL community members in need of social service resources.

For additional information, please read the Open Door Flyer.

Please visit our Agency Spotlight page to read about Heritage YMCA Group.

DuPage PADS is offering free GED prep classes at their Support Center located at 703 W Liberty, Wheaton, IL, 60187. Classes start August 24, 2009 and tuition is free.

Please read their flyer for more information. The class is open to all, but all must register. This can be done by calling Jane at 630.682.3846 X 247 or Sue at 630.682.3846 X 262. You can also stop in at the Support Center and sign up.

“Out of Poverty” is a program of personal change. “Out of Poverty” affirms that change is possible. By following a step-by-step process within a group context, participants take responsibility for their life and choices, commit to learn and practice new behavior, and finally share experiences and thus find a road to a more prosperous life. In letting go of unproductive thoughts, feelings and behaviors and replacing them with new ones participants move towards a better quality of life.

“Out of Poverty” classes will be held on 7 consecutive Mondays, from 9:30am – 12:30pm, starting September 14, 2009 through November 2, 2009 at Catholic Charities, 26 W St Charles Rd. Lombard, IL 60148. No class will be held on Monday October 12th in observance of the Columbus Day Holiday. Baby sitting will be available.

If you would like to enroll in the program or have any questions, please contact Ron Madsen (rmadsen@cc-doj.org) or Jane Tyschenko (jtyschenko@cc-doj.org). There is no fee for this program which is open to all.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Check out this month’s Agency Spotlight on Access DuPage…

Access DuPage Staff

Please click here to read our interview with Kara Murphy, Managing Director of Access DuPage.

Check out this month’s Agency Spotlight on Bridge Communities…

Please click here for the whole story.

Please note that to apply for funding you must fill out a Request for Information (RFI). Requests will not be accepted after August 8. No applications will be accepted without a completed RFI.

To apply for funds, contact Tom Galassini, Director of Agency Relations at tgalassini(at)uw-mc.org or call his direct line: 312-906-2360.

For more information, please click on the link below.

http://www.uw-mc.org/programfunding.html

Although both parents of this Warrenville family were working, they had a very meager income to support their family of five. The family applied for food stamps and submitted all of the information requested of them. Nevertheless, instead of receiving food stamps, they received a notice that their application was denied because they did not provide the information required.

Initially, a Prairie State attorney advised the parents on how to pursue the appeal on their own. When the clients went to the hearing, they were told that the food stamps were denied because they were over income. This was an error, and the clients were able to submit the necessary information and get the food stamp application approved, but at a much lower amount than expected.

At this point, a Prairie State attorney intervened. The attorney collected the necessary information from the clients and calculated the amount of Food Stamps the family was entitled to receive. The attorney then contacted the DHS caseworker directly, and as a result, the household’s food stamp benefits were more than doubled.

With support from United Way of the DuPage Area, these benefits made a substantial difference in providing for the basic nutrition of the household members.