LAN #: 63 DCFS Region: North

LAN Liaison: John Czarnecki

DCP Representative: Karen Beckleman

Program Name: Parents Plus

Program Allocation: $42,051 LAN Allocation: $42,051

Agency Name: Metropolitan Family Services

Address: 3445 N. Central Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634

Contact person: Sandra Stumme Title: Executive Director North Center

Address: 3445 N. Central Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634

Phone#: 773-371-3703 Fax#: 773-282-6698

E-mail: Stummes@metrofamily.org.

Program Abstract

Metropolitan Family Services is applying for the Family Center Service money in collaboration with Youth Outreach Services. Staff from Metropolitan Family Services and Youth Outreach Services will receive requests for services from DCFS. DCFS will have access to the worker after hours and on weekends to facilitate giving the client (family) timely service. MFS will accept those needing services in Polish & Spanish as well as English, for domestic violence, pregnant teens, families with young children and financial counseling. Clients will be contacted within 24 hours and offered a timely appointment. MFS will be responsible for its own record keeping, monthly reports to DCFS and LAN 63, and completing program evaluations.

Three basic services will be provided to the families referred: 1) case management, 2) family and individual counseling and a 3) parent support group. Case management will be available for the families that need help, in order to stabilize their situations. The case manager will for example:

• help families acquire benefits due them,

• arrange needed medical care,

• help with financial planning,

• locate housing resources,

• help the family connect with their child’s schools

• locate food pantries

• help the parents find after school and summer programs

• provide language interpretation

MFS would continue to provide the Parents Plus program with-in the following parameters. Three days a week there would be a group meeting for parents and their pre- school children. Clients attending this group would be referred from Metropolitan Family Services’ Domestic Violence program, from counseling clients who are at risk, school referrals, community social service referrals, and referrals from DCFS where families were reported for abuse but the report was not founded. Parents would be welcome to attend even if their children were of school age. The group would focus on reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect, by:

• forming a support system for the parents,

• providing an opportunity to learn parenting skills,

• helping families feel less isolated,

• assisting immigrant families gain acculturation skills

In addition counseling for the whole family or individual members will be provided. This will include helping victims of domestic violence, parents struggling with child behavior problems, marital conflict, conflict over drug and alcohol usage, undiagnosed depression or other mental health problems, issues of loss through divorce, death, or immigration, etc. In some instances it may be necessary after the assessment to refer the family or individual to specialized services (e.g. psychiatrist, alcohol treatment center, special education programs for children, etc.). The program will serve 30 families (90 clients) in the 10 months.

Intake Contact:  Rich Jajko (773) 282-9535

Return to LAN 63