Centering Families through New Program Model: AKIN
This month, Children’s Home & Aid launched our newest program model – AKIN: Achieving Permanency through Kinship placement Investing in co-parenting with Natural parents. AKIN strives to bring our Blueprint for Impact to life by evolving and expanding our Caregiver Support Team to work alongside families as they navigate the child welfare system. We believe […]
Driving to Independence: January is Teen Driving Awareness Month
Many of us vividly remember going to the DMV to get our driver’s license on our 16th birthday. The thrill of driving, and the independence brought with it, is something many can look back on as a moment of liberation and excitement. What we might not have realized at the time is the statistical significance […]
CPS to Expand Program that Provides High-Risk Students with Mentoring, Counseling
In the News The Chicago Sun-Times‘ very own Laura Washington has written an insightful article about the efforts Children’s Home and Aid and Youth Advocate Programs Inc., have made in providing high-risk students with the tools they need to thrive post-pandemic by collaborating with Chicago Public Schools. Read the full article here
Learning to Solve Problems Together
“Kids arrive scared and angry. They’ve been through a lot. We listen without judgment to understand their perspective. When kids start feeling safe to come and talk to us about what they are experiencing, you see progress.” ~ Melvyn Tate, Coordinator, Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child & Family Center A safe space to […]
Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Month
As Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Month comes to a close, we want to take this time to acknowledge and thank our dedicated child welfare workers. One month isn’t long enough to honor these essential teammates who are continually moving forward to keep children and families thriving. As our EDI committee stated, many of us are […]
Keeping it in the Family: Children’s Home & Aid and the Mitzi Freidheim Center
This week we are celebrating the Week of the Young Child where we recognize that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to consider the role we all play in meeting the needs of […]
Celebrating our Child Welfare Workers – Today and Every Day
As Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week comes to a close, we believe our dedicated colleagues should be recognized every day. One week isn’t long enough to honor these teammates who are continually making strides in keeping children and families thriving. We’re proud of our staff who are doing whatever it takes to move the needle […]
3 Things you should know about Ashley, Foster Parent Support Specialist for Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week
As we continue celebrating our team members during Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week, here’s a repost of an earlier story to recognize Ashley Akerman who leads our Foster Care Mentoring Program. Ashley is dedicated to standing up every day for the children, youth and families we serve. Thank you Ashley, for all you do! Ashley […]
A Message from our CEO Mike Shaver for Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week
This last week, it’s been impossible to miss the images of the response to Hurricane Dorian and the devastation of lives, homes and entire communities left in its wake. What you may miss in the media coverage are the images of the first responders, but they are there. They are on the front lines bringing […]
Children’s Home & Aid at National Child Abuse Conference in Washington D.C.
Two innovative programs created by Children’s Home & Aid were featured at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) held in Washington, D.C. in April. This biennial conference brings together over 1,800 professionals and community residents from across the country to learn best practices in preventing […]
Child Abuse Prevention Month 2019
April 1 marks the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month is a time to recognize that we all have a role in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in our communities. Since 1989, the national Blue Bow Campaign has existed to raise awareness of child abuse and prevention. The […]
A letter from Sarah, a former Rice Child & Family Center client, to Rice staff
Today is Child Welfare Worker Recognition Day! We’re celebrating by sharing the stories of our staff who are the link to building brighter futures for children, youth and families. A couple of years ago, we received a letter from Sarah, a former resident at the Rice Child & Family Center. The letter, addressed to Sarah’s team of […]
Child Welfare Worker Recognition Day – September 20th
We live in the age of Superheroes (and Sheroes!). Seems every week there’s a new blockbuster film filled with buff and creatively costumed beings in a desperate attempt to save the world from complete destruction. These films make billions of dollars and spur sequels and prequels as the hunger for the Good Guys take on the Bad […]