Shining a Light on National Adoption Month
Did you know there are nearly half a million children in the US foster care system? Each year, just 150,000 children are adopted, with only one-third coming from foster care. The majority of these young people spend months –– even years––waiting for a home to call their own. Here at Children’s Home & Aid, we know that the waiting, the doubt and the trauma of a young person caught […]
Dbldaddy: A Grandfather’s Love
Kevin, a grandfather in central Illinois, has become a dad again. After recently losing his own daughter to illness, Kevin knew what he needed to do to keep his family together. Not only did he officially adopt two of his grandchildren, ages 13 and 8, he became highly active in Parents Care & Share – […]
From Foster to Adoption: A follow up on the Gatlin Family
Last we spoke with Mary and Todd Gatlin, they were foster parents to then six-year-old Serenity. Since then, their lives have transformed in the best way. Serenity’s adoption was finalized in July of 2019 – Mary describes it as, “the best day of our lives”. On the day of Serenity’s adoption, friends, family, and dozens […]
A Family for Cooper: From Foster to Adoption
November marks the start of National Adoption Awareness Month. Children’s Home & Aid believes that all vulnerable children, whatever their ages or circumstances, deserve safe, loving homes and the chance to love, to learn, to heal, to dream and to make their way in the world. While all adoption-related issues are important, the focus of […]
National Adoption Awareness Month – An Update on Pauline
November marks the start of National Adoption Awareness Month. Children’s Home & Aid believes that all vulnerable children, whatever their ages or circumstances, deserve safe, loving homes and the chance to love, to learn, to heal, to dream and to make their way in the world. Below is a story update from an earlier post […]
November is National Adoption Awareness Month
November marks the start of National Adoption Awareness Month. While all adoption-related issues are important, the focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care. During this month we also celebrate National Adoption Day, observed in courthouses across the nation, where thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously. There are currently over […]
Connecting Children with Loving Families – Ingrid’s Story
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 throughout Illinois and inspired by the children and families we serve and their stories of resilience. […]
Looking back at 20 years of working with adoptive families
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 throughout Illinois and inspired by the children and families we serve and their stories of resilience. […]
Meet new moms Elizabeth and Tatiana
Elizabeth and Tatiana Reyes recently spoke at our 2018 Champions for Children Luncheon and shared their family’s journey to adoption. Here is their story: My wife Tatiana and I have been part of the Children’s Home & Aid family for nearly four years. I say family because that’s how Children’s Home & Aid makes you feel. As […]
New tax credit makes adoption process easier for Illinois families
Governor Bruce Rauner visited our Rockford office yesterday to announce a new adoption tax credit to support Illinois families by making adoptions more affordable. The new $5000 tax credit removes one of the barriers for families to adopt and helps fulfill our mission to create hope, opportunity and bright futures for children and families. Before the […]
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 that my parents first met me at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.” Kyle was adopted […]
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 of whom were adopted, two from Children’s Home & Aid’s Foster to Adopt program. Growing […]
Erin’s Adoption Story
On February 15, 2017, 4-year-old Erin officially became a member of the Panico family after spending 1,385 days in foster care. In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, Erin’s mom, Linda, has shared her adoption story: One of the best pieces of advice I was given before becoming a licensed foster mom was to shop […]
Becoming the Rumpsa Family
Margie Rumpsa has been through the adoption process twice. She’s the first to say: it’s not for the faint of heart. But she wouldn’t change it for the world. Margie is a single mom to two boys: Sean, 7-years-old and Jack, 5. Both were adopted through Children’s Home + Aid’s Foster Care and Adoption programs, […]
National Social Work Month – Velma Oliver
In honor of National Social Work Month, we’re highlighting a handful of the many dedicated social workers who stand up every day for the children, youth and families we serve. Becoming a social worker offers you the opportunity to pursue a variety of career paths, from direct clinical practice to administration to advocacy and policy roles. As […]