For more information, call 847/870-5680.

• Case Management and Advocacy -- Social workers provide service to residents by coordinating programs offered by the department and/or other social service agencies. When appropriate, social workers will advocate for services.
   
• Confidential Counseling (Individual, Family and Marital) -- Our social workers provide crisis intervention and short term counseling in an attempt to help residents understand issues which affect their lives.
   
• Informational Handouts -- Many informational handouts and forms are available on a variety of subjects such as Advocacy, Legal Services, Survivors checklist, Living Wills, and Power or Attorney for Health Care and Property.
   
• Information and Referral -- Residents are provided with access to information in many areas such as housing, legal advice, financial assistance, etc.
   
• Notary Public -- A staff member can offer Notary service to residents at no charge.
   
• Outreach Social Work -- Social workers provide social services at off site locations, at community disasters, and at critical incidents. They also schedule home visits to isolated or infirmed residents to provide them with all the services available through the Human Services Department.
   
• Practical Assistance -- Our social workers assist residents with paper work by completing applications for many local, State and Federal economic programs, such as Circuit Breaker Grants, Public Aid, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Access to Care, Veterans Administration and other assistance programs.
   
• The “Open Door Social” -- This group meets once a month and provides an opportunity for widows to develop friendly new social relationships over lunch.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• Emergency Financial Assistance -- After an assessment of need has been made, Human Services works with the Salvation Army, Church Council and our own emergency fund to help provide needy residents with assistance.
   
• Emergency Food Pantry -- Immediate grocery items are supplied for those residents who are in need of emergency food.
   
• Holiday Meal Programs -- Upon completing a financial assessment of need, residents may qualify for the Thanksgiving and December Holiday Meal Baskets, which consist of donated food and gift certificates.
   
• Star Fund for Children -- Those families who participate in the Holiday Meal Program, may qualify for the Star Program. This program provides the child's parents with a gift certificate to be used for holiday gifts for the child.
   
• Summer Activities Scholarship -- In an attempt to provide economically disadvantaged children with productive and structured use of their time, the Department has developed cooperative agreements with the Park District, YMCA, and camps, for affordable summer activities.
   
• Toys for Kids -- Those families who participate in the Holiday Meal Program, may qualify for the Toys for Kids program which provides new, donated toys to needy Mount Prospect children. This program is a joint venture with the Fire Department and Police Association.

FIRE AND POLICE REFERRALS

• Apartment and House Fire Calls -- When appropriate, the social workers are present at multi-family dwelling and single family house fires to ensure residents receive all follow-up services that are needed.
   
• Paramedic Follow-up – Social Workers provide follow-up contacts with residents over the age of sixty-five and with all residents who have had a critical incident involving the paramedics. Contacts involve checking on the resident’s medical and emotional status and offering assistance through our many programs.
   
• Police Social Services – Social Workers provide social services to assist persons with individual or family problems who are referred by Mount Prospect police officers. Crisis intervention, clinical assessments, short-term counseling, advocacy, victim/witness services and information and referral are offered at no cost to residents.

LATINO OUTREACH

• Latino Social Services -- The Bilingual Social Worker may assist Mount Prospect residents who primarily speak Spanish with the full array of department services.
   
• Spanish AA – The Bilingual Social Worker arranged for a bi-weekly Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meeting held on the south side of town.

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT

• Mount Prospect Mentor Program -- A trained volunteer is matched with an identified at-risk school-aged child for a positive learning relationship in a group setting.

PLANNING

• Mount Prospect Interfaith Council -- The Mount Prospect Interfaith Council was organized through the efforts of the Human Services Department and local churches. The council examines local issues and attempts to organize solutions as well as coordinates the local effort to provide financial assistance to residents and transients.
   
• Public Education -- Classes and seminars on a variety of current topics related to legal issues, personal safety, scams, insurance, etc., are offered at various times.