COMMUNITY NETWORKING NEWSCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF COOK COUNTY, INC.

FALL 2008WWW.CEDAORG.NET

IN THIS ISSUE

In October, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and CEDA Head Start announced a collaborative agreement that aligned two of the state’s largest facilitators of family services into a unique full-service-referral-style operation.

The partnership will work to help ensure that Illinois’ most at-risk youth are given the best chances of functioning in normal family-oriented,

caring environments.The collaborative effort is part

of Strengthening Families Illinois, a DCFS-supported initiative of more than 40 public and private sector partners collaborating with early childhood education centers to build protective factors around children.

DCFS and CEDA Collaborati ve Signing

(left to right) Hermine Wise, CEDA Director of Procurement; Mark Barrett, CEDA Disabili-ties/ Mental Health Services Manager; Linda Langosch, CEDA Early Childhood Development Manager;Trevaughn Cheek, CEDA Eligibility Specialist; Unita Sims, CEDA Vice President Head Start; Robert L. Wharton, CEDA President/ CEO; Erwin McEwen, DCFS Director; Patri-cia Doherty-Wildner, CEDA Executive Vice President, Mark Enenbach, CEDA Vice President of Operations; Marsha Belcher, CEDA Director of Marketing and Research Development; John Tschoe, CEDA Director of Policy Implementation

See SIGN p. 7

CEDA, ComEd, Kennedy King College, Peoples Gas, and Congressman Bobby L. Rush’s offi ce hosted the LIHEAP season’s 1st energy fair November 1, opening day, of the LIHEAP program year.

Hundreds of Chicago residents attended the fair to apply for LIHEAP, Home Weatherization Assistance Program, emergency furnace and ComEd Hardship fund.

The City of Chicago and the 3-1-1 center set up booths to help attendees

with additional city services.South suburban residents had the

option of attending a concurrent fair at Thornton Township General Assistance Offi ce.

CEDA Community Development Area sites in Harvey, Robbins and Chicago Heights co-sponsored this event with NICOR and ComEd.

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based

Congressman Rush Hosts Season’s 1st Energy Fair at Kennedy King College

(left to right) Thyatiria Townes, District Programs Coordinator for Congressman Bobby Rush; Patricia Doherty-Wildner, CEDA Executive Vice-President; Congressman Bobby L. Rush; and Adrienne Jones, Peoples Gas, Director of Governmental Affairs at Kennedy King College.

See ENERGY p. 6

EVANSTON COMMUNITY FORUM.......................................P.2

OPPORTUNITIES GROUP..............P.3

WEATHERIZATION DAY..............P.3

FAMILY OF DISTINCTION.............P.4

TEAM HEAT...............................P.5

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR............P.5

BREASTFEEDING GRADUATION....P.6

HEALTHY MARRIAGE SYMPOSIUM................................P.7

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FALL 2008

CEDA Programs

Child & Family DevelopmentActive Fathers/ Male Involvement

Early Head Start/ Head StartFamily Case Management

Parenting Skills DevelopmentTeen Parent Services

Economic DevelopmentEntrepreneurship Training

Individual Development AccountsSmall Business Loan Program

Workforce Investment ActEducation

Adult LiteracyComputer TrainingFinancial Literacy

GED TrainingReading is Fundamental

ScholarshipsTalent Search

Emergency ServicesCrisis Intervention for Seniors

Food and Shelter for the HomelessEmployment and Training

Adult Job Readiness/Word ProcessingCareer Center

Summer Youth EmploymentYouth Basic Skills and Workforce

Preparation and placementEnergy Conservation

Home RepairHome Weatherization

Lead AbatementHealth and Nutrition

Food ConnectionLead ScreeningWIC Program

Breast Feeding Promotion/ SupportSummer Feeding Program

Housing ServicesAffordable Housing Project

Comprehensive Housing CounselingHome Maintenance SeminarsRental & Mortgage Assistance

Senior ServicesHealth PromotionDisease PromotionSenior Mobilization

Senior StabilizerUtility Assistance

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAPShare the Wealth

CEDA Neighbors at Work hosted a community forum Friday, September 26, 2008 at Levy Senior Center in Evanston.

Among the speakers were, Evonda Thomas, Director of Health and Human Services for the City of Evanston; Meryl Rivenson, Director of Health and Human Services for the Village of Skokie; Maureen DiFrancesca, Chief Professional Offi cer for the United Way of the North Shore; and Angie Lobos, Chief of Staff for Representative Julie Hamos, as well as small group discussion leaders from the community.

“Each year my staff and I host community forums at which residents and community stakeholders have an opportunity to discuss and deliberate the pressing issues facing low-income families and the working poor in our communities,” said Pat Vance CEDA Neighbors at Work executive director.

CEDA Neighbors at Work uses this input to set their agenda and establish priorities for the next two to three years.

“Some issues never change, said Vance.

As long as there is poverty, there will always a pressing need for utility bill payment assistance, home weatherization and repair, mortgage assistance and homeless prevention, safe and affordable childcare, and assistance

with issues like unemployment and under-employment, inadequate healthcare, and nutrition.

However, Evanston and Skokie agencies are experiencing alarming increases in home foreclosure prevention requests as well as requests for food and rent assistance.

“What you may not realize in this community is that we have limited specialty services for our vulnerable groups and we have more barriers as groups try to ascertain care, said Thomas.

Vance and CEDA president and CEO, Robert L. Wharton shared some of the fi ndings with City of Evanston, Mayor Morton, and the city council members at their October meeting.

Evanston Township Social Service Providers meet with residents to assess community’s growing needs

“Some issues never change” -Pat Vance, executi ve director, CEDA Neighbors at Work

(above) Ira Williams, CEDA Director of Workforce and Economic Development, leads his table’s discussion at the CEDA Neighbors at Work Community Forum , September 26, 2008.(left) Posters with issues discussed by com-munity members at the forum, line the walls. The forum created an outlet for local residents in the Evanston community to voice their opin-ions on the issues facing their neighborhoods and community members. CEDA Neighbors at Work in turn uses information gathered from the forum to determine their agenda and how they can better serve their community.

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FALL 2008

During the formal announcement at CEDA headquarters that featured offi cials from both organizations, representatives for CEDA Head Start expressed gratitude and optimism for being a partner on such an important undertaking.

“This is a wonderful partnership that will ensure we’re able to add increased value to the lives of the families and children we serve,” said Unita Sims, vice president of Children and Family Services at CEDA.

“We protect children when we support families,” said DCFS Director Erwin McEwen. “This collaboration helps DCFS staff work more closely with Head Start staff in Cook County, to address issues before they result in harm to children. We can build protective factors around children by engaging and serving parents, and we thank CEDA for joining us in this partnership.”

Under the agreement the DCFS will refer wards of the state that are in substitute care, children of wards, and children in intact families, to enroll in CEDA Head Start, which currently serves more than 2700 families annually throughout suburban Cook County.

CEDA Head Start offers before and after school programs, daycare, home-based care and other services for expecting parents, disabled youth and

children up until the age of fi ve with educational, nutritional and youth development resources.

In addition, the DCFS will train CEDA Head Start staff on preventive child abuse and neglect measures so that staff can adhere to performance standards that support family strengthening and child safety.

In return, CEDA will actively recruit children and families referred by the DCFS whenever slots are available and both organizations will conduct ongoing information sharing on programs, services and clients that offi cials from both organizations believe will create a more streamlined, effi cient approach.

“Both organizations work with the mission in mind to strengthen

families so that children can be raised in healthy, productive and loving environments that will foster better youth development and this is what this agreement symbolizes,” said Sims.

Through six learning networks supporting more than 60 early childhood programs, DCFS helps early childhood staff work with parents to prevent harm to children before it begins.

In 2007, the Center for the Study of Social Policy recognized DCFS as the foremost national model for its leadership and innovation in implementing the Strengthening Families approach.

Learn more about Strengthening Families Illinois through www.strenghtheningfamiliesillinois.org

CEDA President/ CEO Robert L. Wharton (left) and DCFS Director Erwin McEwen sign off on the collaboration between the two organizations on October 8, 2008.

SIGN cont. from p. 1

CEDA’s Fatherhood Demonstrati on Project hosts it second Healthy Marriage Symposium

CEDA sponsored its second Healthy Marriage Symposium on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at House Of Prayer Church Of God In Christ located at 3535 West Roosevelt Road in Chicago.

Over 50 men and women attended the symposium where they participated in lively discussions about marriage enrichment and communication in relationships.

Symposium participants were all given the opportunity to sign up for Healthy Marriage and Economic Stability services.

Participants were also given an overview of Economic Stability Services and an Adult Continuing

Education Workshop. A continental breakfast and lunch

was provided. In July 2008, CEDA presented the

fi rst Healthy Marriage Symposium. Through these symposiums,

CEDA has been able to serve sixty men and fi fty-four women with a minimum of 8 hours of curriculum based Healthy Marriage training.

The Fatherhood Demonstration Project also provides workshops on Goal Setting / Skill Assessment , Starting Your Own Business, Job/Work Readiness Skill Building, Personal Development, Financial Planning and Credit Repair Seminars, Computer Skills, Adult Continuing

Education and GED.More Healthy Marriage

Symposiums are in planning stages.

Chris Frederick (right), Coordinator for CEDA’s Fatherhood Demonstration Project with a participant of CEDA’s second Healthy Marriage Symposium.

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FALL 2008

CEDA WIC Breastf eeding Support Counselor’s Training Program graduates 20

Jenniffel Aquino is now a member of a growing number of alumni certifi ed as Breastfeeding Support Counselors through CEDA’s Breastfeeding Support Counselor’s Training program.

On Oct. 16, Aquino, along with 19 other trainees--mostly WIC nutritionists and family case managers from various organizations, medical centers and health departments throughout Cook County--became the latest group to complete the fi ve-week course designed to teach professionals how to educate young mothers on the importance of administering proper nutrition to their infants. Nine of the graduates were current CEDA WIC nutritionists.

The course, which is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, is part of CEDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and focuses intensely on the care provided between mother and child and effective communication practices between mothers and counselors. Trainees learn effective counseling methods, problem solving techniques and proper uses of a breast pump, among other essential tools.

The CEDA WIC/FCM Breastfeeding training team consists of four fi eld coordinators: Michele Chase, Erin Nold, Michelle Ward, and Amy Tittelbach, whom together have more than 30 years of combined

training and teaching experience. The team’s commitment to the program is evidenced by their continuous efforts to refresh, update and evaluate the quality of the instruction provided.

In its ninth year, the program has trained 170 breastfeeding counselors from all over Illinois. CEDA WIC/FCM now offers two breastfeeding training programs every year; a fall training for

WIC nutritionists and spring training for WIC/FCM line staff.

“It’s a phenomenal program because we assume that all women have an innate sense of understanding in knowing how to do everything that’s involved with being a mother,” said CEDA Executive Vice President Pat Doherty-Wildner, a guest speaker at the ceremony. “There’s a growing population of young mothers who

need support and these women have worked extremely hard and will bring great training to the families and communities they serve.”

Monica, a nutritionist for a non-profi t health services corporation in Chicago, a day after graduating wrote on her blog that receiving ‘congratulations’ from her grandmother “really made me feel good about what I’ve accomplished.”

Trainees are required to complete 40 hours or one eight-hour class per week for fi ve weeks.

Research techniques and enhanced communication skills are among several tools that graduates are expected to develop that will play an essential role in their ability to assist expecting and breastfeeding mothers, many of whom have little or no parental support.

LaShon Reese, regional nutritionist consultant for IDHS, who gave the keynote address, reaffi rmed the impact that breastfeeding counselors have on the lives of the mothers they serve. “You have taken steps to help other mothers. You have made it easier for mothers to take their kids to school, for mothers to get dinner ready. You will play a big role in their lives.”

Each graduate received personalized plaques with their certifi cate and began work immediately as breastfeeding counselors for their respective agencies or organizations.

CEDA Field Coordinator, Michele Chase (left) and WIC Director Margaret Saunders (right) present Jenniffel Aquino (middle) with her Breastfeeding Support Counselor’s certifi ca-tion.

upon gross income for the 30 days prior to the date of application and is $1300 for one person household; $1750 for two person households; $2200 for three person households; and $2650 for four person households.

In addition, any eligible household that is disconnected from their utility or who is at or below 25 percent on a delivered fuel and cannot get a delivery of their own may qualify for re-connection assistance.

ENERGY cont. from p. 1 Young girls at Kennedy King College for Con-gressman Rush’s Energy Fair take a break from coloring to pose for the camera. The energy fair was the fi rst of the season, taking place on November 1, 2008, the opening day of the LIHEAP program year. The Chicago Fire Department’s Public Educa-tion offi ce and the Chicago Police Department’s Organized Crime Division provided coloring books for the children.

Call CEDA hotline 800-571-CEDA (2332) or visit www.cedaorg.net for more information on CEDA energy

services.

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FALL 2008

On a late Monday afternoon, Alan Maeder, Vice President of Temporary Opportunities, a division of The Opportunities Group, phoned CEDA’s Director of Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Ira Williams with a hefty request.

Alan needed up to 50 temporary workers to fi ll positions for a last minute four-day assignment starting on Wednesday—common ground for the locally and female owned Chicago-based staffi ng fi rm that specializes in placing candidates in the administrative, customer service, and accounting fi elds.

Within 24 hours of their conversation, CEDA sent more than a dozen candidates to The Opportunities Group for a pre-screening and interview process, of which 11 were hired.

The candidates helped to successfully complete a large survey project for one of Maeder’s clients that would have otherwise been a monumental task to undertake.

“Working with CEDA is a unique and rewarding experience,” says Maeder. “We’re always looking to partner with clients where the value of the partnership is mutually benefi cial. We were able to utilize CEDA’s resources to provide good candidates for a last-minute project, which was very benefi cial to everyone.

According to Maeder, The Opportunities Group can help CEDA, fi ll temporary openings when needed as well as provide access to many diverse employment opportunities for Alan Maeder, Vice President of Temporary

Opportunities and Patricia Doherty-Wildner Executive Vice-President for CEDA.

Nati onal Weatherizati on Day

In February, Joann DeMauro will be celebrating her one-year anniversary living at the Altenheim Apartments in Forest Park, a place she says feels more like home each day due to the wonderful treatment the staff has provided since her arrival.

Before moving to the Altenheim, DeMauro owned a condo where she admits her utility bills were three times as high compared to what she currently pays.

Now living with a cat as her companion, DeMauro says she’s never had to turn the thermostat above 60 and the results are more “comfortable” energy expenses.

With new energy effi cient appliances and state-of-the art insulation technology recently installed by CEDA, DeMauro and the other 35 senior households at the Altenheim can expect continued comfortable living and low-cost energy bills.

As part of their efforts to promote energy conservation, ComEd awarded a grant to the Illinois Home

Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) that provided more than $90,000 for weatherization work at the Altenheim.

Over the course of six weeks, workers contracted by CEDA, insulated the attic with a new foaming spray, cleaned and tuned the wall heating systems, made adjustments to the building’s water heater, and completed several other upgrades.

“We can’t overlook the needs of residents in independent living apartments just because they’re not residing in traditional homes,” said John Hamilton, CEDA director of Weatherization. “There’s a large population of seniors in apartment complexes like the Altenheim that need energy assistance as do many of our clients and we’re proud to serve them.”

In recognition of National Weatherization Day, CEDA and ComEd offi cials celebrated the project with residents and staff of the Altenheim. Attendees were given a tour of the attic

and several apartments where work had been administered.

Joining in the celebration were Patricia Doherty-Wildner, CEDA’s Executive Vice President, Fidel Marquez, ComEd vice president for External Affairs and Large Customer Services, Tim Herlehy, Altenheim board president, Randy Bennett, IHWAP program manager, and many others.

Homes and apartments are selected for energy upgrades in part by each location’s energy usage and energy effi ciency needs. The Altenheim Apartments, home to 36 senior households, was selected after a vetting process that warranted weatherization upgrades and took into consideration the building’s history which dates back 125 years and provided the backdrop for three Hollywood movies.

“Residents were impressed with the entire operation and are looking forward to the benefi ts of energy effi ciency and lower energy bills,” said Gayle Fahey, director of the

See WED p. 4

The Opportuniti es Group partners with CEDA to provide job assistance to Workforce and Economic Development clients

CEDA Weatherizati on and ComEd team up to celebrate at the Altenheim Apartments

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FALL 2008

2008 Family of Disti ncti on

Congratulations to Debra Jenkins-Smith and her family from Harvey, on being selected as the CEDA 2008 Family of Distinction.

Debra Jenkins-Smith, a college graduate with two degrees, a motivational speaker, and a mother of six children, never imagined that she would be the one who would need a “hand up.”

Only a year after her family was featured in Ebony Magazine, Debra fell into a deep depression after being viciously attacked by a pit bull.

Due to the depression, Debra became unemployed and the family became homeless as a result fi nancial instability, foreclosure, and fi re.

Debra and her family found

themselves living in and out of hotels for extended periods of time, but she knew this was not a healthy environment for her six impressionable children.

Never wanting a handout, Debra humbly walked through the doors of CEDA and found that there were no handouts, only hand ups.

Since that day Debra has taken advantage of nearly every resource CEDA has to offer, including the Homeownership Education course, the Self-Employment Training Program, the Computer Training Class, WIC, and the LIHEAP Program.

Debra was determined to become self-suffi cient, therefore, she came to CEDA with one resolve. She wanted to master the skill of “balancing success.”

With assistance from Charlene Hawthorne, Social Service Coordinator and Case Manager at the CEDA Center for Community Action in Harvey, Debra has been able to sustain her self-suffi ciency and is passing along the skills she has developed to her young children.

An award dinner was thrown in Debra’s honor on December 15, 2008 at Dusties Soul Food Buffet in Dolton where CEDA staff presented her with a plaque and gift card.

Debra was joined by family, friends and CEDA staff to celebrate the event.

We applaud Debra for her strength, her courage and her perseverance!

2008 Family of Distinction winner Debra Jenkins-Smith and Robert L. Wharton, CEDA President/ CEO at the Family of Distinction Award Dinner.

CEDA clients. “It’s a win-win situation,” said

Maeder.The partnership between The

Opportunities Group and CEDA is the paradigm for which the CEDA Collaborative Organizations (CCO) initiative was founded.

Created by Williams, CEDA WED and nine employment staffi ng agencies throughout Cook County, from boutique shops like The Opportunities Group to global powerhouse Robert Half International, focus to expand job creation opportunities for individuals often overlooked in the competitive job market.

“There is a population of employable individuals who don’t stand much of a chance to compete with the business elite in corporate America,” said Williams. “However, these people possess the work skills that qualify them to fi ll many entry-level positions in multiple business sectors. With the support of recruiting experts who can help hone these fundamental skills, our clients then become marketable for short-term, long-term jobs and permanent assignments.”

In little time Williams’ business model has proven to be of great value.

Maeder says that upon completion of the survey project, The Opportunities Group was able to place one of the candidates CEDA had referred, John Goings, into a permanent temp-to-hire customer service position with another of their clients.

“I appreciate being able to work,” said Goings. “I enjoy being able to work and pay my bills. While at CEDA I stayed focused and kept plugging away. I fi gured the best way was to create a gigantic network and if you knock on 1000 doors one of them will open up, and it did.”

“It’s crazy to expect someone to achieve self-suffi ciency if there’s no opportunity to generate income,” added Williams. “Partners like the Opportunity Group and our other CCOs understand that basic principle, and this is why we’re excited about being able to put people—even those from low-income backgrounds—back to work.”

WED cont. from p. 3Debra Jenkins-Smith

(left to right) Carolyn Taylor, Executive Director, CEDA Center for Community Action ;Robert L. Wharton, President/ CEO, CEDA; Debra Jenkins-Smith; Yvonne Butchee, CSBG Director, CEDA; Ulric Shannon, CSBG Program Assistant, CEDA; Charlene Hawthorne, Social Service Coordinator, CEDA Center for Community Action.

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Fall 2008

Team HEAT: Team Home Energy Assistance TogetherFor the fifth consecutive

year Peoples Gas partnered with Metropolitan Family Services, First Alert, the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment and CEDA to help low and fixed-income households in Peoples Gas service area prepare for the cold months of winter.

Mary Lockett of Chicago was just one of the lucky beneficiaries of Team HEAT’s warm greeting.

Meeting income qualification guidelines, Ms. Lockett received a new furnace, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguisher and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

As a result, Ms. Lockett’s home now retains more heat during the winter, which decreases her energy use and ultimately saves her money on utility bills.

Collectively known as Team HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Together), each group works to create a safer and more energy efficient home with the goal of also helping homeowners manage rising energy costs.

In 2008, Team HEAT weatherized approximately 60 homes throughout Chicago, mostly on the city’s South Side between the 9th and 34th wards.

Local contractors hired by CEDA perform home assessments to determine the scope of work that needs to be completed for each

household, which can include putting plastic sheeting over windows, covering outlets for air leaks and weather stripping doors.

According to Peoples Gas, 50 percent of the homes that were weatherized were occupied by

seniors, underscoring the need to ensure homes are properly equipped to endure the extreme temperatures of winter and summer.

For more information contact (800) 571-CEDA (2332) or visit www.cedaorg.net.

(above) Jennifer Smith, CEDA; Bonnie John-son, Peoples Gas; 34th ward Alderman, Carrie Austin; Adrienne Jones, Peoples Gas. (left) Ken Nelson of Care-N-Comfort Heating and Cooling and Mary Lockett during Team HEAT. Lockett was one of 60 homeowners who CEDA Weatherization helped prepare for winter as part of this year’s Team HEAT.For the past 5 years, CEDA has collaborated People’s Gas, Metropolitan Family Services and the City of Chicago’s Department of Envi-ronment to reach out to low and fixed-income families with Team HEAT.

Donate to

Anytime www.cedaorg.net

5

FALL 2008

208 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1900 Chicago, IL 60604-1001 312.795.8844 www.cedaorg.net

CEDA Near West6141 W. Roosevelt Rd.Cicero, IL 60804708.222.3824

CEDA Northwest Self-Help Center, Inc.1300 Northwest HighwayMt. Prospect, IL 60056847.392.2332www.cedanorthwest.org

CEDA Bloom-Rich CDA1203 West End Ave.Chicago Heights, IL 60411708.758.2510

CEDA Bloom-Rich CDA1647 Cottage GroveFord Heights, IL 60411708.754.4575

CEDA Center for Community Action53 E. 154th St.Harvey, IL 60426708.339.3610

CEDA Neighbors at Work1229 EmersonEvanston, IL 60201847.328.5166

Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action411 W. MadisonMaywood, IL 60153

Southeast CEDA 3518 W. 139th St.Robbins, IL 60472708.371.1220

CEDA Southwest Development Assn.7666 W. 63rd St. Summit, IL 60501708.458.2736

208 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1900Chicago, IL 60604-1001

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