Women Driving For A Great Cause

Come to the Women's Expo on Saturday, November 10th, and explore massage therapy, health & beauty items, cakes and breads, purses & jewelry, home decor, candles, a nutritionalist and so much more! While you are there take a test drive in a new Ford car, and Taylor Ford will make a donation to support the programs and services of The Information Center (Taylor).  

The Women's Expo will take place on Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., at The Information Center 20500 Eureka Road, in Taylor.  Taylor Ford is donating $20 per test-driver up to a $6,000 maximum for The Information Center, so bring your friends!  It's a fun way to help a great cause.

A $3 entry for the Women's Expo is waived when you do the test drive.  Participants must be 18 or older with a valid driver's license.  For more information call (734) 282-7171.

The Information Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has served residents of the Downriver and surrounding communities since 1975.  Our website is www.theinfocenter.info

Veterans Hiring Expo

One of the Veterans Hiring Expos we have received information and plenty of advance notice on will be taking place on October 30th from 12-4 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College 4800 E. Huron River Dr.  Ann Arbor, MI 48105.  You can register at www.wccnet.edu/vetjobs!

This event is open to the public.  There will be up to 75 companies ready to hire employees.  Fee workshops will also be offered in resume building for veterans and transition tips from active service to general population.

The Information Center (located in Taylor) is also serves veterans.  Our staff will help you to understand the benefits and supports you are eligible for, and how to effectively make contact with community and veteran resources that are there to support you, including those available through Michigan Works!   To speak with someone at The Information Center (free service) call (734) 282-7171.  You can also check us out at www.theinfocenter.info.

Children In Poverty

In difficult economic times maintaining a steady and sufficient income can be even more challenging.  Many available jobs do not provide the necessary income to keep a family out of poverty.  A family of 4 with an annual income below $22,000 is considered to be living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Parents may be working, and yet they find it very difficult to provide for their children's needs if they are part of our population some refer to as the working poor.

This affects a child's development. For children under the age of 5, living in poverty and going without can create severe consequences because it is a crucial developmental stage in their lives.  Living in poverty tends to have a long term impact on a child's life; it often affects future educational achievement, and physical, behavioral, and emotional health.  Parents living in poverty and the working poor are likely to feel increasingly stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or anxious due to the ongoing struggles.  When parents are overwhelmed, every additional stress that a parent faces increases the risk of child abuse and neglect, especially if they are isolated and feeling all alone.

It is important for families with children to know what community resources are available to possibly offset some of the costs in a family's budget when going through rough times, and what supports are available to help with some of the problems creating the stress.  For information on services from prenatal care to holiday time assistance, make a free call to The Information Center at (734) 282-7171 or visit us at www.theinfocenter.info.

Human Services vs. Costs

Human services are programs that help people and families. Often those helped have limited income and resources, but these programs are not just important for poor people.  It is important that people who need help be connected to appropriate services for humanitarian reasons, and for economic reasons. Human services and social programs may include assistance with job training or job placement, emergency food, day care, health services, counseling services, and other specialized supports for seniors, veterans and others.

Recently, the Illinois Human Services Commission analyzed the value of human services and found that in many instances addressing problems before they become severe decreases the cost to the general community in the long run.  They noted that:

• Every $1 spent on child abuse prevention saves tax payers $19 in child abuse treatment.
• Every $1 spent on home care for the elderly saves tax payers $10.50 on nursing home costs.
• Every $1 spent on childhood learning generates $7 in tax payer benefits.
• Every $1 spent on drug treatment saves taxpayers $7 in reduced crime, and emergency room visits.
• Every $1 spent on job training returns $4.60 to the tax payer.

There is a great value in providing our community members with access to resources that assist people and families, and this in turn reduces the long term costs shared by all of us, from these preventable problems.

For information about local human and social services of all kinds call The Information Center (734) 282-7171 or visit us at www.theinfocenter.info.

Hope Is More Than Just A Feel Good Idea

A study mentioned in a newsletter I read recently noted the higher the stress of a parent, the lower the quality of life. No surprise there.  But significantly, the study found that in the presence of effective program services the effects of parenting stress on the parent-child relationship dissolved.  The negative affect of parenting stress dissipates as appropriate supportive services or resources are offered.  This reduces the potential for child abuse and neglect.

Good services provide hope: a pathway and the emotional energy to go forward.  Hope is not just a feel good concept.  Hope is a combination of a mental strategy or pathway to reach important goals, and the motivation or mental energy to persevere to reach those goals, especially when there are barriers or impediments in the way.  If you can envision a way forward and you have the mental energy to achieve something that is important to you, that is hope. 

Hope is what what we are able to provide when we receive inquiries from parents at our Parent Information Resource Center, and other programs at The Information Center.  We connect parents with emergency food, job training programs, support for adult children taking care of their elderly parents, and literally hundreds of other kinds of problem solving alternatives.

The call to The Information Center is free: (734) 282-7171.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Finding that next job can be a very big challenge.  Call 1(800) 285-WORKS for help with moving from unemployment to your next job.  The Michigan Talent and Jobs Bank www.michworks.org is a valuable internet resource, and will soon become MiTalent.org, .  

If you are looking for a job in Southeast Michigan you may want to receive the same steady steam of job openings announcements and leads that I receive from our  Business and Employment Specialist.  Just send an email to JeffD@theinfocenter.info and ask to be included on the email distribution list for future job leads and announcements.  There is no charge for any of these services.

Mother's Day and Caregivers

It's Mother's Day this Sunday.  I'll be visiting my mom, but I'm not sure whether she will understand it's Mother's Day.  I feel fortunate that she continues to recognize me, and seemingly enjoys when I visit and spend time with her.  My mom has Alzheimer's Disease, a disease that erodes the brain.  There are a number of different types of diseases of the brain (dementia), and it is among the fastest growing health epidemics of our time. My mom worked as an RN for decades.  A proud and intelligent woman, she took care of herself, along with my father, and engaged in no unhealthy behaviors to bring this upon herself.

It's Mother's Day this Sunday also for my sister, who is my mother's family caregiver.  It is a critically important and thankless job.  She makes sure my mom doesn't get lost, tries to make sure she eats right, helps her find things she misplaces, gently but firmly intervenes in unsafe situations, drives her places because mom can't drive even though she thinks she can, listens to the same anecdotes and stories dozens of times in a day, tries to understand and tolerate my mom's mood swings, and repeatedly answers questions including the whereabouts of my father who passed away last year.

God bless all the moms, and especially god bless all the moms who are doing double-duty being a mom for their children, and a caregiver for one or both of her parents.

If you are a family caregiver and are interested in what support is available to you, call The Information Center at (734) 282-7171, and ask about the area Caregiver Support groups that are available at no charge to you.

Job Fair on May 11th in Livonia

If you or someone you know is looking for employment, you might be interested in an upcoming Job Fair in at the Livonia Michigan Works!  There is no charge to attend.  Positions that job seekers can apply for are:

General Assembly located in Novi, MI and Car Detailer/Auto Shuttler at the Detroit Metro Airport.

The Job Fair is May 11, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. - noon at the Michigan Works! Livonia One Stop office.

To be sent an email with a copy of the flyer with further details including job requirements, pay, and event location/address, send an email to jeffd@theinfocenter.info.

Benefits for Seniors

Older Americans miss out on more than $20 billion worth of benefits each year according to an article in the latest AARP newsletter. You can check to see if there are benefits you or a loved one might be eligible for.

You can go online yourself, or you can call The Information Center at (734) 282-7171 and ask for a Senior's Benefit Check Up. A specialist will go online for you while you are on the phone. To do it yourself, just go to benefitscheckup.org, which is the National Council on Aging's free comprehensive online screening site, featuring more than 2,000 public and private programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

For more information about all local services available for seniors at any income level call The Information Center at (734) 282-7171.

DTE Summer Jobs

The DTE Energy Foundation is funding 333 summer jobs for metro Detroiters ages 14-24. These 6 week positions will start in July, are part of a program called Grow Detroit Young Talent, and are funded by a $500,000 grant to the non-profit City Connect Detroit.

To apply, find out how to participate, or to offer other job opportunities call (313) 879-1476, or visit online www.growdetroitsyoungtalent.org.

Unemployment Mortgage Assistance in Michigan

Help for the Hardest Hit is a federally funded mortgage assistance program that may be able to help you or someone you know. Monthly mortgage help is available for qualified unemployed homeowners for as long as 12 months. You may be eligible for this mortgage assistance if:

• You own and occupy your home in Michigan
• You are receiving Michigan unemployment insurance benefits
• Your mortgage service provider participates (see list on website listed below)

For more information and to apply, go online at stepforwardmichigan.org,

or call toll-free (866) 946-7432.

Work At Comerica Park This Summer!

Anyone 18 years of age can work at Comerica Park where our Detroit Tigers play, during the summer doing clean up.

· The candidates chosen must be hard working.

· Must have transportation to get to the ball park.

· Send Resume before Friday April 6th 10am

Interviews are taking place currently.

Contact: Jeffrey Durr
Business & Employment Specialist,CBSP
The Information Center
734-282-7171 ext. 7811
JeffreyD@theinfocenter.info

Preventing Child Abuse

Child abuse is a tragedy that can be avoided. We can help by supporting the things that contribute to the healthy development of children, and are actually “protective factors.” Protective factors help parents cope with the challenges of parenting and other parts of life, especially when they are under stress.

Research has shown that these protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse:

• Nurturing and attachment of child with parent

• Parents’ knowledge of parenting, child and youth development

• Parental resilience

• Social connections

• Concrete (material) supports for parents

• Social and emotional competence of children

Child abuse and neglect can be an unintended consequence of family crisis, a parent’s stresses such as those that are experienced from unemployment, or other personal difficulties such as substance abuse.

Some of the ways that The Information Center and other agencies we work with in this region can help are:

• Connecting parents with food pantries and clothing closets

• Providing referrals that connect people with the right services that can help them

• Providing immediate assistance and support in the event of an eviction or other emergency

• Supporting the family throughout a crisis

• Linking family members to jobs, job training, transportation, and other resources that lead to economic security and self-sufficiency

• Providing access for health care, child care support and other services

• In short, stepping forward to intervene and help when a family problem or emergency is happening.

On the other hand, ignoring the problems and thinking they are just going to go away, is one of the surest ways for problems to compound and grow until they are unmanageable. That is when child abuse is most likely to occur.

For help, call The Information Center's Helpline at (734) 282-7171. Watch this blog for details on the upcoming Strengthening Families Conference on April 20th.

It was my honor to receive a Community Service Award from the Southgate Rotary Club last evening.

Rotary is one of the largest international humanitarian service organizations in the world with 1.2 million members and 33,000 clubs. All of these fine people are committed to helping make the world an even better place by addressing literacy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water and other environmental challenges.

I was truly touched by the honor and how nice everyone from the Southgate Rotary Club was, last evening. Thank you.

Most importantly, there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot of genuine need for families and children, and others who need our help. The staff and volunteers of The Information Center are all such an incredible mix of professionalism and local community connection, and each day I am inspired by how they go above and beyond in their efforts to help others. I want nothing more than to give them the fullest measure of resources that they need, to do more of the good work that they do in the community, for the people who truly need help.

Call (734) 282-7171 for free assistance, or to make a charitable donation to a wonderful community organization. The Information Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3) serving residents of the Downriver and surrounding communities since 1975.

Family Caregiver's Event on March 29th - Free

If you are a family member who is caring for another person in your family consider attending this free inspiring event specially designed for you, next Thursday. "Family Caregiving: Exploring the Senses through Therapeutic Arts" will feature Michael Krieger a Music Specialist and Karen Barsy a Dance Therapist.

This free interactive event for family caregivers will teach you to connect with the senses, giving you techniques that provide different types of stimulation that may help to improve the quality of life for the person you are caring for. They may or may not have Alzheimer's Disease, or other dementia or disability. What you learn will be helpful in any case. You will take home experience and knowledge about how dance, music and pets might help you engage your loved one.

This workshop is free and will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., at the Dearborn Senior Center - Ford Community and Performing Arts Center 15801 Michigan Avenue, Studio A in Dearborn. Refreshments will be served. This special program is presented by Wayne Metro CAA, The Information Center and Adult Well-Being Services. For more information call Erica Hartman at The Information Center (734) 282-7171.

Dealing With Job Loss

Losing a job can be a horrible experience, but you are not alone. So how to move forward to something better?

First things first: breathe. You will get through this. The initial feelings of shock, panic and anger will ease with time. It is important to put the situation into perspective and begin to move on. This is a great opportunity to focus on taking care of yourself. Take an hour to go for a walk in the morning, and take a bit more care to eat healthy. You will feel the difference.

Second, it’s very important to understand that your prospective next employer, your friends and family members are not responsible for your situation. You gain nothing by taking out your frustrations on them. If friends and family members are willing to lend a sympathetic ear, you have wonderful support. But an interview for your next job is not the place to express your feelings about your recent job loss, and even with friends and family there is a point where you need to own your situation and take responsibility for moving forward.

Put a plan in place.

Take an honest look at your spending and make some hard decisions about what is absolutely necessary to survive and what are the things that you want, but can do without for a while. Take some time to cut out costs that are not necessary. Cutting out costs is the same as earning money except you don’t have to pay taxes on cut costs!

Update your understanding of financial accounts, savings and any payments that you have coming to you. How much are your monthly bills? What can be eliminated? Often utility companies, banks and credit card companies, for example, encourage you to speak with them about ways to make things more manageable for you. But you still need to read the fine print and make sure something being proposed is actually good for you.

Inform friends, family and people you have worked with before. You may feel embarrassed or ashamed by what has happened, but don’t let negative thinking get in the way of the help that may be available to you from your network of support. These people know what you have to offer and want the best for you. They will be more than happy to keep their eyes and ears open for any employment opportunities that might be right for you that they hear about. They can’t guarantee you a job, but they can often let you know about an opening, or sometimes even help get you in the door for an interview.

Ask your family members for ideas on how you can earn extra money or decrease your expenses.

Request information on the extension of your health and life insurance benefits. Ask your former employer about opportunities for continued health benefits for laid off workers under COBRA.

Register for work by going to www.michiganworks.org or calling 1(800) 285-WORKS. It’s tempting to take time off for a break, but you don’t know how long it will take to find employment. Keep an open mind when applying for a job. Take a comprehensive look at all of your talents, skills and qualities. You want to match them up with an employer who has a need for someone with the value that you have to offer. Your resume should be up to date, and highlight the education, credentials, experience and skills that you have to offer an employer that are relevant to that job you are seeking.

The worst thing you can do is sit at home and feel sorry for yourself. Get out there and volunteer, catch up with friends, and go visit places you think you might like to work at. Time is a valuable gift. Use it wisely.

The Information Center's telephone helpline is free (734) 282-7171.

This Job Never Ceases To Amaze Me

Earlier this month I went to Ann Arbor radio station, WAAM TALK 1600 and was interviewed for the "Bridges to People" Sunday, February 12, 2012 morning show at 7:30 am. I’ve been briefly interviewed on radio before by phone, but this was my first time in a radio station. “Bridges to People" is a weekly radio program which discusses the social issues of our day while attempting to bring sound resolutions to those problems. It is hosted by Dr. Sean O'Neal, Lead Pastor of Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center, in Monroe.

It actually was a pleasant but meaningful conversation that seemed to go by pretty quick. I guess I was enjoying the conversation.

Funny thing is I ended up last Sunday morning going out to the car, starting it up, and sitting with the car running and a mug of coffee to listen to the car radio and hear how it sounded. I think that a couple of voices were heard (albeit at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning) offering a brief alternative view to those “others” that seem so prevalent on radio and other media these days.

Why Should We Care About Other People? (Part 2)

Why should we care about other people? While pondering that question recently many thoughts came to mind and stirred my emotions and intellect. This is part two of those observations.

Why should we care about other people?

Reaching out to others is good for our souls, especially when we know we won't be getting anything in return from them. Some people are motivated by the thought of eternal salvation, others figure it’s the least they can do given the opportunities they have received in their lifetime.

The better we can make things for others, the better we make the world for ourselves as well. Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

Cooperation can actually get more done than unbridled competition. There are legitimate selfish reasons for cooperation, even if you don't care about other people.

It’s not hard. Things like avoiding littering, respecting our natural resources, and not wasting food are easy. In the big picture of things we want to help our species survive.

There is no law that says you have to care about people who don't care about you. Many of us are opposed to doing anything just because someone demanded that we should. That said, there may be reasons why you may WANT to care about people. The foremost reason people may not care about others is because they are not yet able to care about themselves.

There is a period of every one's life when it is important, and healthy, to be selfish. You need to take care of yourself. It is also important to be self-centered when you haven't been focusing on taking care of yourself. However, you find yourself in a place where you are happy and have satisfaction with your progress in life a lot sooner when you begin to care about others and help them experience some happiness themselves.

When you encounter people who cannot care about you, it is often because they cannot care for themselves. You need to be strong enough and secure enough to offer assistance to them if they are willing to accept it.

Try it for awhile and see what it can do to your life! In the scheme of things, we're all family. It doesn't do any harm to care for everyone.

Why should you care about other people?
Because we are all around you!

Why Should We Care About Other People? (Part 1)

Why should we care about other people? While pondering that question recently many thoughts came to mind and stirred my emotions and intellect.

Why should we care for other people?
That is what we should do as the human species!!!

Karma: what goes around comes around. If you were in a situation where you needed help and no one cared, you would be furious that no one was there for you.

Caring about others makes us happy and content. It is amazing what a little “peace on earth, good will towards men” spirit does to people in December.

Some people have no one else to care about them. Orphans, or the little old lady down the street whose children ignore her. The homeless schizophrenic who can’t afford his medications and now he's on the streets. Who else is going to help them?

The welfare of those countless others affects you, too. When lots of people are out of work, they don't have money to spend on products and services from the businesses which employ your immediate friends and family.

When kids don't have educational and employment opportunities; when adults can't get a job and wind up on the streets, they are far more likely to get involved in criminal activity just to survive; which affects everyone else.

Did you know it costs about the same amount of money to have someone in prison for a year as it does to send them to college for a year?

We may never know that the kid we take the time to help may turn out to be the scientist whose work finds the cure to cancer, or autism, or Alzheimer’s disease or comes up with the secret to an affordable car that gets 100 miles per gallon.

In closing, let's take a moment to think about those in need. The next time someone turns to you for help, please take time to think about how your response affects the person asking for help and how it may ultimately affect you and your community.

One Phone Number, So Much Help

Call The Information Center to learn what State or Federal government benefits or local community services you may be eligible for. Call (734) 282-7171 to speak to a friendly Information and Referral Specialist. Ask to go through the benefits checklist. You get free help going through a checklist of benefits for seniors and veterans, people with disability, unemployment or low income. Benefits and supports may be available from the Federal government, State of Michigan, and from within your local community.