Decatur Summit of Hope

THE SUMMIT OF HOPE HELD IN DECATUR ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 5th 2011 at the GT Church
Just when you think it can’t get any better along comes Decatur. What a day this was, vendor after vendor filled the Glad Tidings Church and everyone was full of excitement with a true passion to make this community a better and safer place to live. With one Multi Purpose room filled with medical including a new addition Dental and the other Multi Purpose room filled vendors that continued throughout the building. What a community effort with volunteers from all over joining together to make this a success.

Here are the results:

A total of 321 offenders participated in this event

173 received a HIV Test

75 received a State Identification card from Secretary of State’s Office paid for by UCAN Life Skills

60 sat down with a Hearing Officer from the Secretary of State’s Office

33 signed up to be an Organ Donor

240 visited the Fifth Street Store

116 Decatur Housing Authority

125 Homeward Bound

118 Macon County Assistance Exchange

108 The Good Samaritan Illinois

133 Northeast Community Fund

137 UCAN Life Skills

129 Central Illinois HIV Care Connect

27 New Life Pregnancy Center

25 Teen Challenge Peoria

11 Triangle Center-Family Guidance Center Springfield

92 GROW in Illinois

122 Illinois Department of Employment Security

122 Decatur Adult Transition Center

167 Workforce Investment Solutions

132 Richland Community College

68 Decatur Public Library

93 Decatur Transit Mgmt.

105 Illinois Prisoner Review Board

72 Planned Parenthood

81 Labor Ready Branch #1649

107 Plumber and Pipefitters Local 65

118 Laborers Local 159

133 Painters and Glaziers District Council 58

168 Macon County Health Department WIC

2 Macon County Health Department Pregnancy test completed

84 Heritage Behavioral Health Center

6 St. Mary’s Mock Interviews

22 Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center

53 Nar-An0n Family Groups

18 Water Street Mission

13 Grace House Decatur Cares Rescue Mission

68 Springfield Urban League

111 Narcotics Anonymous

67 Catholic Charities

73 TASC

90 Illinois Department of Employment Security

73 Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

49 Veteran’s Housing D&O Properties LLC Lutheran Child and Family Services

190 Macon County Health Department
89 Macon County Health

153 St. Mary’s Nutrition Info

123 St. Mary’s Blood Pressures

99 St. Mary’s Pulmonary Function Tests

107 St. Mary’s Hospital Smoking Cessation

200 Macon County Health Department

116 Vendor not reported

54 Vendor not reported

Macon County Health Department

Many other vendors have not reported at this time.

At the end of the day we asked those that attended to complete a Participants Evaluation. The following are the results from those forms:

Question #1 : Are you satisfied participating in the summit today assisted you in some way? 297 said Yes 13 said No 3 did not respond

Question #2 : Did you find the presenters adequately addressed your concerns and questions? 297 said Yes 13 said No 3 did not respond

Question #3 : Is there anything we could have done differently?

35 said Yes 272 said No 6 did not respond

Question #4 : Do you intend to follow up with any of the agencies you visited today?

273 said Yes 33 said No 7 did not respond

Question: What did you like best:

Everyone was nice and non-judgmental, You’re here to help us, the kindness from everyone, I liked when the man talked to me about interviewing and all of the free testing they had here today, The positive attitude of the volunteers, All of the Summit !, The Food, State ID & Flu shot, everything, everything, Free Stuff, the Help, aids test was free, What yall had to offer, Volunteer was cool and very helpful, Everything it lets me know that there is people who are still willing to help you no matter what your situation is. COOK, adult education center, the ID, the help they offered, very nice service, Mike Baily was very helpful, worker and working on my skills, Everything, HIV test, leaving, everything, my ID, getting my state ID, free stuff, leaving, to leave, being out, Nicole is helpful, Health care help, Todd awesome guy, I can really probably the HIV testing, walking around seeing various people, Secretary of State and Flu Shot, Good Info, I enjoyed Mr. Moore’s presentation and the pipe builders, the fact that I can have my felony expunged, Decatur Housing, Everything, Lung breathing test, School, the helpfulness of everyone, all of it today it was really nice, I got my ID, everything that was presented, all the different activities, Flu shot and VA, Everything, Everyone was real nice, seeing Mary and Holly, everything was closed but was abler to get ID Thank you, the information, Resources, the food, Job opportunities, free diapers, getting my ID, the people that walked you around, getting my teeth looked at and networking, all the information and the pizza, the help I got to do new things, I liked all the people that offer al the help for felons, All, Life Skills, the guideline and setup of things, All, how the booths was setup and you could stop at what only concerned you, the pizza, the whole program, the information, health! Free test, Bonding information, lots of good information and services, very helpful, the testing, The helper, the people, Employment agencies, Everything, Union info, Dental Exam, Everything, WVW, This is my Church excellent place for this Summit, the free Pampers, knowing DHA had changed rules, Everything, My escort Karen she was really nice and seemed to genuinely concerned about my welfare, Everything, the hearing officer, the jobs, The presenter who walked thru with me was Great, that store, Job and Social Security opportunities nice assistant Tammy showed me all the things available, the help, Dentist, the help that you got and how nice they are to help you Thank you, all of it, Everything, I actually liked everything this Summit of Hope program helped me a lot , everything, talking to the volunteer, the service, got my ID renewed and Flu shot, IDOT and Flu Shot, Having all the help to find a job, the help, helpful information, Richland College and the assistance, all the job and ID/drivers license booths, job search, the access to different agencies who could help back into transition of my life, workmanship, seeing Ms. Creek and Ms. Hume, pizza, all the help, I liked how people put there business out there for the onlookers to get a chance even with a record, all the information, employment services and Secretary of State, all the assistance you had with help to get your life back on track, the gift shop, I was well put together and enjoyed the people that serviced the program THANK YOU, Jobs part partners voter registration PRB board, Flu Shot, ALL, all of it, Just the concern and conversation, Good conversation, Everything, my friend who helped me!!, everything, the help, getting my ID and knowing how to get my license, job info, talking to all of the people, Nichole was very hopeful, the presenters and all the helpful things said and done, all of it, Union Reps VA reps, the jobs, my guide, I get to see a Dentist and I got my ID and I had my blood pressure checked and I got my voters registration those are the most important things, everything, the atmosphere and help I received, my tour lady very nice, all the helpful information and jobs and help with housing assistance, all of it, free Dental exam, all of it was helpful and good, all the help, Dental Exam, the HIV test, all the helpful information, my guide was helpful and answered all my questions, the people, I liked it all, Free HIV testing, I liked everything about the program, Dental, free updated ID, Construction labor Union, Everything, everything, helping me get license and ID, free stuff, Allie was incredibly friendly !!, the people, the help, being able to receive my ID, DMV, meeting job contact, everything, the help from the officer walking with you, everything, the help and information, getting my ID, everything, job opportunities, all of them, The program itself, help with housing and jobs, how they were so persistent to let people to know they want to help, Mr. Bailey, Jobs, everything, that you can get your recorded cleared, everything J , opportunity to get help, the customer service, Secretary of State, how they gave back to the community, DMV, How fast and organized the Summit was today, how the people explained everything and how it’s setup, the lady harassed me all day, the helpfulness, the job leads and drivers license department, Talking to the Union people, everyone was friendly and helpful, presenters, opportunity, job search, everything, HIV tester, all of it, free HIV test, everything, the job service information, everything, the People, meet different people to help, Everything, all the handouts, getting connected to inexpensive Dental, leaving good program, Illinois State ID, Secretary of State flu shot dental, library and the presenters where great, my personal guide “Bethany”, my escort was friendly helper, everything. How friendly everyone was, the fact that everybody was smiling and having a good time, Labor ready/HIV test, talking to the Prisoner Review Board, Grow program, everything!, Secretary of State drivers license hearing officer, HIV test, All, the help it really comes in handy, everything, how to acquire housing, Tamkia the host was nice as well as other people J , The opportunities for give a ways and health assistance, the information and my guide, handouts, ID and flu shots, Information, ID info, my volunteer very nice, everything, free stuff, People trying to help, everything was equally GREAT, meeting all the people that care and help in help me make my life better, That they are trying to help people, the Staff was very polite and kind, Everyone’s attitude, how so many people came out to help me, the opportunity to attend, Everything J , that is was all in one place, Everything Thank You, people that’s willing to help people like myself,

Question: Any other comments or suggestions:

It’s just been a cool experience, Thanks, Thank you, Keep up the good work, I would do anything positive to stay out of trouble I’ve made a lot of mistakes so everyday is a challenge this is a second chance for most of us thank you, this was great and beneficial !!, GREAT WORK !!!, Thank you for the help, Thank you, Need to have these more often, not at this time THANKS, Great Program, Thank you for everything and keep up the good work God Bless you all thanks Deana Evans, You do “OK” Amen !! Keep up yo work !! J , no but Thank You !!, maybe less people but it was fine how it was, convenient/info, Let people know how long it should take, give away more without strings being attached, GOOD, GOD BLESS !!, Thanks for all the help ! , Thank you ! for all the info, Thank you very much, Thank you I really appreciate all the help and support I received from you all ! J , Keep up the good work and Thank you, more organization at the start getting received in order instead of people getting sat down after me and going ahead of me, everything was good, there should be employers that’s hiring for jobs, I want off the ED Thanks !! bye J needed a bit more helpful lighting at times, Thanks and keep it going !!, need transportation closer bus stops for those with difficulties-more jobs people here-more than once a year maybe every 6 months, Good hopefully be back next year, keep up the good work, Thank You !!, Thanks,

Written by mother of offender: Our concern is finding a home for registered sex offender. Most shelters cannot accept S/O. There are different degrees of murder but not sex offender status, the prison sentence and time served make finding housing and resources difficult.

  
                                              DECATUR SUMMIT OF HOPE