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CC Newsletter January 2020
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COMMUNITY CHOICES

monthly newsletter  //  january 2020
IN THIS ISSUE:
spotlight - congrats to becky and caleb
cc's 2020 annual report
a new approach to employment
january co-op meeting
2021 classes
seeking roommates
supporting and family-only membership
ccddb & ccmhb meetings
disAbility expo 
resource: 24/7 helpline for people with i/dd
arc futures planning webinar
 
There's a lot to cover, so don't forget to view the entire message! (Sometimes you have to click "view clipped message") 
 

Congratulations to Community Choices members Caleb and Becky who were married on December 25th, 2020!  The couple had a small family ceremony on Christmas Day, but plan to have  a celebration with friends later this year when it is safe to do so.  All of us at Community Choices wish you a happy life together!
WELCOMING 2021 BY CELEBRATING 2020's SUCCESSES!

We made it to 2021 and we are starting the new year with hope and excitement for the many good things to come! And though challenging, Fiscal Year 2020 was full of many great achievements and victories worth celebrating. We invite you to read about these in our attached Annual Report for FY20. 

 These successes would not have been possible without the strong supportive community that our members and supporters have built. Each of these achievements was paid for in part by the donations of people like you. Your continued generosity will allow us to provide even more opportunities for people with I/DD to lives they deserve. If you are able, please consider giving today!

GIVE ONLINE


Donations can be mailed to:
Community Choices
44 E Main St. Suite 210
Champaign, IL 61820
 

 Learn about More Ways To Give HERE
CC NEWS!
A NEW APPROACH TO EMPLOYMENT

We know that waiting lists are a big part of all I/DD services in the state of IL. We have always tried to keep the wait for our services short, or at least to be open and transparent about where people are at on the lists. This year we are hoping to do more. 

Employment Services are the one area where the wait to start intensive, personalized services can be long. Starting now we are going to make a commitment to begin our Discovery Process with everyone interested in Employment Supports within 4 weeks. 

This will mean that one of our Employment Specialists will be matched with the new job seeker and go through our 3-5 week long Discovery Process as soon as they commit to participating in our Employment Supports. Though we can’t guarantee that we will be able to start an intensive job search directly after that, the entire employment team will know what type of work the job seeker is focusing on. Then, while the person is in queue to start their individualized job search, all our Employment Specialists will keep an eye out for possible positions or employers that would be a good match for that person.

We hope that this will have a number of positive benefits: 

  1. Motivated job seekers will get immediate access to support to respond to their employment goals. 

  2. Our employment specialists will know more about the ideal jobs and conditions for a larger group of upcoming job candidates. This means that we won’t miss connecting someone to a job because we didn’t realize it was aligned with someone’s goals. 

  3. Job seekers, while not starting their intensive job search right away, will have a clear plan for how things can move forward and a clear set of goals and strategies they can begin working on while they are in queue. 
JANUARY CO-OP MEETING

Each quarter Community Choices hosts Co-Op meetings to share information and resources with the entire community. These meetings are open to anyone! You don’t need to be a member to join. They can be a great place to meet other families and learn about the supports available from Community Choices and other resources in our area. 
 

This month our topic is: 
Getting Ready for Employment!

Many first time job seekers are surprised with the responsibilities and breadth of skills needed to confidently sustain their new employment. Luckily, many of these skills are things you can start working on now, even if you’re not sure if a job search is in your immediate future.

At this month’s Co-Op meeting we will be going over some of the critical skills related to successful employment and ideas for how you can begin to integrate practice for those while you’re stuck at home over this pandemic-y winter! 

We’ll also be sharing more information about our new commitment to begin Discovery with new participants immediately.

Everyone is welcome! We especially encourage parents of young adults or those who are supporting a first time job seeker to attend.
 

WHAT: CC Co-Op Meeting
DATE: Thursday, 7/14/2021
TIME: 7-8:30pm
LOCATION: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84153431327?pwd=cUFsWlppbXRpY05jU2pmbzVCbmt1Zz09

Meeting ID: 841 5343 1327
Passcode: 300390
Phone: +13126266799

WHO SHOULD COME: All Are Welcome! Parents and Supporters of Young Adults and newer CC Members are particularly encouraged to join!
NEW CLASSES FOR 2021

Check out the great list of classes we have starting soon and the ones to look forward to later in the spring! 

HISTORY OF DISABILITY

Participants in this class will learn about how people with disabilities have been treated throughout history, their continued struggle to protect their human rights, legislation that has helped improve lives, and the self-advocates who have been a part of this history.

WHAT: History of Disability
DATE: Tuesdays, Jan. 19 - Feb 9, 2021
TIME: 3:30-4:30pm
WHERE: Zoom
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wed. Jan 13th

REGISTER WITH THIS FORM or by sending Hannah the information from the form

Hannah and Jon will be facilitating the class.  For information about registration, contact Hannah at 217-418-8359, hannah.communitychoices@gmail.com.
 

BOOK CLUB

Are you an avid reader or enjoy a good story that you can discuss with friends? You should sign up for the CC Book Club! CC Book Club members will meet once weekly to discuss a book read by the whole group. Members can choose between two books: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 

Participants will each co-facilitate at least one session with support from CC staff. Each book has a free audio version available on YouTube for members to listen to if they choose not to read the physical book. 

WHAT:  BOOK CLUB
DATE: Wednesdays, Jan. 20th - Feb. 24th
TIME: 12:30-1:30pm
WHERE: Zoom 
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wed. Jan. 13th

REGISTER FOR BOOK CLUB HERE

Kaitland will be facilitating this group. For more information please contact her at kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com
 

WOMEN'S GROUP

Community Choices is offering a group for female members with disabilities an opportunity for open discussion, safe consultation, and peer support. This session of Women’s Group will focus on individual’s strengths, improving self-esteem, recognizing helpful and unhelpful behavior in friendships and relationships, and setting and honoring boundaries.

WHAT: Women's Group
DATES: Fridays, Jan. 22th - Mar. 12th
TIME; 12:30-1:30pm
WHERE: Zoom
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday, Jan 18th

REGISTER WITH THIS FORM or by sending Hannah the information on the form

Hannah will be facilitating this group. For more information or to register please contact her at hannah.communitychoices@gmail.com. 

COMING THIS SPRING: 

  • Healthy Lifestyle Sampler (March - April)
  • Healthy Foods (March - April) 
  • Cooking *if public health guidance allows (May - June)
  • Step Up to Leadership (May - June) 
SEEKING ROOMMATES!

There is an open spot at the shared living home that Community Choices has supported for many years! The house currently has two long-term tenants and has up to two open rooms for new roommates. The house is large (5 bedrooms) and located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in Champaign - close to the Champaign Public Library. There are individual leases and utilities are shared. 

Ryan, our Community Life Coordinator, conducts house meetings and provides individual weekly support to the residents at the home. 

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Becca at 217-840-4580 or becca.communitychoices@gmail.com
SUPPORTING AND FAMILY-ONLY MEMBERSHIP

Community Choices understands that there are people in our community who would like to be more engaged with our organization with or without a family member with I/DD. We have created a process for members of the community to become Community Choices members! You can complete a Supporting Membership if you are a person in the community who would like to be connected with Community Choices. Family Only Memberships are available for families of adults with I/DD when the adult with I/DD is not interested in a CC membership. If you would like more information, please contact Membership Coordinator, Kaitland, at kaitland.communitychoices@gmail.com or (217) 419-6222
RESOURCES AND LOCAL EVENTS!
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILTY BOARD MEETINGS - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The Champaign County Developmental Disability Board and Mental Health Board are funders of many extremely important human services in Champaign County. Their meetings are all open to the public. If you're interested in learning more consider attending their monthly meetings.

Then Next CCDDB Meeting: 
January 20, 2021 at 9AM
On Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81559124557 
312-626-6799, meeting ID = 815 5912 4557

All are welcome to attend and participate

See the full CCDDB CALENDAR HERE
See the full CCMHB CALENDAR HERE 

The EXPO has gone ONLINE! January 21st is the 3rd of a series of Expo Events they’re calling Third Thursday Resource Roundups!
 

January will be featuring:
Advocacy, Legal and Service Organizations


To participate you’ll need to pre-register, which is 100% Free. On the day of the event you’ll be able to watch informational videos about the different exhibitors and talk directly with staff from organizations over zoom.
 

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Please Register by Thursday January 14th
REGISTER HERE

Find out more information about the virtual Expo HERE


Upcoming Third-Thursday Round-Ups Coming Up: 
February 18th: Educational Services and Services for Young Children 
24/7 HELPLINE FOR PEOPLE WITH I/DD + FAMILY

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, a new 24-hour support line is working to help individuals with developmental disabilities and those who care for them cope during this tough time.

Known as Project Connect, the telehealth line is free and available anytime for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and other members of their support teams across the nation.

Developed by The Arc of California and the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare, the helpline launched just before Thanksgiving and is staffed by graduate students at the school who are supervised by licensed social workers. Callers can expect to receive support, guidance and referrals.

READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE

CONTACT THE HELPLINE: 
Project Connect is available by calling 888-847-3209
FUTURES PLANNING EVENTS FROM THE ARC

Join The ARC for one of four dates throughout the year to learn more about:

  • Government benefits and programs in Illinois for children and adults with special needs and how to navigate the "maze"

  • Appropriate special needs estate planning, necessary to quality for, and in order not to lose, government benefits 

  • Guardianship and alternatives

  • Guidance on preparing instructions and thoughts for future care providers

  • PUNS and Home Based Services 

  • Ensuring Special Education Happens during Challenging Times 

  • Navigating Aspects of the Criminal Justice System

NEW for this year - Two Full Day options with additional speakers!
 

LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP HERE
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COMMUNITY CHOICES     44 E MAIN, SUITE 210    CHAMPAIGN, IL     61820