Children's Home + Aid Blog & News
Memorial Day – a Day of Remembrance
In this our 135th year of helping children and families to thrive, we are celebrating in many ways. I’ve been trying to find ways to really grasp that breadth of time and what it means to have offered the support…
Advice on giving back – words of inspiration from Connie L. Lindsey of Northern Trust
Throughout 2018, we are celebrating 135 years of meeting every child, every family, where their need is greatest. Doing whatever it takes so children and families can thrive. On May 24, the Children’s Home & Aid community will come together in…
One man, one plane and a passion for helping kids and families
One man. One plane. Flying 500 miles to raise funds and collect 1,350 wishes from kids, in honor of Children’s Home & Aid’s 135 years of caring for kids and families
Paul Wood has had many rewarding roles in his life: co-founder…
Celebrating Adoption, Celebrating Family at the Northern Champions for Children Luncheon
March 16 was always a special day in the home where Kyle York, a member of Children’s Home & Aid’s Northern Regional Advisory Board, grew up.
“We called it my ’Airplane Day,’ Kyle York recalls. “That was the day in 1988…
Celebrate Mother’s Day and Support Children’s Home & Aid
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th! We’ve put together a gift guide to help you show your love and appreciation for your mom, or a woman in your life who is like a mother to you. These charitable gifts that give back…
Supporting the Community Schools Model
A major focus of the Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation is to ensure adequate, sustained funding for community school programs—a proven model that improves learning outcomes for students in under-resourced school districts. The community schools approach brings together public…
Investing to Improve the Well-Being of Youth in Illinois
As part of the Start to Finish Coalition’s effort to create a policy, funding and research agenda that supports young people to be stable, safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected, the Ahlquist Center joined Forefront to engage funders in a…
Support Champions for Children and Get a Signed Bat from Jim Thome!
Jim Thome is best known in Chicago as a Hall of Fame slugger who played for the White Sox from 2006-09. The Peoria, IL native joined the White Sox shortly after they won the World Series in 2005. Thome had…
Home Visiting Programs Reduce Chances of Opioid Addiction
On Wednesday, April 18 Sherri O’Toole, Program Supervisor for our Stronger Beginnings for Families home visiting program, joined members of law enforcement from across Illinois at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield to release a new report by Fight Crime: Invest in…
Donor Spotlight: Young fundraiser pays it forward
“I believe that children are our future,” are song lyrics that describe one of our passionate supporters, 14-year-old Emily Blumburg. An eighth-grade student at Springman Middle School in Glenview, Illinois, Emily is a typical teenager who also has a soft…
Purple Up Day – Celebrating Military Children
Each year, April is designated as the Month of the Military Child – a time to recognize and thank military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifice and continued resilience. Today on Purple Up for Military Kids Day,…
Connecting Children with Loving Families – Ingrid’s Story
Ingrid Brown, Child Welfare Program Director in Children’s Home & Aid’s Central Region, has an unusually strong connection to the agency.
“I found my family, my husband and my career at Children’s Home & Aid!’ Ingrid says. “I owe so much to this wonderful…
Taking Steps to End Child Abuse 5K – Why We Run/Walk
April 21 marks the date of the 8th annual Taking Steps to End Child Abuse 5k Color Run/Walk in Normal, Illinois. Last year, nearly 109 runners and walkers came out to celebrate the lives of Duncan and Jack Leichtenberg and…
How the Palatine Child Care Center Helped a Teen Mother Thrive
Throughout 2018, we are celebrating 135 years of meeting every child, every family, where their need is greatest. Doing whatever it takes so children and families can thrive. We are proud of our legacy of meeting the changing needs of vulnerable families…
Improving Child Welfare in Illinois
Today Children’s Home & Aid staff, including Melissa Ludington, Vice President of Child Welfare Services, and Amber Hoeft, Foster Care Case Manager, joined Andrea Durbin, CEO of Illinois Collaboration on Youth to testify before the Illinois House Appropriation Human Services Committee. At…
Celebrating Social Work Month: A look back to 1988
Throughout 2018, we are celebrating 135 years of meeting every child, every family, where their need is greatest. Doing whatever it takes so children and families can thrive. We are proud of our legacy of meeting the changing needs of vulnerable families…
Associate Board member one of 10 siblings, six of whom were adopted
Tim Stringer, one of Children’s Home & Aid’s dedicated volunteers, is completely comfortable surrounded by children. In fact, it’s remarkably like home for him. Tim, who serves on Children’s Home & Aid’s Associate Board, is one of 10 siblings, six…
Scaling new heights while raising funds for kids
In the summer of 2017, we introduced you to Terry Herr, a passionate supporter planning to travel to Mount Everest to raise funds for Children’s Home & Aid. This May, Terry will leave for Nepal to begin a 25-day journey…
$40,000 Walmart Foundation Grant to Support Crisis Nurseries
On February 22, Children’s Home & Aid staff and clients joined representatives from Walmart to celebrate a $40,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation with a check presentation at the Bloomington Crisis Nursery. The funding from the Walmart Foundation will support a child care worker…
The Story of Jumping Jack
Throughout 2018, we are celebrating 135 years of meeting every child, every family, where their need is greatest. Doing whatever it takes so children and families can thrive. We are proud of our legacy of meeting the changing needs of vulnerable families…