Hoffman Estates wins Governor’s Hometown Award for Community Resource Centers
The village of Hoffman Estates, in conjunction with Community Consolidated School District 54, has been awarded the 2012 Illinois Governor’s Hometown Award for its Community Resource Centers.
The CRCs provide a meaningful and beneficial link between government resources and the community in order to foster a safer and healthier environment.
This is the village’s fourth Governor’s Hometown Award.
In 1993, the village was honored for its Children’s Advocacy Center; in 2000, Illinois recognized the Arts Commission’s Summer Concert Series; and, in 2003, the Arts Commission won again for its Quilt Show.
The latest award was presented to the village on Thursday, Nov. 29, at a ceremony in Springfield.
“It is a major focus of the village to work collaboratively with other government agencies and service providers to deliver the best amenities to meet our residents’ needs in the most cost-effective way,” said Hoffman Estates Mayor William D. McLeod. “On behalf of the village board and staff, we are honored to receive this recognition alongside our partners at school Dist. 54.”
The first of two CRCs began operating in August 2000. The original CRC is located in a higher-density, high-concentration of low-to-moderate income households that may be limited in transportation, child care, occupational mobility and English proficiency. Within the first years of operation, school Dist. 54 partnered with the CRC, and took over programming in 2010.
“District 54 is honored to partner with the village of Hoffman Estates to provide Community Resource Centers for our families,” said District 54 Early Childhood director Jen Mursu. “By opening their buildings to us, the village has supported District 54 in its efforts bring preschool services and parent education to families, thereby helping our students prepare for kindergarten and beyond.”
In 2009, the village constructed a new police station at 411 W. Higgins Road. The new facility was designed to include donated space for a second CRC, which also utilizes the police department’s adjoining meeting rooms for training and education courses.
District 54 employs nine early childhood educators at both CRCs. In addition to their responsibilities at district schools, the educators provide classes and workshops to promote literacy for children in early childhood curriculums. They also perform home visits for the participants in the program. The educators are a multilingual group speaking English, Spanish, Polish and some Indian dialects, enabling direct assistance to the variety of participants at the CRCs.
The CRCs’ services include early childhood literacy education, child care assistance, student education, finance education, local transportation, English as a second language (ESL) courses, and many other programs. The village and Dist. 54 have cultivated meaningful relationships with residents, and have provided valuable early childhood education to at-risk children.
The result has been a reduction in crime and code violations.
The most fascinating aspect of the CRC is that the entire community has embraced its mission. Private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the municipality, townships, libraries, community colleges and school districts have all played a part in the CRC’s success story. Even participants in CRC programs have found non-monetary ways to give back to the facility as a thank you for what they provided. This tremendous effort by the public is evidence that creative civic partnerships are possible, and that the CRCs are an exemplary model of community service.
The village’s two CRCs are open five days a week for approximately two to four hours each day. For information about the CRCs, contact Health and Human Services director Algean Garner by phone at (847) 781-4851, or by email at algean.garner@hoffmanestates.org.
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