AGENDA - REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING

HIGHWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY & COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Location: Highwood Public Library Monday October 23, 2023 – 7 P.M

1. Call to order

2. Roll call

3. Public comment from the floor

4. President’s report

5. Secretary’s report

   1. Motion to approve minutes from September 25, 2023, regular meeting, and July 24, 2023 and September 25, 2023 executive session meetings

6. Communication

7. Treasurer Report

   1. Review of Financials

   2. Motion to approve the October 2023 Invoices

8. Director’s report

   1. Public comment received via email and suggestion box

9. Committee reports

10. Old business

    1. Library construction project update

    2. Friends’ updates

    3. Discussion on quote for increased errors & omissions insurance coverage

    4. Motion to approve new insurance carrier(s) and coverage

11. New business

    1. Discussion on increase property insurance coverage

    2. Discussion on policies to approve: ALA Freedom to View, ALA Freedom to Read, ALA Filtering, ALA Electronic Access, ALA Core Values, ALA Code of Ethics, ALA Bill of Rights, Emergency Response Policy

    3. Motion to approve policies

    4. Bi-annual review of closed session minutes and motion to approve any that should be opened

    5. Discussion and motion to close library to prepare for re-opening

    6. Discussion and motion to hire for PT circulation desk position

    7. Discussion on vending machine options

    8. Discussion on alarm system options and motion to approve an option

    9. Discussion on library incorporation and motion to approve incorporation

    10. Discussion on filing to Do Business As (DBA)

        
        

12. Executive Session 5 ILCS 120/Sec 2(c) 1

13. Adjournment

Next regular board meeting – please refer to the website for future meeting dates and location. During construction, some meetings will be at Highwood City Hall.

Board of Trustees

Lucy Hospodarsky, President • Janell Cleland, Vice President • Catherine Regalado, Secretary • Nora Loredo, Treasurer Trustees: Bertha Chavez, Paul Martinez, Jason Muelver, Lorena Victorica

Laura Ramirez, Executive Director, director@highwoodlibrary.org

102 Highwood Ave., Highwood, IL 60040 • www.highwoodlibrary.org • 847-432-5404

Draft, not yet approved

Highwood Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting September 25, 2023

Present—Trustees: Janell Cleland, Lucy Hospodarsky, Nora Loredo, Jason Muelver, Catherine Regalado, Lorena Victorica; Laura Ramirez, Director

Absent: Bertha Chavez, Paul Martinez

Ms. Hospodarsky called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. Public Comments – None

President’s Report - None

Secretary’s Report

Ms. Hospodarsky moved to approve the minutes from the regular and executive sessions of August 28, 2023. Ms. Loredo seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. At next meeting board will approve July 24, 2023 executive session and conduct biannual review of closed session minutes.

Communication – Director received a list of questions from a non-resident about board and process of joining. She has replied and will also respond tomorrow to some follow-up questions. Bylaws will be readded to the board website page and Public Comments Policy will be readded to Policies page. There was discussion on board qualification materials, and a note that reappointments by City Council are needed, as well as recruiting for board assets needed. New director will take FOIA officer training.

Treasurer’s Report

Ms. Loredo presented the August financials and September invoices. The following items were discussed:

• Risk mitigation licenses $402 charged to licensing was a technology purchase to clear patron information from computers after a session, previously called SmartShield/Centurion.

• Sculpture base renovation from Pottery Barn was a cost-effective way to prepare statue for outside. These sorts of items can go in director’s report.

• Board/staff travel reimbursement line is already over budget. It will be researched as most training travel is charged to grants. There has been extensive staff professional development. Budget may need to be increased for next year.

  Ms. Hospodarsky moved to approve the September 2023 invoices as listed in the Check Detail, Mr. Muelver seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

  
  

  Director’s Report

  Ms. Ramirez noted several items:

• She is appreciative of Highwood police who responded quickly to a situation at the library.

• Construction update: 2 rooms in East building will be split – one for counseling and the other a smaller community room. There is a good size stage, and behind stage is storage for large items. Door used for mini-library entrance will be removed and converted to a large

  Draft, not yet approved

  
  

  glass pane. It’s been noted that sound travels through the ceiling between rooms so director will be consulting with construction company to solve this.

• Summer reading had OK participation, due to building not being open, and we hope for better results next year.

• Learning Partners is recruiting volunteers with Ms. Wence training tutors.

• ESL is flourishing with 29 new students. They will meet in computer lab and meeting room or large community room once library fully open. November is anticipated time to transfer all teams back to library, and space partners will be notified.

• Mandarin as a second language kicked off – new program.

• Zumba is continuing and that is the only program staying offsite – St. James.

• Citizenship tutoring continues as a meaningful program.

• There is an infrequent food distribution program via BCBS.

• An adult services manager is being hired and another position for case management and administrative support being restructured.

• Friends still working on ribbon cutting date. Shelving will arrive in October and installation may be moved up.

• No more information on Wintrust fraud awareness on card, but staff are informed on policy.

• Knowledge transfer from Ms. Wigodner – someone will be getting training in monthly statistics generation, and Ms. Regalado will work with her and new staff member on record retention information.

• There was discussion on committees’ makeup. Website will need to be updated. Important to get full board, and committees fully constituted.

• Andres Tapia, HP city council member, led a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion session for staff, and he gave staff copies of his book. Two staff members will attend HP Community Foundation fundraiser with him on Friday. Building off discussion on boundaries with public, he will conduct another training on identity and boundaries.

• New phone system: some staff have Google lines, web based, which show calls originating from Highwood Public Library. This eliminated giving out personal cell numbers. Mr. Knutson is reviewing a proposal for full staff, approved under renovation tech budget. Ms. Ramirez would like to have a backup/secondary internet line.

• There was discussion on idea of floating holidays, which is not applicable as library is closed on the holidays. There is always director discretion.

• There have been some challenges with construction: an electrical surge broke the staff microwave and coffee machine. Director talked to subcontractor, who will cover replacement. Landscaping has also been an issue as plants were not chosen or placed appropriately for light, and were overmulched, as landscaping architect hadn’t reviewed plants in the setting. It was helpful to have Friends President involved in discussion with contractors, and B&G committee may also be able to help in this way.

  
  

  Committee Reports

  Building and Grounds: meeting this week

  
  

  Finance: Mr. Muelver will scan and send application for staff fidelity bond. Liability insurance is through City of Highwood. New building/property insurance will need to be researched once building is complete- president will contact city manager. Committee met to talk about

  Draft, not yet approved

  
  

  investment options, considering IMET (where capital improvement and reserve funds are) or Illinois Funds.

  
  

  Policy: Committee met and minutes are in Board Packet. There is no new change to personnel policy as language will not be available until year end. Director is researching lawyer to review personnel policy prior to city review and board approval. Committee developed new Volunteer Policy and 2024 Closure calendar. Ms. Ramirez is following up on updating Disaster Plan, matching HPPL and HP fire department guidance on bomb threats procedure.

  
  

  Old Business

  Library Construction updates were provided in Director’s Report.

  Friends met and discussed ribbon cutting. Two local authors may be involved as well.

  
  

  New Business

  Phone system was updated during Director Report.

  
  

  Finance Committee recommends Illinois Funds, which City also uses, for investment.

  Ms. Hospodarsky moved to select to approve Illinois Funds as investment vehicle for excess funds, Mr. Muelver seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Muelver will follow up with Ms. Mitchell.

  
  

  Ms. Ramirez presented renewing a MOU with Highland Park Public Library regarding issuing of library cards to each other’s residents, extending to 3 years.

  Ms. Hospodarsky moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding, Ms. Cleland seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

  
  

  Ms. Regalado moved to approve the new Volunteer Policy, Ms. Loredo seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

  
  

  Ms. Regalado moved to approve 2024 Closing Dates, Mr. Muelver seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

  
  

  Ms. Hospodarsky moved to go into Executive Session for the purpose of 5 ILCS 120/Sec 2(c) 1 and 8 for discussion of personnel and safety. Ms. Regalado seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

  
  

  Executive session entered at 8:42 pm.

  Regular meeting was called back to order at 9:23 pm.

  
  

  There was an update on the special committee. They have not met again, but Friends group is engaged, and the City Attorney will help draft agreement. Committee would like to have structure decided by year end, with any changes to take place at beginning of new FY.

  
  

  There was discussion on the staff training and team-building event at the library. There is funding available, but Ms. Ramirez needs help arranging the event. Holiday bonuses will be

  Draft, not yet approved

  
  

  targeted for beginning of December. A special board meeting may be needed to approve library closure for shelving installation depending on timing, possibly coordinated with staff event.

  
  

  Ms. Hospodarsky moved and Ms. Loredo seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

  Meeting adjourned at 9:44 pm.

  Director’s Report October 23, 2023 Library Updates

  
  

  Library Renovation Updates

  This month in Phase 2 we have the walls framed and painting is taking place. Electrical and data installation is being done. The stage in the Community Room has been framed. The stairs in the storage room have been installed. The windows in the community room have been replaced and the vestibule door has been installed.

  

  New windows have been installed. No more glass blocks!

  

  The vestibule door between YA and the entry to Highwood Avenue.

  

  The stage in the Community Room is now in place.

  

  These stairs allow for easy passage between Children’s and Storage. They will soon have carpet added to them.

  
  

  Admin/Accounting Current Month

  • FY24 Budget Maintenance and Review to ensure proper spenddown of grants and tax levy targets by Janet, Rebecca, & Laura

  • Payables documentation and administrative process development to accommodate transition from Diana A. and Janet to Rebecca

Records Retention • None to Report

Building & Grounds • The Committee met on September 29th to discuss landscaping and the process for approving permanent artwork that will be displayed at the library.

Website & Technology • Purchasing the upgraded technology necessary for the newly renovated library is almost completed. The library will exceed the budgeted projection of approx. $75K for new equipment and software. The reasons are: more cameras, phone system cost greater than expected, cable management must be purchased as furniture has no cable management, and a new patron server for TBS software needed, existing hardware could not be repurposed.

• In the month of September, the total number of client connections for the wireless patron network was 2366, for a daily average of 79 client connections. This was an increase from the daily average of 74 for August. The total wireless data delivered in September (30 days) was 369.88GB, an increase from the August (31 days) total of 338.12GB.

Communications • None to Report

Personnel/Professional Development

Grant Update • A grant was received from an Anonymous Foundation to support our Adult Literacy (financial literacy) programming.

Patron Services – Elementary Children (Program updates from Nessa and Diana)

Baby Storytime at Giggle – Nessa

• This program has fully transitioned to St. James

• Launching this program has been an absolute delight. It's been a fantastic opportunity to connect with our community members, especially our newest and tiniest arrivals! I've had the pleasure of observing some of these little ones from the very beginning, and it's heartwarming to see how at ease they've become. What's even more impressive is that a few of them have already recognized some of the rhymes and eagerly anticipate the fun parts! It's been a super fun experience :)

• Sept 13: 4 kids and Sept 20: 5 kids

  

  
  

  Pirate Storytime & Play at Giggles – Nessa & Lauren

• What an entertaining program! In celebration of National Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 19th, we decided to add a playful twist to our ABCs and Colors by hosting a Pirate Storytime. We teamed up with Jess from Giggles, who generously offered her space for this exciting event. The kids had a blast embracing their inner pirates, with many little buccaneers exploring the area and having a great time. To make it even more thrilling, Jess and Lauren even organized a treasure hunt for the kids to enjoy!

  

  
  

  Preschool Storytime – Diana W.

• Diana has put in tremendous effort to craft an engaging PreK storytime. However, we've faced challenges with attendance. We're optimistic that once we reopen and

  	offer the program at a different time and at our newly renovated location, attendance will significantly improve. Outreach: Red Oak Open House – Diana W., & CHWs: Fabiola & Genesis Family Game Night: Lotería!: – Diana W., Lauren, & Nessa  Learning Partners: Homework Help/Tutoring Program – Diana W.
  Patron Services—Teen (Program Updates from Nessa & Diana W.)	Teen Advisory Board

  • Red Oak Principal invited the library to come and celebrate the beginning of the new school year.

  • Diana brought a fun carnival game where kids were able to play for prizes. Parents were able to receive information of our library services, and CHWs Fabiola and Genesis shared COVID tests with all the families. The library also gave out Early Learning Kits to the families of kids that are in preschool or younger.

  • What a wonderful event to get the community together for some family fun! We had quite a crowd!

  • Diana Wence had a great idea to get even more crowd participation and that was asking 2 kids to help her for a few of the rounds. It was super cute to see the kids say the words in both English and Spanish.

  • Lauren Hegedus also had an even better opportunity to get to know community members through this event.

  • The Homework Help program falls under the umbrella of our Learning Partners Program. Homework Help volunteers are more than tutors: they are partners in the learning process and provide support and encouragement while teaching young adults to advocate for themselves. This might include helping a student send an email to a teacher for clarifying information on an assignment or locating educational resources to provide scaffolding and additional learning opportunities.

  • A big shoutout to Diana Wence! She's been tirelessly dedicated to expediting our tutors' background checks. Not only that, but she's done an outstanding job in matching tutors with the kids who require homework assistance. In our first tutoring session, she hit a home run! These two, tutor and student, got along famously. They played the Dog Man Game and a few card games while getting to know each other. In the next session, they'll dive into the student's assignments, identifying the areas where the tutor can provide the most help. Kudos to Diana for her exceptional work!

  • Scheduled meeting August 2 & 16

  • We invited the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) to decorate our windows in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Witnessing their enthusiasm was truly heartwarming.

  

  Additionally, we had the delightful surprise of Officer Taylor's visit, adding to the excitement of the day!

  

  
  

  Teen Advisory Board: Volunteer Opportunities

  • Pumpkin Fest is a fresh and exciting opportunity for our teens. They are eagerly looking forward to contributing to the town by carving pumpkins.

    
    

    Teen Craft Café –Diana

  • This month: Vision Boards

    

    
    

    Book Buffet – Nessa

  • Throughout the month, we made several efforts to connect with the teens, inviting them to join us for the program. Unfortunately, despite our outreach, we didn't receive any confirmations. Regrettably, we had to cancel the program around 4:30pm.

    
    

    Teen After Hours – Nessa & Diana

  • This month teens chose to see E.T. the movie.

  • Though participation was low, the teens were able to watch a bit of E.T. and then chose to watch the Little Rascals and converse about it. They really enjoyed it.

    
    

    HPL Pride Alliance

  • It will begin again during the school year, when the renovation is complete.

    
    

    Patron Services—Adults Program (Updates from Diana A., Janet, Yuliya, Aurora) English as a Second Language - Aurora

  • In September, we had a successful month with dedicated students eager to learn.

  • Our attendance increased as we welcomed more students.

  • We have a total of four groups meeting at least once a week: three beginners’ level and one advanced level. Three classes are currently using a book (generously donated by District 113), but also use supplemental material.

  • We're thrilled to witness our students expanding their vocabulary, and we make it a habit to ask them about a new word they've learned as they prepare to head home. The responses vary each week.

  • In one of Jefford's ESL classes, students engaged in an activity where they discussed their favorite artists.

    • The diversity of responses was astonishing, with students sharing their love for artists like Taylor Swift, Luis Miguel, Drake, Shakira, Beyonce, Marco Antonio Solis, and Joan Sebastian.

    • It was interesting to note that some students were unfamiliar with Beyonce and Drake.

    • Through these discussions, students had the opportunity to introduce themselves to different artists and diverse music genres.

      

      
      

      High School Diploma Program (GED) - Aurora

  • We maintained an average attendance of six consistent students throughout the month.

  • We began the Social Studies section of the High School Diploma preparation, focusing on U.S. history and geography.

  • As we wrapped up the Language Arts section, three students took the writing portion of the exam. Unfortunately, only one student passed this section, while the other two will have the opportunity to retake it.

    

    Students take a timed pretest to better prepare for the exam.

    
    

    SSL - Aurora

  • We maintained an average attendance of 14 students throughout the month.

  • Students made consistent progress in developing their language skills, including speaking, reading, and writing.

  • Notably, two intermediate-level students have stepped up to assist with our Digital Wellbeing for Seniors program.

    

    Intermediate Spanish class plays a game using the alphabet.

    
    

    Mandarin Basic Level - Aurora

  • On average, three students attended this program.

  • They focused on acquiring basic vocabulary and improving pronunciation.

  • The students expressed enthusiasm in learning about the culture.

    
    

    Sewing Basics Class/Knitters - Aurora

  • There was no sewing or knitting sessions this month.

  • These sessions are expected to resume when the library reopens, with a potential return in December.

    
    

    US Citizenship Test Prep - Aurora

  • Three participants successfully completed their interviews this month: Luis Gonzalez, Christina Mota, and Marisol Lopez. Congratulations to our new citizens!

  • One more participant has their appointment scheduled for 10/5.

  • Another participant has their appointment on 11/11.

  • We are currently organizing and preparing for a naturalization clinic in collaboration with North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic. The event is scheduled for November 13th from 5 to 7 PM at Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park.

    

    Mentors meet with the applicant to review questions and prepare for the citizenship interview. Applicant is waiting for the interview date.

    
    

    Digital Literacy - Aurora

  • Low attendance this month, with only one consistent student attendee.

  • We are restructuring the program to better serve the community, and partnering with Oak Terrace to host a four-week program that meets twice a week. Participants attending at least 6 sessions will receive a Chromebook donated by North Shore School District 112.

    
    

    Digital Wellbeing for Seniors - Aurora

  • We're thrilled to introduce our latest program tailored to support our seniors.

  • Our program had a strong start, with six seniors and three volunteers on the first day.

  • This initiative focuses on teaching computer skills and providing seniors with an opportunity to socialize.

  • Seniors are enthusiastic about the program and appreciate the welcoming and respectful atmosphere.

    

    Our first guest speaker was our Library’s Executive Director.

    

    	Volunteers and participants collaborate to navigate the digital world, creating a vibrant and supportive community of learners.
    Illinois Libraries Present	None to Report
    Health Equity	Adult Support Group Charlas con Propósito/Conscious Conversations learned. The women mentioned that men rarely visit the doctor and don't discuss

    • During the month of September, support group participants worked on developing a stronger sense of identity. Art teacher Carmen led an art session where she invited participants to create an “Identity Tree”.

    • Cervical Cancer: Equal Hope emphasized the importance of getting cervical exams for disease prevention, especially cancer. They also talked about the resources offered by this organization.

    • Colon and Nutrition presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois: BCBS presented on the topic of the colon, discussing the tests for preventing issues by taking this easy and quick test. They provided free tests for the community and explained the procedure, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in caring for the colon.

    • What is Andropause?: In this conversation, we learned that andropause is often referred to as "male menopause." On this day, there were only women in attendance, and community health worker, Beatriz, who presented this topic, emphasized the importance of talking to their husbands and sharing what they

    the issues they may be going through, making it a good topic to share with their husbands. They also took notes on the subject and asked questions, which Beatriz kindly answered.

    

    
    

    Zumba

  • This month, I would like to emphasize that the participants are very happy with the classes and express their gratitude to the library and instructor Oralia for finding the means to continue offering both classes. They also appreciate the support provided by the promoters, especially in looking after the children during the classes.

  • Two ladies in the group have health issues that prevent them from dancing Zumba at the same pace as the others, but this doesn't deter them. They come to the classes with joy, enjoy the music, engage in conversations, and love to distract themselves. They don't feel alone, and even though they may not be able to dance vigorously, they still move their arms and leave the class very content. Their dedication and enthusiasm are truly admirable.

    

    
    

    Rosalind Franklin University

  • In September, on 9/12/23, free flu vaccines were offered, thanks to a donation of flu vaccines from Northshore and the collaboration of Rosalind Franklin and their wonderful HealthClinics team. A total of 48 people from Lake County received vaccinations.

  • The community is both eager and delighted to receive their flu vaccines, and some have inquired about the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • The services offered include:

    • Rapid flu testing

    • Rapid COVID-19 testing

    • Rapid strep testing

    • Urinary tract infection testing

    • Ear lavage (ear cleaning)

  • 16 Health Screenings & 48 Flu Vaccines

    

    
    

    Walgreens Vaccines in Collaboration with Roberti House and Equal Hope

  • The September 23rd vaccine event took place at the Roberti Community House, located at 919 8th St, Waukegan, IL 60085. This event was organized for the entire community with the aim of preventing and providing easy access to the flu vaccine in the community. Appointments could be made by calling the library or Roberti House, in both English and Spanish. Additionally, services were available for individuals who arrived without appointments.

  • A total of 74 individuals happily received their flu vaccines, thanks to the collaboration of our partners from Roberti House, Walgreens, and Equal Hope. Various organizations also offered information and resources to the community, including Oak St Health, Chicago Workers Collaborative, NYAP, ERIE clinic, and Molina Healthcare.

    

    
    

    Black & Brown Health Equity Coalition ARISE, September 11, 2023

  • At this event called "Design Day," the focus was on three critical issues affecting the community: housing, food, employment, and financial support. Each group had the opportunity to discuss the needs of their community and share some potential solutions.

  • The goal was to create a Lake County team with the foundations and strengths to provide solutions to the challenges faced by minorities, particularly the Black and Brown communities.

  • Leaders from other organizations in Lake County, such as Brushwood, Tierra y Libertad, United Way, and 211, among others, also attended this meeting.

    
    

    Education and Disease Prevention:

  • To integrate training into our existing programming, participants in one of the Zumba classes were educated on four myths related to flu vaccines.

    
    

    Sanando el Alma en Comunidad |Mental Health Awareness & Education Presented in Spanish by Erika Quezada, Health & Wellness Coach

    
    

  • FACEBOOK LIVE | Truths & Fallacies: Celebrating Diversity & Learning about the LGBTQ+ Community: The objective of this "Sanando el Alma" Facebook Live event was to promote empathy and support for the LGBTQ+ community and to invite our community to participate in the upcoming support group. We had the privilege of hosting two outstanding guests: Monica Zohar, our bilingual therapist, and Viridiana

    Gonzalez, our support service administrator, who led us on a path of understanding and enlightenment. 149 People Reached; 4 Peak Live Viewers

  • CHARLA/PRESENTATION | Exploring the Impact of Childhood Wounds in our Adult Life: In Part 1 of the "Healing Childhood Wounds" series, the goal was to explore the profound connection between childhood experiences and their impact on adulthood. We delved into how certain childhood events can shape our personality, influence our relationships, and determine our reactions to various situations. Stories and examples were provided to help recognize these old wounds, ultimately paving the way for a more fulfilling and mindful future. 8 participants

    

    ***A heartfelt thank you to the team for stepping up and taking charge when the original facilitator fell ill. Your dedication and willingness to ensure the event continued smoothly are truly commendable. Thank you for going above and beyond to make it happen. ***

  • CHARLA/PRESENTATION | Marijuana, Legality, and Adolescent Wellbeing: The objective of this event was to educate parents and guardians on the topic of marijuana legalization and its impact on the wellbeing of teenagers. Our special guest, an expert on the subject, Angie Sauer from the Kids Above All provided information and guidance, to empower parents to have open and informed conversations with their children about this important issue, ultimately promoting the health and safety of our youth. 4 participants

    

  • WORKSHOP/TALLER| Healing Childhood Wounds: We created a secure environment where participants could continue exploring and understanding the impact of negative childhood experiences. Through profound self-reflection, interactive activities, and various tools, participants recognized and addressed these wounds that often persist into adulthood. Participants were encouraged to seek counseling as a means to address any trauma. 7 participants

    

    
    

    PAZ Y CALMA

  • An ongoing service facilitated by Erika Quezada, Health & Wellness Coach, intending to start, continue, resume, or deepen participants’ meditative and mindfulness practices to find peace and calm.

  • A total of 12 participated in the month of August.

    
    

    Counseling

  • During the month of September 2023, 108 total sessions scheduled, 63 counseling sessions attended.

  • This month, the clinician saw 24 clients. The clinician opened 3 new clients and closed 5 cases due to factors including: a change of therapist (1), moved to another area (1), change of work schedule (2), and low attendance (1).

  • One of the clients, whose case was closed following a successful discharge, shared the following: "I'm immensely proud of my progress in therapy. I've learned how to love myself, manage my emotions, and effectively identify and cope with my feelings. I'm planning to continue attending the support groups. Thank you so much for the valuable services you offer."

  • From counselor Monica Zohar: One of the clients that I worked with this month shared feeling “validated and seen after I attended my sessions. I am here due to the recent death of my husband, and I am sad and devastated. During my sessions, I was able to express how I feel, and I realized how important it is to talk about my grief.”

    
    

    Case Management - Viri

  • Our case managers continue to work with the community in a wide variety of needs. Clients report feeling a sense of relief to have assistance in their language when they need it.

  • One of our older client reports being able to take better care of her health since receiving Medicaid. She also feels appreciative to be able to seek help from our case manager when she needs to schedule appointments or call her doctor’s office with questions.

  • 39 clients served in the month of September.

    
    

    Coaching - Erika

  • We continue to provide one-on-one coaching to individuals who want to improve their health, vitality, and well-being by engaging in behaviors proven to improve health and prevent disease, including weight loss, fitness, nutrition, stress coping, sleep, mind-body, and eating and positive psychology interventions to reach and maintain healthy habits for life.

  • A client sought coaching services to address her glucose level maintenance challenges. Throughout our sessions, she has gained valuable insights into prioritizing her health and effective time management. She is now in the process of creating and savoring a well-rounded breakfast. This positive shift has not only led to improvements in her glucose levels but has also had a profound impact on her overall well-being.

  • 8 clients served; 24 sessions scheduled; 13 sessions attended

    
    

    Caminando Juntos

  • In this month's episode of "Caminando Juntos," Diana Cruz, a Parent Educator from One Hope United, provided valuable insights into creating effective routines that can inspire, focus, and prepare our children with confidence for the school year. 361 People Reached; 11 Peak Live Viewers

Board Meeting Open •

Items

Other Updates •

The Friends of the Highwood Public Library

The Friends of the Highwood Public Library is planning the Ribbon Cutting and Sneak Preview to be held in November to thank our supporters who made the renovation possible.

9:38 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Balance Sheet w/Prior Month Comparison

Accrual Basis As of September 30, 2023

Sep 30, 23 Aug 31, 23 $ Change % Change

ASSETS

Current Assets Checking/Savings

10000 ꞏ CASH & INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS

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9:47 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss YTD Budget vs. Actual

Accrual Basis May through September 2023

May - Sep 23 Budget $ Over Budget % of Budget

Ordinary Income/Expense Income

41000 ꞏ GENERAL REVENUES

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9:47 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss YTD Budget vs. Actual

Accrual Basis May through September 2023

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9:47 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss YTD Budget vs. Actual

Accrual Basis May through September 2023

Page 3

9:46 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss w/Prior Month Comparison

Accrual Basis September 2023

Sep 23 Aug 23 $ Change % Change

Ordinary Income/Expense Income

41000 ꞏ GENERAL REVENUES

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9:46 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss w/Prior Month Comparison

Accrual Basis September 2023

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9:46 AM Highwood Public Library & Community Center

10/20/23 Profit & Loss w/Prior Month Comparison

Accrual Basis September 2023

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10/20/23

Highwood Public Library & Community Center

Check Detail

September 26 through October 20, 2023

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10/20/23

Highwood Public Library & Community Center

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September 26 through October 20, 2023

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10/20/23

Highwood Public Library & Community Center

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September 26 through October 20, 2023