Programs & Services

Community Resource & Outreach

Bilingual Information, Advocacy, and Referral

Centro de Información offers the following services in this area:

• Information and referral
• Job fairs and supportive employment search services
• General interpretation and translation of written communications, e.g.: letters, applications, birth certificates, marriage certificates.
• Advocacy in the areas of housing, employment, and immigration
• Emergency Food Pantry
• Hispanic Professional Group
• Information Fairs bringing local resources to our community
• Jueves Informativos – Legal clinics in the areas of Labor, Social Security, Domestic Relations, Housing, Workers Compensation, Immigration and others.

Centro's Community Resource and Outreach counselors are skilled in delivering culturally appropriate and relevant services within our communities. Centro de Información has been a place where our community feels safe, understood, and supported for more than 35 years. Centro is proud of it's community and works hard to continue to strengthen a growing and vibrant suburban Latino community.

Educational Seminars

Educational seminars are presented on a variety of topics throughout our community.

Agencies may request seminars at no cost. Presentations are made in Spanish or bilingually.

The following is a list of Educational Seminars:

• Finding resources for your family in Elgin: medical, legal translations, unemployment, immigration and naturalization, clothing, food, mental health, counseling, child care.
  
  
• Healthy Lifestyles: How to eat healthy and exercise. A dietician makes the presentation.
  
  
• How to deal with common illnesses: upper respiratory infections, colds, and ear infections. What parents and children can do to prevent them. A doctor or nurse makes the presentation.
  
  
• Employment: how, where, and when to look for employment. Job applications, interviews, short resumes.
  
  
• Gang awareness: methods parents can use to help their children stay safe , warning signs of gang involvement and where to get help.
  
  
• Housing: How to buy a house, Why a lease is important if you are renting , and local housing codes and standards.
  
  
• Building Family relationships: The Importance of Communication.
  
  
• Disciplining your children without abuse. Behavioral management techniques are taught and discussed.
  
  
• Child abuse/neglect: What is it, state mandates, and how to get help.
  
  
• Immigration and Naturalization: (Many topics are available depending on the audience, e.g., Legal Permanent Residency, Naturalization, Waivers, Affidavit of Support, Final Interview.
  
  
• Bank/credit: how to open, keep, and balance checking and savings accounts; other banking services; the importance of obtaining and maintaining good credit; the use of credit cards.
  
  
• How to establish a budget: evaluating family needs, setting priorities, planning for present and future needs.
  
  
• Insurance: how and what insurance is appropriate for family needs (e.g., house, car, health, life).
  
  
• How you can help your children succeed in school.
  
  
• Stress and burnout: how to cope.
  
  
• First aid: what to do in case of emergencies.
  
  
• Alcoholism: Symptoms, consequences, and treatment.
  
  
• Women's Health and Cancer Awareness: breast self examination, pap smear, uterine cancer.
  
  
• Diabetes: types of diabetes, symptoms, effects, diet, and treatment.
  
  
• Cholesterol: causes, effects, diet, and prevention.
  
  
• Income Tax: Know your rights and responsibilities W7 and ITIN.
  
  
• How to buy a house.

To schedule a Educational Seminar contact Jose Ares at (847) 695-9050 ext. 306

Emergency Food Pantry

The Emergency Food Pantry is located at Centro's Elgin main office.

It serves principally the needy Hispanic population in the Elgin area with special attention given to food that Hispanics eat on a daily basis. In 1999 Centro opened the emergency food pantry as part of its outreach efforts to help meet a need in the Hispanic community. The population is especially vulnerable because as immigrants many times they speak little English, and may have substantially less income and education than the population at large, leaving them more vulnerable to live in poverty.

The emergency food pantry needs a constant flow of food donations in order to meet the needs of the community. Centro has developed a supportive network of corporate, church, and community resources and volunteers.

Most of the people who come for food are adult Hispanic females with small children. The 2000 census puts the Hispanic population of Elgin at 34%, Carpentersville at 40%, and Hanover Park at 27%. Centro has offices in all three communities, and the need for food is evident. Food is distributed by Centro on a daily basis. More than 1000 families use the emergency food pantry per year, and the food they receive feeds approximately 5000 (including family members).

Staff: Volunteer Coordinator Tom Tabinowski

DCFS Contracted Individual, Youth and Family Counseling

DCFS Counseling Program

Centro counselors have the professional background and experience to understand the challenges of the various Hispanic cultures that are represented in Kane, Cook, and Dupage county.

Centro receives case referrals from the DCFS offices of Cook and Kane counties. All families receiving counseling services at Centro through the DCFS Counseling program are families involved in the DCFS system.

Our Services are provided in the home of the client or in our office to facilitate the best environment for the family. Services include:

• Individual, youth and family counseling
• Marriage counseling
• Play therapy
• Specialization in the treatment of children and youth victims of sexual abuse

For more information contact Veian D'Abreu at 847-695-9050, ext. 317

Parenting Skills Classes

Centro de Información provides classes in Spanish & English.

Classes consist of ten sessions including the following:

• Parental Competencies
• Behavior Modification
• Family Communication
• Discipline
• Self Esteem
• Sexuality and Toxic Substances
• Improving your relationship with your child.
• Stress and Anger Management
• Legal Rights & Responsibilities of Parents and Children
• Budgeting

A homework assignment accompanies each lesson. A final exam completes the course. For families referred by the court or the Department of Children and Family Services, the Parent Educator will visit the parents' home four times during the course. Fees are determined based on the reporting requirements and referral source. Please contact the Parent Educator for more information.

If you have referrals or would like additional information, please contact Maria Lopez at (847)-695-9050, ext. 308 or Fax (847) 931-7991.

Parenting - Nine Week Course

1. Competent Parents
   Class requirements, expectations, rules, Evaluation of one's feelings as a parent, Children's Rights (UNICEF)
   
   
2. Understanding and Managing Behavior
   Behavior and different personality styles, understanding your child, adolescence, family unity, and authority and coexistence.
   
   
3. Stress
   Causes, the family, your child and aggressive children, signs of a molested child, control and management of anger (children and parents)
   
   
4. Conduct and Discipline
   Origins and reasons, strategies, stages of development from birth to 17 years, manipulation and rivalry, discipline with love and consistency
   
   
5. Communication
   Learning to listen, how to understand your child, building positive relationships
   
   
6. Sexuality and Toxic Substances
   How to talk with your children, early adolescence, prevention and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and alcohol
   
   
7. Self Esteem
   Importance and development, disorders, depression, anxiety and pessimism, school behavior and learning difficulties, sensitivity and sense of humor.
   
   
8. Our Money
   How to use and invest, crisis and responsibility, warning signs and negotiations
   
   
9. Legal Rights and Responsibilities
   Juvenile law in Illinois, medical care and attention (AllKids), domestic violence and abuse, how to obtain help
   
   
10. Establishing Better Relationships and Final Exam
    Building a better relationship between parents and children, living together in family, games and alternatives for better physical and emotional development, harmony, respect and balance. Evaluation, examination and diploma

Employment

The employment program focuses on assisting Hispanics and low-income adults who have limited English-speaking skills to obtain employment.

Centro has developed job-seeking training, techniques, and strategies in Spanish and holds seminars on how to look for job openings, how to dress, dos and don'ts of interviewing, how to use the telephone and letters to find and respond to openings, and the importance of being on time.

Centro has identified and contacted employers to learn of training programs and jobs available in the area. Centro hosts job fairs in Elgin, Carpentersville, and Hanover Park. In the next year we will give increasing emphasis to internet employment resources to allow clients to respond to such employment opportunities.

Employers are encouraged to call Centro de Información with job openings.

For more information contact Dora Padilla or Jose Ares at 847-695-9050.

Immigration and Naturalization Services

Immigration law is complex and ever-changing.

The many forms and requirements can often confuse applicants who want to receive immigration benefits. Immigration law provides that aliens in immigration proceedings have the privilege of being represented, at no expense to the Government, by counsel selected by the alien and authorized to practice (Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C.1362).

As a BIA accredited organization, Centro de Información has been offering services to the Kane County area for more than 35 years, including immigration services. Our Immigration Counselors have received BIA accreditation and are dedicated to guide clients through their immigration process by explaining and assisting with necessary forms and responding to questions on immigration benefits.

Some of the services provided in our office include: Family-based Petitions, Adjustment of Status applications, Employment Authorization Cards, Consular Process, Temporary Protected Status, Naturalization and Citizenship. A modest fee is charged for these services.

For an appointment to complete any of these processes or an appointment to consult with our Immigration Counselors, please call (847)695-9050.

Immigration Program Staff:
Rosa Sanborn, Coordinator of Immigration Services, BIA Accredited
Alma Martinez, Immigration Counselor
Marta Gomez, Immigration Counselor

Helpful Links:
United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (U.S.C.I.S.)
Chicago Office at 101 W. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60604
Customer Service Number 1-800-375-5283 or at www.uscis.gov
U.S. Department of State www.travel.state.gov http://usembassy.state.gov

Families in Crisis

This program with DCFS and foundation support offers educational support services to promote positive behavior and academic engagement of children from Spanish-speaking families.

Program goals are to improve school attendance, decrease suspensions, increase children's behavior, social, and educational skills, and strengthen families.

In Elgin, the program takes a counseling approach. Centro receives referrals from the community and more than 20 schools throughout the area. A counselor meets weekly with children individually and in groups to address issues of anger management, isolation, communication, personal responsibility, and self esteem. She meets with parents monthly to address issues that affect their ability to parent their children.

In Hanover Park, the program provides after school homework assistance, small group discussion, monthly family nights, and a variety of enrichment activities.

For referrals or additional information on the Elgin Families in Crisis program, contact Herlinda Castillo at 847-695-9050, Ext. 316.

To inquire about homework assistance in Hanover Park, call Grace Vilasco at 630-550-5131.

Public Benefits Outreach and Advocacy Program

Centro, in collaboration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights provides Outreach and Interpretation services focusing on all of the programs administered through the Illinois Department of Human Servcies, especially the food stamp and Temporary Aid Needy Families programs (TANF).

Centro also links clients to related programs such as SSI, Social Security, Medicare, WIC, LIHEAP, as well as childcare, job training, and ESL programs. We also assist individuals to sign up for AllKids and family care insurance as well as the safety net equivalents for those who do not qualify for government programs.

Centro explains and clarifies public benefits issues with clients in person or by phone. The worker explains the general eligibility requirements for public assistance programs administered through IDHS, the process for potential applicants, and clarifies immigration issues as they pertain to the receipt of public benefits.

Centro supports clients to overcome language barriers in situations where the individuals have limited literacy skills in both English and Spanish and advocates for clients whom often need to collect documentation required for application for benefits.

Centro advocates on behalf of their clients as well as collaborates with the IDHS in order to obtain case related information and clarification. Organizations and individuals may call Centro de Información for additional information.

Centro de Información provides orientation and advocacy with the following programs available to immigrants in our community:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Stamp Program and local food pantries and soup kitichens
• AllKids State Medical Insurance for children and families
• Social Security, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and Disability
• Childcare assistance for working families
• WIC
• LIHEAP
• Job Training and ESL Classes

For information contact Jennifer Vergara at (847) 695 - 9050 Ext. 307