2010

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

KAN-I-HELP 2009 Edition of Directory of Family Services Published.

2005

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

In 2006 a LifeLines Newsletter was published with funding from the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley. A 2006 edition of the KAN-I-HELP Directory of Services was published. A $5000 Community Coalition Mini-Grant is awarded by the Illinois Head Start Association to host a Community Summit to Examine the Need for a Children’s Comprehensive Mental Health System. A summit summary report is mailed to 600 area stakeholders and community representatives.

Bylaws are revised and Policy Council meets quarterly and holds its annual meeting in November. A second printing of the KAN-I-HELP Information Network brochure is printed and distributed at school and community events. A $400 grant is received from the Kankakee River Valley Community Foundation to distribute 40 printed directories to area libraries, township supervisors, and selected referral agencies.

2004

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

Pledge for Life staff and summer interns update data. A topical index is created using the Taxonomy of Human Services which uses standardized terminology for information and referral. The 2004 edition of the KAN-I HELP Directory of Human Services is published listing 672 agencies. Mental Health Matters, a link to mental health services, is added on the web site home page. A Homeless Services brochure is developed, printed, and distributed in the community.

2003

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

The KAN-I HELP web site home page is revised and the Community Alcohol Awareness Campaign is introduced in April. The first billboards appear in Kankakee and Iroquois counties with www.kan-i-help.org. The Policy Council reviews and updates by-laws and develops a brochure. Trainings are offered as part of the eighth grade POWERLines alcohol prevention program. KAN- I HELP exhibits and informational presentations are provided to various agencies and collaborative community groups. KAN- I HELP Directories are available for purchase for $10 at the Pledge for Life Partnership office.

2002

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

The KAN-I-HELP web site is converted to a locally owned and operated system. A server is purchased and new database software is developed. The KAN-I HELP Family Caregiver Directory is published (128 pages). Directories are distributed to eighth grade classrooms involved in the Powerlines alcohol prevention program; teachers receive training about KAN-I HELP. During monthly meetings, Policy Council reviews all taxonomy categories to identify information gaps. Project Success funding ends June 30. A one-time grant is received from the Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging through the National Family Caregiver Support Program under the Federal Older Americans Act.

2001

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

A second updated edition of the KAN-I-HELP Directory with over 200 agency listings is printed with the addition of an index (93 pages). It is distributed by the Pledge for Life Partnership at no cost to all schools and public libraries in Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, and to all agencies listed in the directory. Head Start continues to distribute copies to all of their parents. Additional copies are available for purchase for $10.00. Training was provided for families at the I-Kan Regional Office of Education Technology Conference Family Night.

2000

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

Policy Council By-Laws are revised in January. Additional agency data is entered on the web site. Monthly policy council meetings are held. A second brochure is developed as a guide for internet users. Bookmarks are printed and distributed with the web site address. Trainings continue for partner agency staff members. Debra Baron, Roxanne Hooper, and Genova Singleton present KAN-I HELP demonstration at the statewide Project Success Kick-off Meeting in Decatur. Roxanne Hooper exhibits KAN-I HELP at the first statewide forum on Illinois Parent Helplines. Family Advocates and Community Action Builders receive training on KAN-I HELP.

1999

Pledge for Life Partnership

KAN-I HELP Policy Council

Pledge for Life Partnership Staff

Training for system operator (Jan Jackson) and council members is provided by VisionLink for the Tapestry software. Customization decisions are made for the software to be used by the citizens in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. KAN-I-HELP logo is designed. Marketing brochure, stationary, and mouse pads with the web site www.kan-i-help.org are ordered. Data collection committee updates agency information for publication of the first edition of the KAN-I HELP Human Services Directory for the Kankakee- Iroquois Region. The INFO LINE Taxonomy of Human Services was used to provide the conceptual framework and standardized terminology for the on-line directory. KAN-I HELP web site debuts August, 1999, at the I-KAN- Regional Office of Education Technology Conference at Kankakee Community College. Printed directories (66 pages) were distributed to all agencies that provided information and copies were given to school offices. Head Start distributes copies to all of their parents. Copies were made available for purchase at the Pledge for Life Partnership office for $5.00. Kankakee County Head Start and Pledge for Life Partnership Project Success continue as primary funders and distributors of the directories. Policy Council receives commitment of participation agreements from thirteen partner representatives.

1998

Pledge for Life Partnership

KRVIAN Planning

Committee

United Way and Red Cross Boards of Directors relinquish ownership of HELP Book. Name of the organization changed to Kankakee-Iroquois HELP Network (KAN-I HELP). Mission statement and bylaws adopted. Membership requirements established for network partners who will serve on the policy council governing network operations. Network partners required to contribute at least $600 cash or council approved in-kind support. Project Success and Head Start provide start-up funds to purchase Vision Link’s Tapestry software to establish an on-line information system. Operating and phase two budget developed. Twenty cash memberships required to meet proposed budget. Marketing Committee (Carole Franke, Marianne Heinzl, Kathy Jackson, Kary Phelps, Teresa Turner) charged with developing a recruitment plan to gain additional partners.

1997

I-KAN ROE Project Success

Volunteer

Provena Health

Riverside Health Care

Debra Baron

Martina Rippon

Craig Culver

Carole Franke

The Kankakee River Valley Information Assistance Network (KRVIAN) was created with Pledge for Life, Inc. as its fiscal agent. Craig Culver and Carole Franke were chosen as Co-chairs of the KRVIAN Planning Committee. Debra Baron, Pledge for Life Community Liaison, was designated by the Pledge for Life, Inc. Board of Directors to serve as the liaison between KRVIAN and Pledge for Life. Mission, goals, and objectives were created for the organization. A two-phase implementation plan was adopted. Discussion of organization governance was initiated. Technology sub-committee (Debra Baron, Lynda Birkelbach, Mike Deluca, Glenn Flowers, Wayne Kelsheimer, Doug Mann, Martina Rippon, Tom Steele) created an implementation plan and developed a preliminary budget for phase one.

1997

KRVIAN

GSU

Martina Rippon

Suzanne Prescott

Governor’s State University created a searchable on-line database from a download of the 1995 Help Book. See http://www.lincolnnet.net

1997

KRVIAN

IRIS

Martina Rippon

Less Boucher

Efforts to make local system compatible with the Illinois Resource Information System (IRIS) were initiated.

1996

ServantCor

United Way

I-KAN ROE Project Success

Volunteer

U of I Cooperative Extension

Craig Culver

Steve Kostelny

Debra Baron

Martina Rippon

Errol Burns

Representatives from approximately 25 government and nonprofit organizations were invited to pursue a joint initiative to develop a comprehensive, community information system.

1995

I-KAN ROE Project Success

Kankakee Valley Homeless Coalition

Debra Baron

Martina Rippon

Investigation of creation of a computerized on -line “Help Book” was initiated.

1995

United Way

American Red Cross

Martina Rippon

America Red Cross initiated production of the new edition with United Way approval. Consumers were charged $3.00 per copy to cover printing costs. 5’’ x 8’’ bound format; 92 pages.

1993

United Way

Volunteer

Susie Brown

Martina Rippon

A UW committee conducted a survey of 113 local health and human service providers and local governmental agencies to determine if the need for a comprehensive information and referral service was necessary for the county. The survey was developed by the Management and Community Studies Institute (MACSI) of the United Way of America. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the respondents felt that this service was needed.

1992

United Way

E.A.G.L.E.

Susie Brown

Martina Rippon

County Board printed loose-leaf version of the Help Book. Consumers were charged $1.00. United Way administered the printing, ordering and distribution of books. 8 ½’’ x 11’’ format; 90 pages.

1988

United Way

Tom Clark

Martina Rippon

Candace Yacmaoka

Bill Morgan

Revised Help Book produced. No charge to consumers. 5” x 8” format; 80 pages.

1987

American Red Cross

Martina Rippon

Information about Kankakee human service resources collected.