PERCEPTIONS 
Monthly e-newsletter with information for our
donors, volunteers and friends.
February (Vol. 5, Issue 8) 
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tcfs agency
TriCity Family Services
1120 Randall Ct.  
Geneva, IL 60134
630-232-1070 phone
630-232-1471 fax
  
Agency Links


  
About Us
  

TriCity Family Services is a trusted partner for counseling and other mental health services for children and teens, their families and community members across all life stages. Regardless of income level, members of the TriCity community have access to our full spectrum of services. Our unique family-centered approach seeks to involve all members of the family in treatment, and we are a local leader in engaging children and teens in early intervention and prevention programs. Through our services and support environments, our multi-dimensional approach seeks to strengthen the entire TriCity community by promoting lifelong mental health.

 

We are a certified 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that annually serves over 4,000 residents of the central Kane County townships of St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Kaneville, Blackberry, Virgil and Campton. 
 
We accept insurance, Medicaid/Kid Care, Medicare, and offer a sliding fee scale for counseling services. We also offer scholarships for our group programs. No one is ever denied services at TriCity Family Services based on an inability to pay.
Upcoming Events

 

Savory Sips Wine Tasting Event
wine-madeira.jpg  
Saturday, March 8th
 The Wine Exchange
4-7pm, open house style
Cost: $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door
  
Registration and more information online at www.tricityfamilyservices.org.
  
  
  
25th Annual Benefit & Auction...Silver Linings
  
Saturday, April 26th
Lincoln Inn Banquets
5:30-7:30pm Cocktail Hour & Silent Auction
7:30pm Dinner
Cost: $80 per person
$750 per table of 10
  
Registration and more information online at www.tricityfamilyservices.org.
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Featured Photo
Staff in the Spotlight
Eating Disorders Awareness Week
A Message of HOPE
Friends of TCFS
Thinking Good, Feeling Great Workshop
Corporate Partners in Caring
 
  
The ice and snow are finally melting....well, for now that is.  It felt wonderful to warm up for a few days, but we still have about a month to go until we finally announce the arrival of Spring.

 

Hopefully, the worst of the winter is over, but dealing with such extreme temperatures and ceaseless snow the past few weeks have been quite stressful on everyone. With school closings, transportation delays and treacherous work commutes, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed, frustrated and irritable. 

 

Don't let your winter blues get the best of you.  While we endure the remainder of winter, listed below are a few tips to not only survive, but to thrive while we patiently wait for the warmer months.

 

Shed some light on it

You need to get outside if at all possible; even if it's just for a few minutes a day to get a daily dose of Vitamin D.

 

Get moving   

Exercise can be incredibly therapeutic and a way to give you a burst of feel-good endorphins.

 

Surround yourself in new experiences
Especially when you are stuck in a rut, it's a great time to change things up. New experiences lead you to fresh ideas about how to go about the challenges in your life and new ways to channel your creativity. 

 

Make a plan for each day and take control 

Even if your school or work is closed, you should still get up at your usual time and get dressed. Don't sleep in.  Having a routine each day also helps maintain circadian rhythm and resets mood. It also prevents the body from releasing too much melatonin too early in the day, which can bring on sleepiness.

 

Banish those winter blues and enjoy our February e-newsletter!

 

 Strengthening People, Building Community

         

Featured Photo of the Month 

 

 

Chris Bruun, Ph.D, TCFS Senior Clinician Consultant leads girls in laughter and discussion at last year's Chick Chat event.  Chick Chat is a one-day workshop designed specifically for 4th, 5th and 6th grade girls.  The workshop focuses on forming strong relationships, building self confidence and making healthy decisions. 

 

Chick Chat by HGNA 2014 is brought to you by TriCity Family Services and the Geneva Coalition for Youth, with the support of Geneva CUSD 304, St. Charles CUSD 303, Batavia Public School District 101, Kaneland CUSD 302, and Central CUSD 301.      

 

Chick Chat 2014 will take place on Feb.22nd.

Click here to  learn more about the Chick Chat workshop.

 
 
Staff in the Spotlight

We are delighted to welcome new intern, Julie Zoerlien to our team!

 

Julie joined our staff in late January, and is supervised by our clinical intake coordinator, Linda Coglianese. Julie is a 2011 graduate of the University of Iowa and is she is pursuing her Masters of Social Work degree from Aurora University.  Julie has a skilled customer service background, and she was formerly an intern for both the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City and Clancy Law of St. Charles.
  
Already, Julie has assisted Linda with countless projects such as fielding intake calls, updating information on local resources, and other clerical tasks.
 
Julie has proven that she is a great fit in her role as intern, and we  are grateful for her assistance, positive energy and attention to detail.  
  
National Eating Disorders
Awareness Week
Feb. 23rd-March 1st

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect both a person's emotional and physical health. In the United States alone, 30 million people will be impacted by an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. These conditions affect all kinds of people and don't discriminate by race, age, sex, age or size.

 

If you or someone you care about might be suffering from an eating disorder, it is important to educate yourself and seek professional guidance as soon as possible because early intervention is key to a successful recovery.

 

For additional information and resources please use the following links below.


TriCity Family Services Family-Based Treatment for Eating Disorders (FBT)

 

Eating Disorder Screening Tool

 

National Eating Disorder Association

  
TCFS Chosen as Beneficiary for St. Charles North "Project Hope"
St. Charles North Junior, Blakely Thomas performs her song "Falling," during a school assembly in honor of Hope Club and Suicide Prevention week.
Voice of hope: North student performs original song for Suicide Prevention Week

by Ashley Sloboda

Kane County Chronicle, Feb. 12, 2014

 

ST. CHARLES - Seventeen-year-old Blakely Thomas knows that a lot of people her age feel alone.

But the St. Charles North High School junior wants to let them know they aren't alone - that someone can always relate to their situation.  The teen is spreading that message through song.

 

On Monday, Feb.10, Thomas was one of several North students who participated in the HOPE Club's presentation for Suicide Prevention Week, which is being recognized in every St. Charles School District 303 high school and middle school.

 

The HOPE Club raises awareness about the prevention of teen suicide and depression.

 

The district's focus on suicide prevention stems from the 2009 Summit on Suicide Prevention, a communitywide event that was prompted by six student suicides in seven years.

 

During the summit, teachers heard something disturbing: students didn't know who to turn to in times of stress, said Julie Pheney, one of three HOPE Club advisers at North. So, Pheney said, this year's focus is the students' "trusted" - the people students can turn to in times of crisis as well as celebration.

 

She described Monday's presentation as a schoolwide effort that included video of staff members talking about how they care for - and are there for - the students.  Knowing students often need help outside of school hours, presentation organizers also included footage from a suicide lifeline so teens will know what to expect if they ever need to call it, HOPE Club advisers said.

 

Click here to continue reading the full article.

 

Click here to see a video of Blakely Thomas performing her original song, "Falling."

 

 

Friends of TCFS
 
Seeking Sponsors for our Easter Adopt-a-Family Program
 
The Friends of TriCity Family Services are sponsoring the Adopt-a-Family Easter program for our client families in need again this year.  For many families we serve, it is a year-round struggle to provide meals for their loved ones. 
  
Sign up to sponsor a family and we will provide you with the gender and ages of all family members and ask you to put together a food basket, complete with Easter goodies for the children. 
  
If you would like to help in another way, we are also collecting donated gift cards from grocery stores to be used for this program.
  
To sign up to help a family, please email Mary Kay Dowling or call 630-232-1070.
  
Thank you for your support, generosity and consideration!
"Purple Power" Trivia Team Becomes New Trivia Champs
Patti Rambo (holding trophy in the center) and her "Purple Power" teammates.  The ladies on the team are all realtors with Miscella Real Estate.

On Saturday, February 8th, twenty-one Trivia teams packed the Batavia Moose Lodge.

 

The "Purple Power/Miscella Real Estate," team proved that they had a competitive edge as they pulled into first place.  Patti Rambo and her teammates from Miscella Real Estate, in Geneva, were delighted to be named as reigning trivia champs. "Purple Power" is looking forward to planning the next Trivia Night in August.

 

The host team, former Trivia champions "Charge of the Trivia Brigade" carefully planned the trivia rounds, incorporating many challenging questions including categories regarding sports, The Beatles and "all things red" to correspond with Valentine's Day. 

 

We thank the "Charge of the Trivia Brigade" team for their efficient planning and support in raising $3,000 for the agency. 

 

We thank our generous event sponsors Exelon Generation and AHC Advisors, Inc. for their support.  We are also grateful for the donated event space provided by the Batavia Moose Lodge.

  
Thinking Good,
Feeling Great
(Six Week Anxiety Workshop for Adults)

This support group is for adults who struggle with worry or have anxious thoughts.  Throughout the sessions participants will be given practical tools to apply to daily life. Members of the licensed clinical staff of TriCity Family Services will facilitate the workshop and teach participants effective cognitive tools to reduce worry and anxiety.


The workshop will meet weekly  at TriCity Family Services (1120 Randall Ct, Geneva) from 7:00-8:30pm.  The workshop will begin on Monday, February 24th and end on Monday, April 7th (there will not be a session on March 24).  

 

If you are interested in enrolling in Thinking Good, Feeling Great, please contact TriCity Family Services at 630-232-1070.

  
Corporate Partners in Caring
  
Fox Valley Orthopedic, Dayspring Pediatric Dentisty & K. Hollis Jewelers Show Their Support to TCFS

 

We are delighted to recognize the following companies for their recent financial commitment to our Corporate Partners in Caring Program.

 

TriCity Family Services thanks the companies below for joining the agency in our commitment to protect and preserve local families by improving the quality of life for those in need of mental health and counseling services.

 

  • Fox Valley Orthopedic, joined the agency at the $2,500 level as a new Corporate Supporter in Caring.
  • Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry and K. Hollis Jewelers, both joined the agency at the $1,000 level as new Corporate Friends in Caring.

 

All Corporate Partners in Caring are recognized as sponsors at the agency's fundraising events and receive a year of philanthropic benefits in celebration of their gifts.

 

Click here for more information on the Corporate Partners in Caring Program. 

 


Thank You to Our Corporate Leaders, Innovators, and Pacesetters in Caring
            New BMO Harris Logo  FONA logo   
TriCity Family Services, 1120 Randall Ct.  Geneva, IL 60134, 630-232-1070 phone, 630-232-1471 fax
 
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