Keeping In Touch, Volume 41

Volume 41 | August 7, 2021

This issue is all about emergencies & hobbies!

Greetings, Tutors!

We have learned so much and in so many ways this past year! To help you continue to learn more about your student, this issue of Keeping In Touch provides instructional resources about interests and hobbies. Have fun with your student learning more about each other, and sharing your talents and interests. Helping students understand and prepare for disasters – ranging from calling 911 to tornadoes – is a vast subject to address. The resources and materials included below provide a good starting place.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help with tutoring strategies during this time. Be well and take care.

With gratitude and hope,

Carol Garcia

Your Tutor Support Specialist

Tutor Engagement

We continue to urge caution to meet in-person with your student by following current health and safety protocols. If you are meeting in-person with your student and haven’t explored the use of Zoom or WhatsApp as a virtual meeting platform, we encourage you to use this real-time opportunity to practice together and develop familiarity with the options and to work out the kinks.

What has been your favorite activity to do with your student? Email Carol your ideas and we will share them with other tutors in an upcoming issue!

Resources for you & your student

English Conversation Groups

ESL Conversation Groups offer an informal and friendly environment for adults at an intermediate or above level to practice their English listening and speaking skills.

Literacy DuPage is currently offering five virtual (Zoom) ESL Conversation Groups and one in-person group. Although these groups are hosted by the following partner libraries, they are open to anyone in DuPage County.

Addison Public Library (Mondays 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.) https://addisonlibrary.libcal.com/event/7764584
Indian Prairie Public Library (Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.) https://ippl.libcal.com/event/7353957
Itasca Community Library (Wednesdays 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.) https://events.itascalibrary.org/event/7847307
Wheaton Public Library (Saturdays 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) https://www.wheatonlibrary.org/events/2021-08-14-100000-2021-08-14-110000/english-conversation-group-virtual
Woodridge Public Library (Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) https://www.woodridgelibrary.org/virtual-esl-conversation-group-42

***West Chicago Public Library

(1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)

For the summer only, this group will meet in person and outside, weather permitting. Participants must register for each session, and must bring their own chair or blanket. In case of bad weather, the group will meet on Zoom.

https://westchicago.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=8808&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/08/01

Community Resources

Indian Prairie Library is hosting a virtual World Relief free legal consultation clinic for immigrants on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Click here for details and registration https://ippl.info/opc.

Free dental screening event, for children ages 0 -3, on August 11, 2021.

Head Start is accepting enrollments for DuPage County families. Click here for more information.

CABS is accepting registration for their school readiness program. Their program is open to anyone with a disability, not just autism. Click here for more information.

DuPage Health Coalition has distributed bilingual (Eng/Sp) informational flyers about COVID-19. See below.

Celebrate Hamdard Center’s Community Health Fair, in Bensenville, on August 13, 2021. Click here for details.

DuPage County Community Resource Service (CRIS) https://dupagecris.org/ provides information and access to services for DuPage County residents. Below is a short list of services available to all DuPage County residents who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of legal status. Please share this information with your student and others who may benefit.

Water bill assistance (200% of poverty until 9/30/21 goes down to 125% 10/1/21) bill must be in the client’s name or the name of the person on the bill must live at that location. Required doc’s: 30-day gross income, current water bill, proof who is in the household (lease, ITIN, Access DuPage Card).
Rent assistance & hotel assistance for long-term hotel residents (200% of poverty until 9/30/21 goes down to 125% 10/1/21) need to call I&R 630-407-6500 to be screened if west of Rt. 53 or Catholic Charities if east of 53 (630) 495-8008. Will have to provide lease, 30-day income, proof of who is in the household, may have to provide future ability to pay in some instances.
LIHEAP 9/1/21 eligible for state funds, 200% of poverty, must have utility bills in their names, provide 30-day income and utility bills. Some cases may also require a lease.
Vouchers for Clothing (Repeat Boutique & Poised for Success), furniture (Sharing Connections), and eyeglasses via Pearl Vision (200% of poverty until 9/30/21 goes down to 125% 10/1/21) 30-day income, utility bill or lease something showing who is in the household.
Senior programs: Home Delivered Meals; Caregiver Resource Center, FCS funds (funding for a variety of senior needs (rent, medical equip, food, etc.) available 10/1/21), Choices for Care counseling, Transportation (available 10/1/21).