image description

Early Childhood Care & Education

Affordable child care should not be out of reach. Children’s Home & Aid Community Child Care Centers provide child care and prekindergarten services based on a sliding scale. To learn more or apply for child care, visit our child care page.

+ Apply for Child Care
image description

COVID-19 Crisis – Please Help!

We need your help, more than ever, to meet the critical needs of our kids and families who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

+ Support our Kids and Families
image description

Children's Home & Aid Day of Gratitude

+ Learn More
image description

A Message from Michael Shaver, President & CEO: Facing two crises, together.

+ Read the full message here
There is a home in a good family for every homeless child and woe to me if I do not find it. – Reverend Martin Van Buren Van Arsdale, founder of Children’s Home & Aid

Adoption Services

Children’s Home & Aid has provided adoption services to children and families since 1883. Last year alone, nearly 300 children and families were affected by our adoption preservation services. More than 100 children annually are adopted through Children’s Home & Aid programs.

+ Learn more

join our team

Join Our Team

Come join our team of “Best People”! Children’s Home & Aid offers staff the opportunity to work as part of a comprehensive social services team that partners with children, youth and families whose potential is at risk to create hope, opportunity, and bright futures. If you share our vision of all children, youth and families thriving in strong communities, we want to hear from you.

+ Learn more

additional services

Early Childhood Care & Education

Children born in high-risk environments (defined by low income, young parental age, single parents and low maternal education) face significant barriers to healthy development and learning. Research shows that children from high-risk environments on average test at a 3-year-old level upon entering kindergarten.

Learn more

Counseling Programs & Services

Children’s Home & Aid Child and Family Counseling programs provide extra support, guidance, and positive experiences to youth of all ages, races, and cultural backgrounds. These programs help children and families make positive changes in their lives, maximize their potential, and improve their function in society.

Learn more

Parenting

The Parent Support services offered by Children’s Home & Aid are designed to recognize the parent’s unique and irreplaceable role in developing young lives. By educating and supporting parents, the incidence of child maltreatment is greatly reduced.

Learn more

how you can help

Volunteer

A variety of volunteer opportunities are available from weekly to once a month to a one-time event or activity. Volunteers are placed in positions based on interest, need, skills, location and availability. Whether reading stories to a classroom at our Child + Family Centers, helping a child with homework, or providing support to our office staff, volunteers make a difference in the lives of children and families.

+ Learn more

Advocacy

Through our Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation, Children’s Home & Aid utilizes the collective voices, skills, and wisdom of its staff, volunteers, and advocacy partners to actively engage our lawmakers, rule makers, and supporters, by providing education and information to ensure sound public policies on behalf of children and families.

+ Help us Advocate

 

 

Donate Now

In the next 30 seconds you can make a difference. Children’s Home & Aid saves children’s lives, moves families forward, and goes where the need is greatest—with the help of generous donors like you. Our impact is profound and personal. Children’s Home & Aid addresses immediate community needs and responds with direct services and support. We change lives. When you make an online gift, you invest in a brighter future for our children, youth and families starting today.

+ Donate

about children's home & aid

Locations

Children’s Home & Aid is a leading child and family service agency in Illinois. The organization has offices located across Illinois and serves more than 40,000 children and families each year in over 60 counties.

+ Learn more

Events

Get involved, and visit us in action at one of our many events.

LEARN MORE

Blog & News

Follow us as we share the most recent and up-to-date news regarding our services.

+ Read more

Mission + History

Children’s Home & Aid partners with children, youth and families whose potential is at risk to create hope, opportunity, and bright futures. All children, youth and families thrive in strong communities.

+ Learn more

Sign Up For Our Newsletter:

Share your name and email with us and we will keep you up-to-date on the transformative work that we are doing at Children’s Home & Aid.

+ Signup