Officials: Mt. Prospect seniors needing more financial help

Mount Prospect's Human Services Department is shouldering a lot more responsibility these days addressing the needs of seniors, domestic violence victims and non-English speakers, staff members told the village board this week.

Director Julie Kane, who recently took over after the retirement of longtime head Nancy Morgan, outlined the accomplishments of 2014 and the goals for 2015.

Trustees expressed support for staff's request to combine and upgrade two part-time positions at the Community Connections Center into a full-time one, which center coordinator Victoria Bran said will cost $13,000.

In 2010, the intake coordinator/ receptionist position was split into two part-time positions after the village cut 10 percent of its staff during the recession. This year, both left. Upgrading the job will help stability, decreasing turnover costs, Brann said.

"The position requires bilingual verbal, reading and writing skills," Bran said. "It also requires excellent communication and organizational skills, as the person must communicate easily with colleagues, partner agencies and outside organizations."

She said the center, which is on the south end of town and provides an average of 38 percent of the department's direct services, has a person with the skill set for the job.

"The Community Connections Center is one of the best investments in our community that we have ever made," said Trustee Michael Zadel.

In 2015, the department will roll out a new client software program, Kane said. One of the benefits will be the ability to maintain client records electronically. And clients are being offered a satisfaction survey.

She added that the department has provided outreach at the Centennial Apartments for residents who might find it difficult to access services and plans to provide outreach to other senior buildings in 2015.

Deputy Human Services Director Jan Abernethy said more and more seniors are enrolling in public assistance programs, such as food stamps and medical assistance.

"We have people who are extremely low income (and on) fixed incomes. They are seeking out food stamps, which is really terrifying because at their income levels, the most that many of them are getting is $15 a month, so we have more and more of our people seeking out our food pantry," she said.

She related a story about someone with cancer who was having trouble breathing.

"She said, 'I'm not using my inhaler. I'm trying to stretch it.' I said, 'You have cancer. What are you thinking?' She said, 'I can't afford it.' We bought her medication for her out of our financial assistance program."

Kane said the department also has worked with police to improve the response to domestic battery victims, assisting with such issues as getting an order of protection.

Trustees expressed appreciation for the department's work.

"You have heard of that term 'first responders.' In many ways, I think, on a daily basis, that you are a first responder," Trustee Paul Hoefert said.