A one stop shopping event of health and human services for families living on low incomes in DuPage County with children ages newborn to 18 years.

When: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 @ 11 am – 6pm
Where: DuPage County Fairgrounds – 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL

Parents must bring this information to the fair:

1. Proof of Income – recent pay stubs, tax return or Public Aid card. If you cannot provide this information, you must bring cash income verification, written letter from your employer, recent bank statements or a note from a caseworker.
2. Proof of Address in DuPage County – photo I.D., driver’s license, or State I.D., and a recent utility bill or lease.
3. Identification for Children – birth certificated or medical record.

Coordinated by Catholic Charities www.cc-doj.org.

Download the information sheet which includes all the details of this event and a map.

Jason Shiliga
Youth Education Coordinator
Division of Human Services
Downers Grove Township
Email: jason.shiliga@dgtownship.com
Phone: (630) 719-6687

As the 2010 / 2011 school year approaches, many districts require physicals before the opening of school.  Download a reference sheet provided by the DuPage Department of Health, that lists many doctors’ offices in the county that provide affordable school and sports physicals.  Good luck with the upcoming school year!

Jason Shiliga
Youth Education Coordinator
Division of Human Services
Downers Grove Township
Email: jason.shiliga@dgtownship.com
Phone: (630) 719-6687

Cathy Rager and Jason Shiliga of the Human Services Division will be conducting several classes at Anne M Jeans Elementary School in the Burr Ridge School District this July.  The classes will be part of their summer reading development program through the library at Anne M Jeans.  The topics Cathy and Jason will be conducting classes on will be: 1) Alcohol / Tobacco / and Drug Prevention; 2) Empathy / Character Education; and 3) Goal Setting / Personal Responsibility.

The classes will be taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the end of July.  
July 13th and 14th: Alcohol / Tobacco / and Drug Prevention 
July 20th and 21st: Empathy / Character Education 
July 27th and 28th: Goal Setting / Personal Responsibility

Jason Shiliga
Youth Education Coordinator
Downers Grove Township
Email: jason.shiliga@dgtownship.com
Phone: (630) 719-6687

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, residents from the Fairview, a VibrantLiving community in Downers Grove, put on their poodle skirts and dancing shoes for a “50’s Street Party” that had everyone smiling and reminiscing about their glory days. Downers Grove Township collaborated with Fairview Baptist and Girl Scout Troop 654 to put on this inter-generational event, bringing together local youth leaders to plan and host this fantastic event for residents from the Fairview VibrantLiving community.

The day dawned overcast but as the party got into full swing, the sun was shining and the music was rocking. “Nowstalgia”, two local entertainers brought residents back to the 50’s with a variety of music that was a mark of that decade. Ranging from the smooth styling of Patty Page to the full out hip gyrating music of Elvis Presley, residents and volunteers alike got into the act as they sang with the performers or got up and showed their stuff with a jitterbug or swing. Downers Grove South student Lexi Osborn choreographed some routines and was on hand to engage residents in the fun, dancing through the crowd and bringing a lot of huge smiles. If residents weren’t watching the entertainment, there were other things planned for them to bring back the nostalgia of the 50’s.
Continue reading ‘Residents “Rock N’ Roll” at a 50’s Street Party’ »

On Saturday, April 17, a long run and highly successful program came to a bittersweet end at the final D.A.R.E. lock-in held at Downers Grove North High School. As the final group of two hundred and twenty nine sixth grade students from Belle Aire, Henry Puffer, Indian Trail, Kingsley, Pierce Downer and St. Mary’s entered the lock-in, they were enthusiastically greeted by over two hundred Downers Grove North high school leaders who were determined to make this the most memorable lock-in ever.

The D.A.R.E. program began in Downers Grove in 1993. In 2000, a collaborative effort between Downers Grove Township, District 99 and the Downers Grove Police Department saw the birth of the lock-in. The lock-in was designed to give the sixth grade students a time to celebrate all they had learned in the D.A.R.E. program and give the high school student leaders an opportunity to demonstrate their choice to be alcohol and other drug free in a very big way. It was also an opportunity for the D.A.R.E. officers to clearly demonstrate to their sixth grade students that they could in fact, have lots of fun with their friends without alcohol and other drugs.
Continue reading ‘Downers Grove D.A.R.E. Program Goes Out With a Bang’ »

The DuPage Juvenile Officers Association has a scholarship opportunity for any college bound senior who may be pursuing an education in the criminal justice or social services field. The scholarship amount is $1,000.00. Application deadline is April 30, 2010.

Scholarship Application 2010

If you have questions, contact Lori Wrzesinski.

Lori Wrzesinski
Director
Division of Human Services
Phone: (630) 719-6670
Email: lori.wrzesinski@dgtownship.com

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month.  This is a time when communities across the State, and the Country, work together to raise awareness of the horrors of child abuse and neglect and provide information, tools and support to help prevent child abuse and neglect and keep children safe.  The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Community Health and Prevention is a partner in this effort.  Below is a link to the DHS Child Abuse Prevention Month web page.

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=48687 

The Life Skills program continues to reach a wide number of students and the next five months of 2010 will keep our two Life Skills teachers busy. We will be in the following schools through May of 2010:

• January – Westview Hills Middle School

• February – Lakeview Jr. High, Westview Hills Middle School and O’Neill Middle School

• March – St. Isaac’s Jogues, Cass Jr. High, Clarendon Hills Middle School and Gower Middle School

• April – Westview Hills Middle School

• May – Clarendon Hills Middle School, Gower Middle School, Hinsdale Middle School and Lakeview Jr. High

For more information about our Life Skills programs, please contact Jason Shiliga.

Jason Shiliga
Life Skills Education Coordinator
Division of Human Services
Phone: (630) 719-6670
Email: jason.shiliga@dgtownship.com

Managing anger is something everyone needs to do in a healthy and productive manner. For over 12 years the Township has offered an six session educational program for youth ages 12 to 17 and their parents. The program focuses on helping youth identify anger triggers, signs of anger, how stress effects their anger management and developing a variety of coping skills. Parents not only learn this information but also learn more about adolescent brain development and social and emotional intelligence. The class is offered three times per year and students must complete a phone screening with the program director before admission into the class. The next class begins Tuesday, February 9. To find out more about the program or to register your child, contact Lori Wrzesinski.

Lori Wrzesinski
Director
Division of Human Services
Phone: (630) 719-6670
Email: lori.wrzesinski@dgtownship.com

The Township is working on a new initiative called “GrandFriendships”. We are partnering with Lester Elementary School to begin this exciting endeavor. GrandFriendships are comfortable, two-way connections between children and trustworthy, available senior, family or non-family, who live near one another. With parent support and permission, GrandFriendships can occur in families, neighborhoods, schools and other safe settings. Presently a committee comprised of township, school and community representatives is developing this unique initiative. For more information or to get involved, contact Hanna Benioff.

Hanna Benioff
Senior Services Coordinator
Division of Human Services
Email: hanna.benioff@dgtownship.com
Phone: (630) 719-6670
Fax: (630) 719-66