The ACCESS Initiative is celebrating the positive impact that we can have on the lives of young people when we are able to integrate positive mental health and messages of resilience into every environment. Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (CMHAW) will be celebrated throughout Champaign County May 5-11, 2013. We will join more than 1,000 communities across the country in celebrating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on Thursday, May 9, 2013 to raise awareness about the importance of positive mental health for youth.

The theme for CMHAW 2013 is “Shining Lights: Exposing Trauma.” This week will be dedicated to increasing public awareness about how exposure to traumatic events early in life can have many negative effects throughout childhood and adolescence, and into adulthood.

Join your community in raising awareness about positive youth development, recovery, and resiliency in the following ways:

1. Attend 2013 CMHAW events (more info coming soon!) culminating in the  CMHAW Block Party Saturday, May 11, 2013.  The event will be held at Douglas Park from 12-2 PM.  This is an opportunity to find resources available that promote resilience and address trauma.

2. Participate in one of the 2013 CMHAW social media contests

3. Wear the official 2013 Green Awareness Bracelet throughout the week

4. Wear green and help make the community “Glow Green” on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce Build Your Brand Summit

9 am – 4 pm

The I Hotel

1900 S. First St., Champaign

Wednesday, 2/27

SOFFT Black History Month Promoting Health and Child Safety

11:30am – 1pm

Urbana DCFS Office

Wednesday, 2/27

Culminating Celebration

7:30 pm

Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center

Keynote Dr. Myrlie Evers

Thursday, 2/28

The Negative Impact of the War on Drugs on Our Community

5:30 – 8:30 pm

Levis Faculty Center

919 W. Illinois St., Urbana

Friday, 3/1

The Negative Impact of the War on Drugs on Our Community

5:30 – 8:30 pm

Salem Baptist Church

500 E. Park St., Champaign

Friday, 3/8

NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet

6:30 pm doors open, 7 pm dinner and program

Hilton Garden Inn

The online version of the HelpBook expands considerably on the print
version, covering over 590 programs. In addition to program description,
location and phone, the HelpBook Online program listings include Website,
email, operating agency, person in charge, hours, eligibility, fee,
intake process, program licenses, staff qualifications, service area and
handicap accessibility.

The HelpBook Online now offers Google translation from a dropdown list of
nine languages.

The HelpBook Online is indexed by keywords, provides an alphabetical
index of programs,  and is also searchable by free keyword
search.

Visit the HelpBook Online at http://helpbook.famservcc.org/

The “harvest” of our gathering summarizes our discussion and highlights photos and useful information from the event. It can be downloaded online: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0x1NZf3DQUZanNwTFF6Qk0xanc/edit?pli=1

We’d also like to share an article about Redeploy Illinois, which has had great success in establishing community-based alternatives to detention for youth and has now saved the state $40 million: http://www.modelsforchange.net/newsroom/443

Thanks to those who joined us there! Stay tuned for our next Community Conversation!

Talking to Children About the Shooting https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2KY5GoFd2rwcloxYXgzcGFPa1U

Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shootings https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2KY5GoFd2rwdVFIaGlLQnV1UUE

Tip Sheet for Youth Talking to Journalists About the Shooting https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2KY5GoFd2rwT0JYRTdBYjFpaDA

Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2KY5GoFd2rwa05HbUs5T1FJekE

Link to additional resources: http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/terrorism

Network Website: www.nctsn.org

Network Learning Center: www.learn.nctsn.org

Marilyn D. Garmon-Starks, a graduate of the University of Illinois, worked for CUAP from 1999-2007 as the Delinquency Prevention Specialist (DPS), Community Organizer and Activists.  However, her most important proclaimed role was a Drum Major for Youth.  Marilyn was committed to excellence and equity in education and balance and restorative justice.  She fought hard to keep youth at home, in school, and out of trouble. 

Marilyn as DPS coordinated and monitored Juvenile Post Detention and Anti-Recidivism programs for Champaign County.  She was a Girl Scout Leader for the largest African American Troop in Champaign, Coordinator and Mentor for the MYS (Mentoring Young Sisters Program) where she nurtured over 100 girls ranging in age from 11-17 years old, and she worked with youth at the Frederick A. Douglass Youth Academy in Champaign.

Marilyn brought her extensive training and expertise in matters related to juvenile justice to other programs, which included Central High School’s Peer Jury Program, Project ACCESS System of Care, Station Adjustments, and Disproportionate Minority Contact/Confinement (DMC).

Marilyn was a skilled communicator and community leader, known for her wisdom and maturity beyond her 30 years, for fairness and a willingness to hear all points of view, and for her ability to make everyone feel respected and heard.

Marilyn was a warm and caring individual who worked tirelessly to mobilize the communities of Champaign County to better meet the needs of all youth and their families, and was well deserving of her title: “Drum Major for Youth.

The Marilyn Garmon-Starks Award honors young people who demonstrate these core values that Marilyn embodied.

Congratulations!!! to past Peer Jury Award Winners of the Marilyn Garmon-Starks Award

Caroline Sholem – 2008

Sarah Halpern – 2008

Andrew Valentine – 2011

Brenna Mooney – 2012

Sara  Wells – 2012

In July, CUAP staff Patricia Avery and Leigh Courtney met with Central High School Vice Principal Yalanda Graham, Sara Balgoyen of IBARJP,  Shandra Summerville of ACCESS Initiative, and Joy George of Prairie Land Conflict Mediation Center to discuss continued support and preservation of Central’s Peer Jury Program.   As a result of good planning and great partnerships, Central High School’s Peer Jury Program is secure and off to a great school year.   Seventy-five very excited students came to the Peer Jury training in the Library Lecture Hall on October 8, 2012 to learn about the Peer Jury Program.  Peer Jury is a restorative justice practice that is an alternative to suspensions and expulsions.  The students had a full day of learning about restorative justice, Peer Juror conduct and standards, active listening and effective questioning skills, doing role plays, and selecting officers.

Thanks to ACCESS, we enjoyed pizza and thirst quenchers, and at the end of the day those students who completed the training also received a certificate for their participation.   Ms. Graham set the next meeting for October 30^th in the Library Lecture Hall during lunch.

THANKS TO OUR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PARTNERS

• ACCESS Initative
• AmeriCorps VISTA Leigh Courtney – Developer and Designer of Student Handbook
• Central High School Administration
• IBARJP
• Prairie Land Conflict Mediation Center

A newly released report from the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission reveals that youth in the Illinois Juvenile Justice System aren’t being given the rehabilitation, guidance, support, education, and holistic care they need. Worse, they receive none of this important care after their release back into our communities. There’s no doubt that this poses serious risks for both our children and our communities.
The Youth Reentry Improvement Report is available online [here]

Many of you are part of efforts that are being made daily around Champaign County to help keep our youth out of the Juvenile Justice System and to provide them with the vital services they need upon returning to our community. All of us are affected by this issue that places our youth and our community as a whole at risk. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for us as a state and as a community to improve the outcomes of our youth.

Join us to learn more about the findings and recommendations offered by the Juvenile Justice Commission and to engage in conversation around how to bring awareness and creative solutions to this issue locally.

Thursday, December 13th
6 – 8 pm

Urbana Neighborhood Community Center
1401 E. Main St., Urbana
urbanaconnectionscenter.org

Refreshments provided

RSVP: sarab@ibarj.org

Download the flyer [here]

Special guest speaker Judge George Timberlake, head Commissioner of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, will be sharing the findings and recommendations of the Commission’s report on reentry in Illinois.

We’ll discuss:

What’s already working in Champaign County?
What needs to be addressed?
What can we do together that we can’t do alone?
How can we help the youth on parole in Champaign County and advocate to change state policy?

This is a “Community Conversations” event where the focus will be on having a conversation around this issue with other community members.

Youth and parents with experiences in the Juvenile Justice System are warmly invited–we want to hear from you!

Co-sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Area Project, the Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Project, the ACCESS Initiative, and the NAACP

Wednesday, January 9, 2013
9am – 3pm (lunch provided)
The President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center
Springfield, Illinois

Check out the flyer: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0x1NZf3DQUZUEpJZDBTNUJqN28/edit?pli=1
You can also RSVP on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/157941081014293

Join us for conversations about Restorative Practices, including circles, conferencing, and Peer Juries. Bring your wisdom and questions to Springfield for the first statewide youth conversation with and for youth about restorative practices and conversations.

We want you to take home a restorative practice that you can use immediately in your school. We want you to be excited about other ways to use these practices.   A good conversation begins with a good question: “What question, if answered, could make the most difference to the future of your school?” “What’s important to you about your school and why do you care?”

Please join us to learn and practice the art of powerful questions and restorative practices that help to bring about change.

Students who are engaged with their peers through a Peer Jury, a peace circle, a relationship building circle, or a restorative group conference are often diverted from detention and learn about how to be accountable and the importance of repairing harm. These are invaluable life skills for those youth facilitating and those youth who have broken a relationship and caused harm.

This conversation is free of charge and sponsored by Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice (IBARJ), the Illinois Association of Juvenile Justice Councils, and the Illinois Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

Because this is a highly anticipated event and seats are limited, we ask that you please RSVP to the first annual Statewide Youth Conference in advance. Please email LeighSC323@gmail.com with the NAMES of your attendees and
indicate whether they are YOUTH or ADULTS. You may also RSVP on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/157941081014293

Both youth and adults are welcome to attend, but remember that this is a
conversation FOR and BY youth, so adult conversations will happen
separately at this event. RSVPs for youth and adults accompanying youth will also be prioritized.

We hope to see you there!