CHiL Afterschool Program
CHiL provides comprehensive support to students and their families by offering a variety of services. These include tutoring, mentoring, mental health services, and case management. By working with community partners, CHiL ensures that every student has a fair chance to succeed.
The acronym CHiL was formed from the names of the middle schools in Wheeling Township’s Community Consolidated School District 21 – Cooper Middle School, Holmes Middle School, and London Middle School. The CHiL program has helped students improve their grades, attend school more regularly, and feel better emotionally and socially. This support makes it easier for students to successfully transition to high school. CHiL focuses on supporting low-income, diverse students, many of whom are learning English and receiving special education services.
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Volunteer as a mentor
Volunteer as a mentor
Our CHiL Impact
Our CHiL Impact
CHiL helps students focus on their schoolwork by meeting their essential needs:
- Personalized social-emotional lessons for students.
- Skills for creating healthy relationships at home, school, and in the community.
- Support for emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Strategies for coping with stress, anxiety, and peer pressure.
- Access to individual and family counseling.
- Case management services for families.
For additional information, please contact the Manager of School Programs, Montana Lechner at montana@handsonsuburbanchicago.org.
Become a CHiL Volunteer Mentor
CHiL relies on trained volunteer mentors to provide academic support. These mentors help students socialize, build trust with adults, overcome academic barriers, and create positive associations with school, which helps lower dropout rates.
CHiL Volunteer Mentor Information Overview
Who:
Caring and reliable community members who mentor high-needs students.
What:
CHiL is a volunteer-based afterschool program for middle and elementary school students that fosters socialization among a small group of students, facilitates social and emotional learning activities, and supports students in completing schoolwork.
Where:
Cooper Middle School (Buffalo Grove), Holmes Middle School (Wheeling), London Middle School (Wheeling), and Whitman Elementary School (Wheeling).
When:
The program runs from October through May. Volunteer mentors are needed Monday–Thursday, from 3:00 to 4:45 p.m. (dates and times subject to change). The commitment is one or two days per week during the school year.
Why:
- Make a Difference: As a mentor, you can positively impact a student’s life. By providing guidance, encouragement, and support, you can help them overcome challenges and succeed academically.
- Model Empathy and Understanding: Your experiences can offer valuable lessons, motivating you to understand and share examples of perseverance.
- Build Confidence: When students see progress and improvement, their confidence grows. Your encouragement and belief in their abilities can boost their self-esteem.
- Learn and Grow: Mentoring isn’t just about teaching; it’s also about learning. You’ll gain insights into different learning styles, communication techniques, and problem-solving approaches.
- Create Lasting Connections: Building a strong mentor-mentee relationship can lead to lifelong connections. You’ll witness their growth and celebrate their achievements.
- Gain Experience: Mentoring is an excellent way to increase job experience and help college and graduate students fulfill field hour requirements.
Please note that the application process requires references and criminal background checks. Training is provided and consists of a self-guided online course with a graded final assessment.
Our Partners
Our CHiL Afterschool Program proudly partners with Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 (Cooper Middle School, Holmes Middle School, London Middle School, and Whitman Elementary School) and OMNI.
HOSC School Programs
Our school programs provide equitable opportunities for low-income, high-risk elementary and middle school students to succeed in high school. These programs improve the grades, attendance, and social and emotional well-being of students – many of whom have limited English proficiency and receive special education – leading to successful transitions to high school. We achieve this by holistically addressing student and family needs with an integrated multi-tier support system combining tutoring, mentoring, behavioral health services, and case management in collaboration with community partners.