Highlights

Heating Assistance

The State of Illinois has announced the Good Samaritan Initiative to help low-income Illinoisans pay for utilities. It provides more affordable services for some individuals who have had their utilities disconnected. It applies to qualifying customers of utility companies including Nicor Gas,...

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Preparedness Guide for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities

Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Functional Needs and other emergency preparedness information may be found on the Ready Illinois website at www.readyillinois.gov. Preparedness tips are provided for people with visual, cognitive, or mobility impairments, citizens who are deaf or hard of...

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Returning from War

There is help for Veterans returning from war. Afterdeployment.org is a new wellness resource site developed by DoD and VA Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families. The VA has also released a Public Service announcement urging veterans in distress to contact the Suicide Prevention...

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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will be available in Illinois beginning November 1 through a network of community action agencies across the state. Illinoisans can call 1-877-411-WARM for more information.

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Medicare Part D

The open enrollment period for Medicare Part D starts November 15 and runs through the end of the year.Seniors and persons with disabilities who qualify for Medicare coverage can switch their Part D Plans- private prescription drug benefits that are reimbursed by the federal government. The cost...

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Emergency Response Training

The Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, Emergency Service Disaster Agency and Local Emergency Planing Committee are seeking volunteers for the state and local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTS). The goal of CERTS is to train and prepare for major emergencies by bringing together local...

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School Emergency Alert Registration

Register to receive Emergency Text Messages.
Parents can be alerted to school closings and other school-related emergencies via text message and e-mail through School Alert — a service made possible by the I-KAN Regional Office of Education’s Emergency Response and Crisis Management Project and...

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Electronic Recycling

An E-Waste Recycling Program has been developed for the Kankakee metropolitan area and its surroundings. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, annd Thursday. E-Waste drop off sites are located at the Kankakee Department of Public Works at 401 West Oak Street in Kankakee...

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Mental Health Awareness Month

Say It Out Loud has launched a new web site during statewide celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health is a vital part of overall health and well-being.
For ideas on how to promote good mental health
for yourself and your family, visit www.mentalhealthillinois.org.
For mental...

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FEMA Assistance Deadline

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials remind residents of Iroquois and Livingston counties that the deadline to apply for assistance from flood damage is May 6, 2008. Residents should call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621- FEMA or TTY (800) 462-7585 for speech or hearing-impaired...

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Ford- Iroquois Public Health Official Retires

John Pickering had been the administrator of the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department since the agency was created in 1980. He retired from the agency on February 29, 2008. He began his career in public health in his native England and later emigrated to the U.S.
Pickering has received many...

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Iroquois County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency

For Watseka and Iroquois County Flood Related Information Contact Iroquois County ESDA

Iroquois County ESDA - 550 South 10th Street - Watseka, IL 60970 - (815) 432-6997
Email ESDA Director, Carl Gerdovich IQESDA@IQESDA.com
website: www.iqesda.com

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KAN-I-HELP Human Services Directory

The 2006 Edition of the KAN-I-HELP Human Services Directory is available for purchase at $10.00 per copy. They may be purchased at the I-KAN Regional Office of Education's Pledge for Life Partnership office at 189 E. Court Street, Suite 403, Kankakee, IL.

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Don't Look the Other Way: Vigilance encouraged during prom and graduation season.

April kicks off the prom and graduation season and the Pledge for Life Partnership is warning that underage drinking increases dramatically during this time.

“Teens are under increased pressure to use alcohol or other drugs around these events and we are hoping that parents and the community are...

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FIFTH GRADERS LEARN HOW ALCOHOL DAMAGES THE DEVELOPING BRAIN

Students in Mrs. Cynthia McBarnes 5th grade class at Liberty Intermediate School in Bourbonnais received a sobering message about the dangers of alcohol on their developing brains from principal Paul Snellenberger as part of the National Reach Out Now Teach-In event held April 6 in the visiting...

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Partnership to host town meeting on underage drinking

The Pledge for Life Partnership will be among hundreds of communities nationwide hosting town hall meetings this month to alert communities to the new research on the dangers of underage drinking and to discuss actions to stop it.

A town hall meeting for residents of Kankakee and Iroquois...

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Two honored for years of service

Pam Lee and JoAnne Schwade of Kankakee are the winners of the 2005 Harold Award presented by the Pledge for Life Partnership.

The Harold Award -- named after the Life Education Center’s 8 ft. mascot, Harold the Giraffe -- recognizes outstanding examples of dedication and commitment to the...

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Two honored for service to school boards

This year, the Pledge for Life Partnership applauds two outstanding individuals for their leadership abilities and service to the youth in their communities.

Richard Lottinville of St. Anne and Scott Watts of Watseka are the winners of the 2005 Lowe School Board Recognition Award. The...

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KAN-I HELP Network to examine area need for

The Kankakee-Iroquois HELP Information Network (KAN-I HELP) has been awarded a $5000 grant from the Illinois Head Start Association to determine the local feasibility of developing a comprehensive mental health system for children.

The system, which would include prevention, early intervention...

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Park gets walking path

More than 50 students and adult volunteers helped lay a walking path on June 26, 2004 around the new 4,649 square ft. playground at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Hopkins Park as part of a Learn and Serve project funded through a grant from the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community...

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Sobering lesson about the effects of alcohol

Fifth graders at Manteno Elementary School received a sobering message about the dangers of alcohol on their developing brains from Dr. Kay Pangle, Regional Superintendent of Kankakee – Iroquois County Schools, as part of the National Reach Out Now Teach In event held yesterday in the visiting...

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Reach Out Now targets teachers, parents of fifth graders

The nationwide event targets teachers and parents of 5th graders and is an initiative of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The I-KAN Regional Office was one of only three sites in Illinois invited to participate and the event is one of several activities...

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Alcohol Awareness Month activities planned

To encourage communication on the dangers of early alcohol use, the I-KAN Regional Office of Education and the Pledge for Life Partnership will participate in the 2004 Reach Out Now National Teach-In Campaign April 26-30.

The nationwide event targets teachers and parents of 5th graders and is an...

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KAN-I HELP web site invites the community to “Make a Pledge” to reduce underage drinking

Families, businesses and individuals can now register their “Pledge for Life,” a commitment to reduce underage drinking through compliance with the laws governing alcohol and other dangerous substances, on-line at www.kan-i-help.org.

The “Pledge for Life” registration gives community members the...

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Where do you draw the line? Learn how alcohol affects your health on National Alcohol Screening Day, April 10

“My husband and I want to start a family, and I enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner – will this affect my chances of becoming pregnant?”

“I take an over the counter pain medication for my bad back – does this mean I shouldn’t drink alcohol?”

“My 75-year-old father has recently...

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KAN-I HELP Launches Redesigned Website

The new and improved KAN-I HELP website makes it even easier for individuals to utilize the internet to gain access to services provided by government and non-profit agencies. Funding was provided by a one-time grant from Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging through the National Family...

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A Pledge for Life Partnership Initiative
189 E. Court Street, Suite 403
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 815.936.4606
Fax: 815.933.2314
Email: kan-i-help.org