"Building safe and supportive neighborhoods through a community-based approach"

E-News Bulletin September 2009
Vol. 3, Issue 6

Dear {{{first_name|E-News Bulletin Subscriber}}},

With further budget cuts looming on the horizon for fiscal years 2010 & 11, the Illinois General Assembly will be debating a comprehensive tax-reform package, including a revenue increase, during the Fall veto session this October. Without comprehensive tax-reform and a revenue increase, we are concerned that our member organizations, and the communities they serve, will, once again, be in jeopardy of losing critical funding.

For the past several months, the ILAACP has worked closely with a statewide coalition of service providers and advocacy organizations to prevent state budget cuts to essential human services. We subscribe to, and promote, the following principles, crafted by the Responsible Budget Coalition, which focus on saving jobs, eliminating the structural deficit, preventing further cuts, and providing Illinoisans with relief from a regressive tax system.

• We believe Illinois has a moral and legal obligation to protect public safety, safeguard public health, strengthen our economy, and ensure that every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
  
• We believe that by threatening or already forcing deep and damaging cuts to education, health care, human services, and public safety, the current Illinois budget both fails to meet those core obligations and undermines our state's chances for economic recovery.
  
• We call on every elected official in Illinois to acknowledge that this fiscal crisis, brought on by long-standing structural budget deficit and an economic downturn, cannot be solved without significant new revenue.
  
• We believe the revenue mix contained in HB 174 - a comprehensive tax-reform package passed by the Illinois Senate and approved by a committee of the Illinois House - is the most responsible framework for a solution.
  
• We call on legislators to enact this comprehensive tax reform, including a revenue increase at least equal to that proposed in HB 174, as soon as possible.

With these tenets in mind, we would like to invite you to our upcoming Quarterly Meeting, Thursday, October 1, 2009, from 10AM to 1PM, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL. Our featured speaker, Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax & Budget Accountability, will educate our members on the importance of progressive tax-reform, and its connection to funding critical human and social services in Illinois. Honestly addressing the flaws in our tax system and the shortfalls in our budget is the only path to providing our communities with the resources, support, and overall quality of life that all Illinois families deserve.

In Service,

Malik S. Nevels, J.D.
Executive Director

• $1.2 Billion Available to Help Hospitals and Doctors Use Electronic Health Records
• Get Ready for National Infant Mortality Month!
• What Health Care Reform Will Actually Achieve
• Job Opportunities: Healthy School Campaign - Public Policy Manager
• Save the Date: ILAACP Quarterly Meeting - October 1, 2009
• Events: 100 Black Men of Chicago's College Scholarship Fair - October 17, 2009
• An ILAACP Member You Should Know: Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights

What Health Care Reform Will Actually Achieve
Confused about the differences between the competing congressional health care bills? Given the expansive scope of health care reform, 1,000 page reform bills and media focus on specific aspects of health care reform, it can be immensely difficult to determine what health care reform will actually accomplish. To assist in navigating the wealth of information available, the Heartland Alliance and the Kasiser Family Foundation have compiled synopses of what we can expect from health care reform and what is being offered within the current proposals. Click here to learn more.

Afterschool Advocacy Needed as Students Return to School
With children returning to classrooms across the nation, afterschool programs are gearing up as well. But recession-driven funding cutbacks have forced many programs to reduce services, shorten hours, lay off staff and, in some cases, close sites altogether. Afterschool providers have hope that the federal government will provide at least some additional help. After years of flat funding and small cuts to 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the chief federal funding stream for afterschool, the initiative has received small increases in the last two years. As legislators return to Washington this fall, they will have a chance to continue that trend. To learn how you can advocate for increased funding for afterschool and contact your federal legislators, please click here.

Early Learning Fund Bill on House Floor Needs Your Support
The House of Representatives is expected to take up legislation this week to create a new Early Learning Challenge Fund. The bill, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, H.R. 3221, is sponsored by Representative George Miller (D-CA). The new Early Learning Challenge Fund would provide competitive grants to states to coordinate services and standards for and between those early childhood programs. Supporters are urged to call their members of congress in support of the bill. To reach your member of Congress, call the main Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative. Callers should tell their representative to support Early Learning Challenge Fund included in H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, because the bill supports critical quality improvements for young children.

U.S. H.R. 1495/S. 4 Comprehensive Reform Act of 2009
H.R. 1495 & S. 4 would guarantee health overage, improve health care quality and disease prevention, and reduce health care costs for all Americans and the health care system.

U.S. H.R .2653 Federal Youth Coordination Act of 2009
H.R. 2653 creates the White House Office of National Youth Policy to ensure the coordination and effectiveness of services to youth. Office of National Youth Policy would be responsible for making grants and providing training and technical assistance to states to support state Youth Services Coordinating Entities and state Youth Advisory Boards. A National Youth Strategy centered around a comprehensive plan to improve outcomes for youth, particularly disadvantaged youth, would be released by the end of 2010.

U.S. S. 319 Community Health Workers Act of 2009
S. 319 amends the Public Health Service Act to to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to promote positive health behaviors for women and children in target populations, especially racial and ethnic minority women and children in medically underserved communities. Community Health Workers would receive increased training to expand the effectiveness and scope of their outreach activities.

$1.2 Billion Available to Help Hospitals and Doctors Use Electronic Health Records
Grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, totaling $1.2 billion, are being provided to help hospitals and health care providers implement and use electronic health records. The grants will assist providers in qualifying for new incentives available in 2010 to doctors and hospitals that meaningfully use electronic health records. To learn more, please click here

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
The purpose of this grant is to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.The application deadline is September 21, 2009.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program provides two years of support to postdoctoral scholars at all stages of their careers to build the nation’s capacity for research and leadership to address the multiple determinants of population health and contribute to policy change. The program is based on the principle that progress in the field of population health depends upon multidisciplinary collaboration and exchange. Scholars will receive an annual stipend of $89,000 in year one and $92,000 in year two of the program. The application deadline is October 2, 2009.

Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research Consortium (U01)
The goal of this grant is to improve childrens health by preventing obesity-related morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.The participating organization(s) intend to commit approximately $4,250,000 total costs for FY2010. The total amount to be awarded through this announcement will be a maximum of $49,750,000 total costs for the seven-year project period. It is anticipated that up to four Research Centers (RC) (two prevention and two treatment) will be awarded.The application deadline is October 6, 2009.

The CVS Caremark Community Grants Program
The CVS Caremark Community Grants program awards funds to nonprofit organizations for programs targeting children with disabilities; programs focusing on health and rehabilitation services; and public schools promoting a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs, and initiatives that give greater access to physical movement and play. Additionally, some contributions are made to organizations that provide uninsured individuals with needed care, in particular programs where the care received is of higher quality and delivered by providers who participate in accountable community health care programs. Qualifying organizations are eligible for grants of up to $5,000. The grant application process runs from January 1 through October 31.

The Hasbro Children's Foundation
The Hasbro Children's Foundation will provide funding for programs that work to improve the emotional, mental, and physical health of disadvantaged children. Grants of up to $35,000 go to programs nationally that work in such areas as child abuse and homelessness prevention, among others. Programs that serve children up to age 12 may apply. Applications are accepted year-round from nonprofit organizations.

The Abbott Laboratories Fund
The Abbott Laboratories Fund (The Fund) is an Illinois not–for–profit, philanthropic corporation established in 1951 by Abbott Laboratories. Abbott Laboratories provides the primary financial support of the Abbott Laboratories Fund. Currently the Fund provides support through cash grants to recipients who operate in the areas of health and welfare, education, culture, art, civic and public policy. The Fund generally gives preference to requests for one–time contributions and for programmatic and operating purposes. There is an ongoing deadline for applications.

Healthy community Outreach Program
Healthy community Outreach Program Awards will be granted to nonprofit organizations to support grassroots efforts which increase awareness on critical health initiatives through health walks, health fairs and health education outreach. Grants up to $25,000 will be considered. Nonprofit organizations with evidence of IRS 501(c)(3) designation or de facto tax-exempt status may apply for a grant, with the following exceptions: advertising; capital campaigns; grants or scholarships to individuals; multiyear requests; political causes and events; or religious organizations in support of their sacramental or theological functions. There is an ongoing deadline for applications.

The Circle of Service Foundation
The Circle of Service Foundation has a funding opportunity focused to help underprivileged people help themselves and to relieve human suffering. Qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt organizations, located in, and/or operating in IL, within a 100 mile radius of Chicago. The grant award generally range between $2,000 and $25,000. Applications are reviewed quarterly.

Get Ready for National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, September 2009!
Let's face it! Infant mortality rates among African American babies are twice as high as those of the general population. But infant mortality is preventable and a healthy baby begins with you. The Office of Minority Health (OMH), of the Department of Health and Human Services, is launching A Healthy Baby Begins with You - a national campaign to raise awareness about infant mortality with an emphasis on the African American community - as one of their efforts to end health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. Click here to read more about this campaign.

U.S. Dept. of Education Releases Guide to Academic Improvement
The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences has released a practice guide with suggestions for how to structure afterschool and other out-of-school time programs to improve students' academic achievement. Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement suggests that afterschool programs align themselves with in-school academics, maximize participation and attendance, adapt to student's specific needs, use appealing and engaging lessons, and evaluate program performance to make necessary improvements. Click here to download the report.

ONDCP Awards $21 Million to Local Community Coalitions Addressing Youth Substance Use
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced $21 million in new Drug Free Communities (DFC) grants to 161 communities across the country and ten new DFC Mentoring grants. The awards are in addition to the $60 million in Continuation Grants released earlier this month to 565 Drug Free Communities coalitions and ten DFC Mentor Continuation coalitions. These grants provide community coalitions needed support as they work to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse. To learn more, please click here...

Attorney General Holder Announces $129 Million in Awards To Support Youth Mentoring
Washington – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today announced more than $129 million in Recovery Act and Fiscal Year 2009 funds have been awarded for mentoring services to help prevent at-risk youth from becoming involved in delinquency. The grants will also preserve and create jobs throughout the United States."The Recovery Act has allowed us to invest further in the future of today's youth by providing mentoring opportunities to help children reach their full potential," said Attorney General Holder." Click here to read the entire press release.

The Correlation Between Health and Race in America
Earlier this year, Camara P. Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, Research Director on Social Determinants of Health and Equity in the Division of Adult and Community Health, CDC, delivered a presentation titled "Social Determinants of Equity and Social Determinants of Health". During this presentation, Jones explains that in the United States being perceived as white is associated with better health. Jones also says that socially assigned race is associated with health status because "we live in a society which has a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on socially assigned race, and there is a prior reason why looking white should give you any more of anything, except that we have a system that is structuring it to be that way." To find out more about the social determinants of equity and health in the U.S., please click here.

Researchers to Put a Price Tag on Educating all Illinois Students
New research from the National Center for Education Statistics proves yet again that Illinois lags behind other states in education funding. But this year, researchers at National Louis University hope to jumpstart the school funding conversation with a new definition of “adequate spending.” New figures have been calculated to show the States expenditures of fiscal year 2007. The new figures arrive just as the Illinois State Board of Education gears up for fall budget hearings that, unlike in previous years, should be guided by better information. To find out more about education funding in Illinois, please click here.

Rate of Severe Childhood Obesity Up Sharply in U.S.
The rate of severe obesity among U.S. children and teenagers more than tripled over the past three decades, a new study finds.Using data from a long-running government health survey, researchers found that as of 2004, nearly 4 percent of 2- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. were severely obese.That was up more than three-fold from 1976, and more than 70 percent from 1994, the researchers report in the journal Academic Pediatrics. "Children are not only becoming obese, but becoming severely obese, which impacts their overall health," lead researcher Dr. Joseph A. Skelton, of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said in a news release from the university. To read this full article, please click here.

CADCA Institute Introduces New Coalition Handbook
CADCA's National Coalition Institute recently released a new Handbook for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions which provides an overview of resources for local groups working in substance abuse prevention. To download the handbook please click here.

Restorative Justice in Schools Seminars (sponsored by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority)
October 2, 2009-Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center, Whittington, IL
Click here for registration information

October 9, 2009- Holiday Inn Peoria- City Centre, Peoria, IL
Click here for registration information

October 15, 2009- Holiday Inn Matteson Hotel and Conference Center, Matteson, IL
Click here for registration information

DHS Grantsmanship Workshops
September 15, 2009 - Rockford, IL
Click here for registration information

September 23, 2009 - Chicago, IL
Click here for registration information

October 20, 2009 - East Hazel Crest, IL
Click here for registration information

October 27, 2009 - East St. Louis, IL
Click here for registration information

Healthy Schools Campaign- Public Policy Manager
The Healthy Schools Campaign is seeking a Public Policy Manager to implement the organization’s state and federal policy agenda. The position including conducting research, managing relationships with networks and partners, and communicating with stakeholders policymakers and the public. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience working on issue advocacy campaigns, expertise is an least one of HSC’s issue areas, research and analytical skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Click here to see the full job description and to apply.

OAI, Inc. - Counselor/Mentor
OAI is seeking a Counselor/ Mentor for their upcoming YouthBuild program. The position requires the candidate to provide supportive services including career, academic and personal counseling, employment and service referrals, and follow-up for students enrolled in the Chicago Southland YouthBuild program (CSYB). If you are interested and qualified, please send your resume and a cover letter to: jobapps@oaiinc.org. This position will be filled in a very short time frame because our YB program will begin in October. For more information about this positon please click here.

Illinois Action for Children - Family Resources Supervisor
The Family Resources Supervisor manages the direct services provided to parents and providers through Illinois Action for Children’s Family Resources programs including the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program. This position requires a Bachelor`s degree and 1-2 years related experience and/or training. The candidate must also demonstrate: the ability to multi-task, verbal and written communications skills, excellent customer service and attention to detail, supervisory experience strongly preferred. For more details and to apply click here.

Sarah's Circle - Program Director
The Program Director duties are but not limited to: provide leadership and supervision to staff and interns, hire and conduct performance reviews of staff, facilitate staff development through training and continuing education opportunities,facilitate and supervise student internship program, promote relationships with area colleges and universities,participate in required programs with college and universities, provide supervision to interns as required by each college or university. For more information about this position and how to apply please click here.

Youth Guidance - Director of Community Schools
The Director of Community Schools oversees the agency’s Community Schools programs including partnership development, supervision of program staff and evaluating the performance of their duties on a regular basis; monitors program implementation at multiple sites where programs operate; and assumes assigned responsibilities that support the overall function of the agency. These responsibilities may include such activities as grant writing, public relations, community advocacy, public speaking, etc. For more information about the position and applying please click here.

The Youth Campus - Residential Program Coordinator
The purpose of the Residential Program Coordinator is to supervise team/staff members in a Residential Home to facilitate positive client treatment outcomes and professional care for youth utilizing the Residential TYC Clinical Model and agency policies and procedures in support of the Agency Mission. For a more detailed description of this position please click here.

Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy - Project Coordinator
The Office of STEM Education Partnerships at Northwestern University seeks a talented and energetic Project Coordinator to help develop and coordinate partnerships between university science and engineering faculty and K-12 schools and teachers to advance STEM education. For more information about this job opporutnity click here.

URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute - Development Associate
Working with the executive director, the Development Associate is responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation of all of the camp’s fundraising activities. He/She will serve as staff to the board’s development committee. To learn more about this job opporutnity, please click here.

DePaul Univeristy - Admissions Officer
The Admissions Officer will work with the College of Communication Associate Dean, graduate program Directors and the Office of Graduate Admission to facilitate the recruitment and enrollment process. This position will serve as academic advisor to newly admitted and currently enrolled graduate students. He/she will also oversee the Master`s level experiential component with the College`s Internship Director. Please click here, to learn more information about this position.

Marillac Social Center - Community Counselor
The Community Counselor, under general direction of the Director of Clinical Services, provides individual and group counseling, assessments, interventions, referrals, group work, home visits, parent education, & staff professional development. To learn more about this job opportunity and to apply please click here.

University of Chicago - Humanities-Hyde Park Campus - Asst. Dean of Finance
The University of Chicago`s Humanities Division is seeking an Assistant Dean of Finance. The Assistant Dean will provide strategic financial planning support to the Associate Dean on financial matters for the Division particularly in the areas of student aid/tuition and grants management.Interested applicants should apply on line at the link below and search for requisition #082872. http//jobs.uchicago.edu/

University of Chicago - Alumni Relations & Development- Assistant Director
The Assistant Director will plan and implement a variety of programs to increase the number of undergraduate student volunteers dedicated to achieving student engagement, participation, alumni relations, and fundraising goals. To learn more about this job opportunity, please click here.

Orchard Village - Transition Program Manager
The Trasition Program Manager: manages and oversees day-to-day operations of the home, is responsible for the growth and development of participants in the program and will market the Transitions Program to internal and external communities. For more information about this position, please click here.

Columbia College Chicago - Director of Public Relations
Columbia College Chicago is seeking a Director of Public Relations to aggressively communicate its story and advance the college's local and national profile. The position requires a seasoned communications professional who possesses in-depth knowledge of traditional public and media relations, social media, blogger outreach and issues management. To learn more about this position and how to apply, please click here.

Neighborhood Housing Services- Executive Director
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) is seeking as its next Executive Director a dynamic and seasoned leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to neighborhood investment and development. The candidate must have a results-oriented track record in leading major program initiatives, resource development, and public/private partnerships. For more information about this position, please click here.

Bernard Zell Anshe Emit Day School - Director of Development
The Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Chicago seeks a Director of Development. This position is a full-time, year-round, senior administrative position.The purpose of this position is to devise and manage a program designed to attract the maximum non-tuition support possible for the Day School. This will include implementation of the Annual Campaign; named and planned giving programs; corporate and foundation proposals; school fundraising events and planning for major capital fundraising. Please click here, to find out more information for this position.

Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America - Prevention Fellow
CADCA is accepting applications for a new Prevention Fellow. The Prevention Fellowship, funded by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's (CSAP), was launched in 2006 to build a workforce of highly competent prevention professionals. Fellows undertake projects that promote skills development and knowledge of state-of-the-art prevention practices needed for direct, hands-on prevention service work. For more information about this position, please click here.

Mission
Heartland Alliance advances the human rights and responds to the human needs of endangered populations—particularly the poor, the isolated, and the displaced—through the provision of comprehensive and respectful services and the promotion of permanent solutions leading to a more just global society.

The genesis of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights was 120 years ago, when Chicago was the fastest growing city in the world. Then, as now, too many people were struggling to survive in poverty, were new to the city or marginalized from the mainstream, vulnerable to legal or medical or financial troubles. The motivations and values of the civic leaders who sought to address these issues are the DNA that still informs today’s Heartland Alliance.

Programs
Heartland Alliance helps people living in poverty or danger improve their lives and realize their human rights. Through our diverse programs, we serve people in the toughest of circumstances and that are the hardest to reach, including survivors of violence, torture, and war and people living in extreme hardship or poverty.

We use our 120 years of expertise in the trenches providing solutions to societal problems to improve government policies and help other communities regionally and globally.

Contact
To learn more about Heartland Alliance, please call 312.660.1300; or visit the website at www.heartlandalliance.org.

To learn more about ILAACP membership, please contact us at 312.850.4444 or ilaacpinfo@illaacp.org