Phone: (309) 827-0377

Project Oz Youth Center Update

This year, the sounds of summer at Project Oz include heavy equipment, hammers, saws, and diggers. Construction of our new Youth Education and Support Center is well underway and our construction crews are making great progress! While we watch the changes each day, our staff are eagerly anticipating the new opportunities this space will bring to serve youth and families.

 

Thank you to all of the friends who have helped our expansion project come to life. There’s still time to join us in supporting this new chapter for Project Oz! Every dollar goes towards essential construction costs and moves us closer to the finish line.

 

All donors who contribute over $500 will be recognized with a plaque in the new space. Please contact Lisa Thompson for information about additional recognition available in gratitude for major gifts.

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Project Oz’s 50th Anniversary!

Exciting things are happening at Project Oz! This year marks 50 years of our organization working to keep young people safe and strengthening families! Not only are we celebrating Project Oz’s history and legacy, but we are also kicking off a transformative building project to lead us into the next 50 years! Read on to learn about plans for our new Youth Education and Support Center, our upcoming 50th anniversary celebration, and a little Oz history.

Designing for the Future: The Youth Education and Support Center

We are thrilled to be able to share the plans for our new Youth Education and Support Center! This major construction project will add approximately 2,500 square feet of flexible space to our existing building.The new space will help us expand our services and better meet the needs of young people experiencing housing instability, family conflicts, and other challenges.

The new Center will be a comfortable space where youth can speak with counselors, learn life and job skills, and connect with technology. It will include a “Nutrition Nook”, where they can grab a bite to eat and learn to cook, as well as a “Youth Hygiene Station” complete with laundry facilities, to allow youth visiting our office to clean up with privacy and dignity.  We will also be able to host larger family meetings, restorative circles, trainings, and community events on-site to build connections and encourage important conversations.

Throughout the project, purposeful, youth-friendly, trauma-informed design will create a warm, welcoming environment that promotes healing and communication for youth and families during challenging times.

Click here to learn more about our plans, see drawings, learn about donor recognition opportunities, and donate.

Please consider donating to help Project Oz continue to put our founding values into practice every day. You can help us create safe spaces where young people connect to caring adults and develop the skills they need to achieve their goals and lead happy, healthy, productive lives!

With grant funding from the City of Bloomington and the John M. Scott Trust, we are excited to move forward with this project and expect ground breaking to take place later this year! We would also like to extend special thanks to the Bank of Pontiac, JX Gives Back Family Foundation, US Bank, Compeer Financial, Specs Around Town, Tentac Enterprises, and Road Runner Real Estate Sales and Investments for their support. If your business or organization would like to be a part of the Youth Center efforts, please contact us! In addition to financial support, we are also seeking donated materials and services for the project including landscaping, HVAC, washer/dryer, refrigerator, shingles, gutters, and much more. Email us at [email protected] or call us at 309-827-0377.

A Semi-Centennial Celebration: Kicking Off our 2nd Half-Century!

Join us for a night of music and laughter to celebrate Project Oz’s 50th Anniversary, hosted by our friends at the Illinois Interior Design Association (IIDA)! The dueling pianos will face off on September 29th at the Castle Theater, with doors opening at 5:30 pm. This event promises to be a fun night of singing along, dancing, comedy, and outstanding piano playing that ranges from classics like Billy Joel and Elton John to contemporary hits and country. Best of all, the proceeds will benefit Project Oz programs! Tickets are on sale here now, along with additional details about the event. Visit here for event sponsorship opportunities, starting at $250, or contact Lisa Thompson ([email protected]) for more information.

Project Oz History: Did You Know…?

Who founded Project Oz and why?

Chris Carlton and Peter Rankaitis, then students at Illinois State University, founded Project Oz in 1973 as part of a class project.

At the time, teens involved with child welfare were commonly sent to out-of-state institutions, losing vital family and community connections and often returning with bigger problems.

As an alternative, Project Oz offered a drop-in center, where teens could talk about issues in their lives and find support to solve problems, preventing child welfare involvement and keeping them safe and close to home. Seeing the negative impact substance use had on many of the kids and families, Chris and Peter quickly added prevention education services as a second focus.

Chris retired in 1996 and Peter retired in 2018, after successfully leading Project Oz through several decades of growth.

Why are you called Project Oz?

We get this question a lot!

From our earliest days, we wanted kids to feel comfortable and have a voice at Project Oz. So, Peter and Chris asked a group of kids: “What would be a good name for our organization?”

The teens chose “Project Oz”, partially as a reference to The Wizard of Oz and the sentiment that “there’s no place like home”. This allusion seemed appropriate given our focus on helping youth find their way safely home and discover their own gifts on the journey.

Some long-time friends of Oz may recall that our original logo even included several Wizard of Oz characters (until the big guns in Hollywood asked us to “cease and desist”!).

Have you always been in your current location?

Project Oz’s home has always been on the West Side of Bloomington, starting with a small house on Washington Street that was “rented” for $1. Since then, we have moved three times to new locations as the organization grew.

We purchased our current building on West Front Street in 2005. Since then, we have added several new programs, our staff has increased by 30%, and we now reach over 6,000 youth across McLean and Livingston Counties each year. The need to support youth has grown, but we are out of space in our building!

As we work to meet the emerging needs of youth and families, we are committed to investing in our West Side neighborhood and growing our services in our current, easily accessible location.

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National Runaway Prevention Month: Join us!

Please join us during National Runaway Prevention Month! Each November, Project Oz partners with the National Runaway Safeline (1800runaway.org) to recognize National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM). It is a chance to let the 4.2 million young people in the United States who experience some form of homelessness each year know that we see them, and that safe shelter and caring adults are available to help them thrive through challenging situations.

How You Can Help

During November, we hope you will join Project Oz in recognizing National Runaway Prevention Month and help “shine a light” on the needs of homeless youth. There are many ways you can join the movement to prevent and end youth homelessness. When you take action to support NRPM, you show young people they matter!

  • Spread the word by “Liking” and sharing our social media posts throughout the month, and telling your friends about Project Oz.

 

  • Wear Green Day, Thursday, November 10th – Dress in green, the color of NRPM, and post a picture on social media to show your commitment to supporting runaway and homeless youth. Help get others involved by inviting your friends or colleagues to join you. Don’t forget to tag Project Oz (@projectozyouth) and use #NRPM2022 on social media posts!

 

  • Light the Night, Thursday, November 17th – Join partner organizations, businesses, and individuals across the country by lighting up your home or business in green to show solidarity with youth experiencing housing insecurity. We’d love to see your pictures! Tag us on social media or email us at[email protected] to be added to our list of partners. We also have a limited number of green lights available to share with those who would like to participate.

 

  • Visit local businesses that support NRPM. Our friends atSugar Mama Bakery and Fleet Feet kicked off the month by donating 10% of sales to Project Oz on October 29th and November 1st.Specs Around Town will contribute 5% of sales through November 26th andFt. Jesse Cafe will be donating $1 for every cold brew sold on November 8th. Watch our social media for announcements about additional sponsors!

 

  • Make a donation. Your gift allows us to quickly share safe shelter and help with even more youth. Click below to donate to our NRPM fundraising campaign any time during the month of November. We will also be participating in Giving Tuesday on November 29th. We hope you will consider supporting us on Giving Tuesday and sharing our campaign to extend our reach.

Donate to support runaway and homeless youth!

 

Why is NRPM Important?

As we recover from the pandemic, more young people are experiencing family conflicts, financial stressors, mental health concerns, and barriers to resources for support that may cause them to leave home. Whether “couch-surfing” or living on the streets, youth without safe shelter are targets for sexual assault, exploitation, trafficking, and other violence. Focused on day-to-day survival, they are also more likely to leave school, have trouble finding or keeping a job, use substances as a coping mechanism, and become involved in the justice system. Youth may feel hopeless and invisible. NRPM is an opportunity to highlight young people’s experiences with housing insecurity, as well as the organizations and people who support them.

How Project Oz Helps

We connect quickly with youth in unsafe living situations through 24/7 crisis response, immediate access to safe shelter, and targeted street outreach.  We operate the only emergency shelter and transitional living programs for young people ages 10-23 in McLean and Livingston Counties. Wrap-around support, life skills education, and counseling help youth and families resolve conflicts and achieve their goals for the future.

But we don’t stop there. We also help young people throughout McLean County build the skills and knowledge to make safe choices and connect to caring adults through in-school substance use prevention, mental health education, and embedded Restorative Schools counselors.

Together with friends like you, we are working to build a safer and healthier future for all young people in our community.

Want to do more?

Would your business or organization like to do more? Partner with us as an Giving Tuesday Sponsor! Sponsors help lead community giving and inspire the generosity of others. Sponsorship opportunities start at just $500 and include recognition on social media. To explore the possibilities or to sign up as an official sponsor, please contact Lisa Thompson at 309-827-0377 or [email protected].

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Fall 2022: Back-To-School News

At Project Oz, we are welcoming the energy and excitement of the new school year and changing seasons! Read on to learn about program updates and upcoming community events.

Help Stock Our New “Give Back Box”

Project Oz is helping reduce food insecurity in our West Bloomington neighborhood by hosting a new “Give Back Box” in front of our building. We are grateful to Hailey Henrichs for constructing the box as her Eagle Scout project, along with her team from ScoutsBSA Troop 8888 and sponsor Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary.

The Give Back Box invites neighbors to take what they need and share extra as they are able, offering convenient 24/7 access to food and other essential items. Please stop by the box at 1105 W. Front St. any time to add non-perishable food and hygiene items to help keep the box well-stocked!

Suggested Items for the Give Back Box: peanut butter, canned protein (chicken, tuna, etc.), pasta, pasta sauce (no glass jars please), canned vegetables or fruit, canned soup or pasta, cereal, snacks (crackers, granola bars, etc.), soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products

Please note, some recipients do not have access to full kitchen facilities, so convenience items that are easy to open and microwave (pop-top cans, microwaveable pasta, etc.) are helpful.

Substance Use Prevention Education Rolling Out for New Students

Each year, Project Oz teaches in-school substance use prevention education classes to more than 2,200 middle school students. We are excited to be reaching several hundred additional 4th and 5th grade students in four McLean County school districts for the first time this year thanks to new funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Our evidence-based “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum offers tailored content for each grade level to meet the needs of students as they grow and aligns with grade-level Illinois Learning Standards. For younger students, the program focuses on:

  • Offering a developmentally-appropriate introduction to concerns related to substance use; for example, a focus on what is healthy to put in the body and what is not.
  • Utilizing a positive, strengths-based approach that enhances social-emotional learning and helps develop skills such as goal setting, responsible decision-making, building positive connections with others, identifying emotions, and effective communication.
  • Incorporating interactive games and activities to engage students and help them apply new skills in their own lives.

Why is it important to talk with younger students about substance use? The earlier young people start using substances, the greater their chances of developing substance use problems later in life. Greater awareness also helps prevent accidents and drug poisonings. Our program helps students of all ages develop the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe and healthy!

Visit to Ron Clark Academy Inspires Project Oz School Specialist

As Project Oz’s Youth Empowered Schools staff begin a new school year, one of our Restorative School Specialists will be sharing new ideas to support student success inspired by a unique professional development experience. Thanks to our partners at Bloomington District 87, Willie Boyd had the opportunity to join a group of his Irving Elementary team members for a workshop at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA over the summer. The Ron Clark Academy is a model school that has received national recognition for its success in creating a loving, dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and fosters leadership. School days there are far from ordinary, with classrooms designed to look like movie sets and lessons filled with music and dance. Willie described the experience as “unbelievable”:

“We entered the building to music playing, students welcoming us and dancing on tables, and Ron Clark dancing and welcoming us to the school. The building was amazing, with a Harry Potter theme. Every classroom teacher we visited had an amazing energy and creative classroom. The students asked many great questions and encouraged each other when asking or answering. Our school staff were all excited about what we could do here at Irving elementary. We learned several new strategies to support our ‘house’ system for students. One big take-away was the priority they place on strong family-school relationships. I learned that Ron Clark does home visits with every student at his school and I plan to incorporate more home visits to help build those connections here.”

Check out these short videos if you would like to learn more about the Ron Clark Academy:

Join Project Oz at the 2022 McLean County Behavioral Health Community Forum

The 5th annual Behavioral Health Community Forum is coming up on Tuesday, October 4th! This free forum includes a keynote address, community resource fair, and breakout sessions offered throughout the day on a wide array of topics related to behavioral health. Project Oz staff member Neal Iden will lead a session titled “Ending the Stigma about Mental Health” and Colleen O’Connor will lead a panel discussion on “Youth Mental Health: Current Challenges and Community Response”. All community members are invited to attend and continuing education units (CEUs) are available for professionals.

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Cost: Free for McLean County residents
Register through Eventbrite

Project Oz to Benefit from Volleypalooza On Saturday, September 24th

Thank you to our friends at Crafted for choosing Project Oz as one of the organizations to benefit from Volleypalooza, Bloomington-Normal’s first multi-venue charity sand volleyball tournament! 40 teams will face off on four different volleyball courts throughout the day at Kegler’s Pub, the Windjammer Lounge, Gill St. Bar and Restaurant, and Crafted, with the championship starting at 4 pm at Crafted. Team registration is full, but there will also be a multi-venue scavenger hunt, prizes, and opportunities to support the selected charities throughout the day. Project Oz representatives will be at Crafted from 9-6 on Saturday the 24th. Stop by to say hello and check out this fun competition!

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And the winner is…Project Oz!

Nonprofit Excellence Award Winner!

At Project Oz, we love a chance to celebrate and share good news! On Saturday, we were honored to be chosen as the winner of the annual Nonprofit Excellence Award from the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. We are especially proud of this recognition in light of the impressive accomplishments of our fellow human services nominees.

Since the start of the pandemic, the urgency and impact of our work, ranging from 24/7 crisis response and shelter to in-school prevention and counseling, has only become more clear. The remarkable community support we enjoy is key to helping young people weather life’s storms and achieve their goals. Our efforts could not be successful without you – our amazing staff members (both past and present), board members, host home families, volunteers, and many, many friends and community partners!

Thank you for sharing in our mission “to partner with young people to build a foundation that promotes safety, opportunities, and well-being in their lives.” There’s more work to do and we’ve got big plans for the future, so stay tuned for more exciting news!

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National Runaway Prevention Month

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Please join us during National Runaway Prevention Month!

What: National Runaway Prevention Month is spearheaded nationally each November by our partner, the National Runaway Safeline (1800runaway.org). It is a chance to let the 4.2 million youth in the United States who experience some form of homelessness each year know that we see them and that safe shelter and caring adults are available to help them thrive through challenging situations.

You Can Help!: During November, we hope you will join Project Oz in recognizing National Runaway Prevention Month and help “shine a light” on the needs of homeless youth. There are many ways you can join the movement to prevent and end youth homelessness!

  • Spread the word by “Liking” and sharing our social media posts throughout the month, and telling your friends about Project Oz.
  • Show your support for runaway and homeless youth by taking and sharing pictures of yourself and your family or co-workers wearing green on Wednesday, November 10th. Don’t forget to tag Project Oz on your social media!
  • Light up your home or business with green for “Light the Night” on Wednesday, November 17th. We’d love to see your pictures! Please email Sam at [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our list of participating partners.

To impact even more young people, we will also be participating in Giving Tuesday on November 30th. We hope you will consider making us your charity of choice on Giving Tuesday and sharing our campaign. You can also click here to donate anytime during the month of November.

Why Now: As a result of the pandemic, more young people are experiencing family conflicts, financial stressors, mental health concerns, and barriers to resources for support that may cause them to leave home. Whether “couch-surfing” or living on the streets, youth without safe shelter are targets for sexual assault, exploitation, trafficking, and other violence. Focused on day-to-day survival, they are also more likely to leave school, have trouble finding or keeping a job, use substances as a coping mechanism, and become involved in the justice system. Youth may feel hopeless and trapped in a cycle of instability and trauma.

Project Oz’s Strategy: We connect quickly with youth in unsafe living situations through 24/7 crisis response, immediate access to safe shelter, and targeted street outreach.  We operate the only emergency shelter and transitional living programs for young people ages 10-23 in McLean and Livingston Counties. Wrap-around support, life skills education, and counseling help youth and families resolve conflicts and achieve their goals for the future.

But we don’t stop there. We also help young people throughout McLean County build the skills and knowledge to make safe choices and connect to caring adults through in-school substance use prevention, mental health awareness education, and embedded Restorative Schools counselors.

Together with friends like you, we are working to build a safer and healthier future for all young people in our community. Thank you for your support!

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FALL 2021: BACK-TO-SCHOOL NEWS

We are geared up for the new school year!

The pandemic continues to make school “interesting” for young people and our many school-based Project Oz staff members.  After a busy summer of planning and training, we are excited to head back into classrooms across McLean County and provide the support students need to weather these challenging transitions, connect with caring adults, and build brighter futures – now and all year long!  Read on for update, back-to-school tips, upcoming events, and thoughts from retiring Prevention Educator, Lisa Soliday.

Youth Empowered Schools Goes Back to Class

Did you know that last year our Youth Empowered Schools (YES) staff in Bloomington High School, Normal Community High School, and Normal Community West High School collectively reached out to over 1,100 students to bridge the digital divide and help them re-engage in remote learning?  Despite the challenges of COVID, YES staff are always ready to jump in wherever needed to help students achieve their goals in school and develop their full potential. We are thankful to our partners at the State Farm Foundation, District 87, and Unit 5 for their continued support of this program!  This year we are excited to work with District 87 to expand the program and support students, families, and staff in three new schools through restorative practices: Bloomington Junior High, Irving Elementary, and Sheridan Elementary.  Here are a few “first day” photos form our awesome new YES team members!

 

Helping Young People Cope with Back-to-School Anxiety

As we head back to school, many children and teens are unsure about how to feel.  After so many months of virtual learning, changing schedules, and extra time at home, this is a big adjustment.  Here are a few tips that can help you provide support as we return to school.

  • Talk openly about how your child or teen is feeling, and validate their feelings. There is no wrong way to feel in this situation, and it’s okay if they feel anxious, afraid, or overwhelmed – and it’s also okay if they feel eager, relieved, and excited!
  • Set a tone by approaching conversations with positivity and helping them consider how they could approach different challenges.
  • Help them set small, achievable goals, especially if they feel overwhelmed.
  • Prioritize their mental health and encourage them to let you know if they are struggling. It’s much harder for young people to learn when they are experiencing mental health challenges.
  • Keep and eye out for warning signs of mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, such as changes in mood or behavior, withdrawal, feelings of hopelessness, increased irritability, or physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches.
  • Be ready to provide support if you notice that your child or teen is having a hard time. This could include checking in more regularly, doing activities together, or talking about how they feel.  It could also include reaching out to resources like their teachers, school counselor, or pediatrician.
  • Learn about local mental health options. If you’re looking for extra support and don’t know where to start, we recommend calling PATH Crisis Center at 2-1-1 to learn more about the resources that are available in our community.  You can also reach out to Colleen ([email protected]), our mental health education coordinator at Project Oz, with questions about how to support a young person who might be struggling with their mental health.

 

Keys of Hope Dueling Piano Night for Suicide Prevention Returns

The dueling pianos are back!  Our friends at the IIDA Illinois Central IL City Center are once again hosting the Keys of Hope dueling piano fundraiser to benefit our NAMI Ending the Silence (ETS) program. ETS is a mental health education and suicide prevention program that reaches students at all local public junior and senior high schools. The program encourages important conversations about mental health, de-stigmatizes mental illness, and empowers young people to ask for help. Please join us for a fun evening of entertainment, prizes, and laughter as you sing, dance, and clap along to audience favorites! (Tickets are limited based on gathering restrictions)

Date and Time: Friday, September 24th, 2021 ; 530-11 pm

Location: The Castle Theatre, Bloomington, IL

Tickets: $25

 

Celebrating Retiring Ozzer, Lisa Soliday!

After 15 years at Project Oz, Lisa Soliday, Prevention Educator Extraordinaire, is retiring this month.  During her career, Lisa taught in-school substance use prevention education to more than 7,000 McLean County students and advised several prevention-focused youth groups. Lisa’s dedication to youth, energy, and spirit of fun are truly unmatched.  She has also served as a mentor and cheerleader to many staff and her welcoming smile, kindness, and care for others helped shape the Oz culture.  As she is wrapping up her time with us, we asked her to share some reflections on her career.

Q. What individual successes have been the most meaningful for you?

I am most proud of all the work I did with the different youth groups I advised over the years.  I learned many new skills from the teens, was able to help their creative ideas come to fruition, and was energized when implementing events with them.  Some of my favorites were: alcohol forum, flash mob at Intercity basketball game, mannequin challenge, If You Really Knew Me Commerical, Reverse Trick or Treat, Yoga/WERQ events, art mural, and Chalk the Walks.

Q. What agency achievements are you most proud of?

The growth that I have seen in our agency; the positive impact we have had on young peoples’ lives; the respect and reputation that Project Oz has in our community makes me really proud to be a part of the agency.  I’m so very thankful for the leadership, and for how we have all handled the challenge of COVID fairly gracefully.  I will miss the work, and especially all the terrific Ozzers who have made work a joy.

Q. What is your most memorable Oz moment?

The opportunity to work with Joel Bergner for Artolution on the Market Street Mural was quite memorable.  It was pretty amazing to hear cars honking, cheering and yelling positive comments while we painted.  It was exciting to bring something so beautiful to the people that live in the neighborhood. I think all of us who worked on it felt so proud.  The work that Joel Bergner does around the world is inspiring, check it out: Artolution

Q. What was one of the most challenging mements in your career?

I’ve had a few! I do not like interviewing on TV, radio, with the newspaper, even for a training video (yuck) and I’ve had to do these a few times.  It is not my strength.  The year of COVID and video taping myself was especially challenging!

Q. What advice would you give to someone entering the prevention field today?

  • It’s really important to establish good relationships with schools, law enforcement, and community members.
  • Take every opportunity in trainings for professional development
  • Be curios, research, be open to learning and hearing others ideas.
  • If you don’t know something, it’s okay to say, “I’m not familiar with that, but I’ll do some research and get back to you.”
  • Practice good self care so you are mentally and physically fit to bring your best self to your job, co-workers and students.

Q. In 5 words, why do you think universal prevention is important?

Prevention builds youths’ bright futures

Q. What are you looking forward to in retirement?

Lots of things!  Pursuing some creative interests, like learning guitar, cooking & drawing; Being able to work exercise into my daily schedule; Spending more time with my sweet granddaughter; RE-potting and starting new houseplants; Traveling; Biking; Paddle boarding; Yoga; More time with family & friends; Annoying my husband by invading his personal space in the morning 🙂

 

 

 

 

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Spring 2021 Update

There are always new things happening at Oz! Thanks to our amazing staff, partners, and supporters, we are helping more young people than ever. Read on for a round-up of recent Project Oz news.

Building Equity and Expanding Restorative Practices Through a Healing Illinois grant, our Youth Empowered Schools (YES) program has been promoting dialogue and connection by facilitating listening circles related to the impact of racism, remote learning, and COVID-19 on students and teachers in our community. We were also inspired by the voices of the talented young people who participated in our inaugural Martin Luther King-Healing Illinois Youth Poetry Contest. Finally, we are excited to partner with District 87 to expand YES to elementary and junior high students in several schools thanks to a new state Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) grant!

Crisis Services in High Demand Our Youth Services staff has been especially busy responding to crisis calls during the winter – calls to our pager were up 30% this year! Our team is available 24/7 to help stabilize youth facing a housing crisis and offer immediate emergency shelter.  We are also proud to report that one of our young people was chosen to be part of Youth Collaboratory’s “Youth Catalyst” team, a group of young leaders from across the country committed to using their knowledge, skills, insights, and lived experience to improve program practices, and inform and further mobilize the youth services field. Finally, we are thankful to our friends at the John M. Scott Health Care Commission for continuing to support improved health and well-being for runaway and homeless youth through their partnership with our Transitional Living Program.

Remote or in-person? Prevention Educators are working hard to reach students – wherever they are! The Prevention Education department recently celebrated an unusual spring milestone: the schedule for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year was finally set! The complicated task of coordinating 1,035 class periods of substance use prevention and suicide prevention education across 18 schools in 8 districts across McLean County is usually completed in August. But as our partner schools have transitioned between remote, hybrid, and fully in-person learning, our flexible staff have worked closely with them to accommodate changing schedules and continue to reach all students.  Helping students make healthy choices, develop positive coping skills, and learn about resources for support is especially critical as we all face new challenges resulting from the pandemic. Our Youth Action Board has also been busy.  Upcoming activities include a “Chalk the Walk” event during National Prevention Week and our semi-annual drive-through Prescription Drug Take-back event, held in collaboration with the Normal Police Department, on April 24th. Last Fall, YAB members helped collect an estimated 210 pounds of unused/expired medications from a record 115 cars!

“Feels Like Home” Exhibit to Benefit Project Oz The Inside Out: Accessible Art Gallery and Cooperative is currently featuring a special exhibit, “Feels Like Home”, with a portion of the proceeds from the sales going directly to Project Oz. Stop in to their gallery in downtown Bloomington to view the fantastic pieces available or check them out on theirFacebook page.  A selection of pieces are also available for purchase through theironline store. Thank you to all of the participating artists for generously sharing your talents with us!

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We are looking to grow our passionate team!

Project Oz has a few new full-time openings in local elementary/middle schools for skilled relationship builders to use restorative practices to create an inclusive, supportive, engaged, and equitable school climate that will serve as a strong foundation for improved well-being, learning, and achievement for all students. Duties include assisting youth, families, and school administration in developing positive relationships to promote academic achievement, school attendance, and school safety, as well as reduce conflict, classroom disruptions, and disciplinary incidents.

Bachelor’s degree and related professional experience are required. Must be trauma-informed, sensitive to diversity in all its forms, have excellent communication skills, a good driving history, and be able to pass extensive background checks.

We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, and amazing coworkers. Please review the job description for more details and visit our Employment Page to start the application process.

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MLK Healing Illinois Poetry Contest

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