AIM Independent Living Center has announced the schedule for its 2020 series of American Sign Language classes, which are open to the community.

AIM offers three levels of American Sign Language classes - ASL I, ASL II and ASL III - which build on each other. ASL I is offered twice. The instructor is Sin Yi Ko.

The eight-week classes are held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Corning AIM office, located at 271 E. First St. 

The classes are offered separately and there is no commitment to enroll in the series. The fee is $80 per course.

Participants should register online at the links below and mail a check made out to Sin Yi Ko to: 

Registration is not complete until the check has been received.

The schedule and links to register:

ASL I: Jan. 22-March 11  Register 

ASL I: March 18-May 13 (off April 8 for Easter)  Register

ASL II: Aug. 19-Oct. 7  Register

ASL III: Oct. 14-Dec. 9 (off Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving)  Register

For more information, contact Erin Morseman at  emorseman@aimcil.com or (607) 962-8225, ext. 146.

Open enrollment through NY State of Health, the state's health insurance marketplace, is underway and continues through Jan. 31, 2020.

AIM's Navigator Program provides enrollment assistance in Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler and Allegany counties. This program is free and open to the community.

NY State of Health is the insurance marketplace for those under age 65 for whom insurance is unavailable or unaffordable through a job. 

Health plans from a variety of insurers are available through the marketplace. Financial assistance is available to lower monthly premiums, depending on income and household size. Some consumers may qualify for low-cost programs such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan.

Consumers must sign up by Dec. 15 in order for coverage to begin Jan. 1. Those enrolling by Jan. 15 will have coverage for Feb. 1, and those who enroll between Jan. 16 and Jan. 31 will have coverage start March 1.

To schedule an appointment, call Navigator Program Coordinator Breanna Wilson at (607) 962-8225 or (888) 962-8244, ext. 118.

Ed Tierney, AIM's veterans advocate, and Nick Moffe, AIM's director of peer supports, visited veterans at The Falls Home, an assisted living facility in Montour Falls, over Veterans Day weekend.

Tierney and Moffe brought donuts and small gifts to the veterans who reside at The Falls Home to express appreciation for their service to the country.

For more information about AIM's free veteran services, which include a peer mentoring program, contact Tierney at etierney@aimcil.com or 962-8225, ext. 216.

Craft and Chat, a new monthly support group in Schuyler County, will begin in December.

The first meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at the First Baptist Church, 221 W. South St., Montour Falls. The group is free and open to anyone in the community who has been affected by addiction.

It'll be a place where people can relax, work on a craft activity, and sip a hot beverage.

The group will be co-facilitated by Diane Enlow, one of AIM's Recovery Peer Advocates, and Tori Johnston, our Family Support Navigator. 

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Enlow at denlow@aimcil.com or 962-8225, ext. 232, or Johnston at vwagner@aimcil.com or 962-8225, ext. 220.

Diane Enlow recently joined AIM as a Recovery Peer Advocate. She uses a combination of personal experience and professional training to help people in recovery from substance abuse. AIM provides this free service as part of the Chemung Peer Network, a partnership of six local agencies that use a peer support model to help people in recovery from addiction or mental illness.

Q: What led you to take this position with AIM?

A: I decided to become a Recovery Peer Advocate so I may use my lived experience of recovery from alcohol use disorder to help others begin their recovery journey and live their best lives as defined by the individuals themselves.

 

Q: What is the role of a Recovery Peer Advocate?

A: As a Recovery Peer Advocate I can be a link to resources for housing, food, treatment, Twelve Step Meetings as well as non-traditional support groups. I can help with learning the public transportation system as well as helping to arrange medical transport. I can also be a sober support by sharing parts of my story to demonstrate how I worked my way through the challenges of early sobriety and what I do to maintain my recovery.

 

Q: What are some of the challenges and rewarding aspects of the job?

A: The rewards of being a Recovery Peer Advocate are seeing how my story has a positive impact on those seeking recovery and helping shine a light on the path they choose to begin their journey of recovery. The newness of AIM's Recovery Peer Advocate program is challenging. We are forging the path to bring new supports to the recovery community.