Closed Family Court Means Kids Are in Care Longer
How has the COVID-19 epidemic impacted children in foster care? In March when the state of Illinois shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, family courts that oversee child welfare cases were closed for three months and all in-person visits for children in foster care were prohibited by DCFS. Visits resumed in the summer, […]
Celebrating Donna Kasper
Today is Donna Kasper’s last day with Children’s Home & Aid – she is retiring after 14 years with the agency. Donna is the Foster Care Director in Rockford – and has lived the values of Children’s Home & Aid throughout her life. Donna has been working in this field for over 23 years but […]
Foster Parents Continue to Invest through Difficult Times
Despite a tidal wave of changes disrupting all of our lives this spring, foster parents and caregivers haven’t missed a beat caring for our kids. When the Illinois stay at home order went into place in early March, Children’s Home & Aid was caring for more than 1,000 children in foster homes across the state. […]
Helping Young Parents in Foster Care Become the Parents Their Children Need
Illinois Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Care (IPPYC) Home Visiting pilot works to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. The research is clear. Children whose parents are in foster care are at high risk of being abused and neglected and being removed from their parents and placed into foster care themselves. Think about why. […]
Bill to Provide Child Care to Children Who Experienced Abuse or Neglect Awaits Governor’s Signature
In May, the Illinois General Assembly passed HB4885 which provides families with children ages 0 to 5 with an indicated case of abuse and neglect access to free- or low-cost child care through the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. Research shows that early exposure to child abuse and neglect can affect the structure of the […]
Children’s Home & Aid Part of Innovative Pilot to Help Families Recover from Substance Abuse
Nationally the opioid crisis is having a major impact on child welfare. In an April 2018 study, Stopping the Opioid Crisis Begins at Home, by the Council for a Strong America, researchers found that there is a connection between opioid use and child abuse and neglect. In 2016, for 34 percent of children involved in […]
Foster Parent Mentoring program provides added support to new foster parents
In June 2017, Children’s Home & Aid began the Foster Parent Mentoring program to increase the support available to foster parents with a goal of improving the quality of foster parenting. Each year, Children’s Home & Aid provides foster care services to more than 1,100 children in Illinois. Foster Parent Mentoring is a unique program […]
3 Things you should know about Ashley, Foster Parent Support Specialist
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. […]
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 […]
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 that includes the Everest Base Camp and two summit attempts — Kala Patthar and Island Peak. […]
Building a Network of Support for Children and Youth in Care
Michael’s* first memory is of living at his aunt’s house with his older brother and two cousins. This memory only recently came back to Michael, 13, while talking about his life story to his caseworker at the Rice Child + Family Center. The residents at Rice have been some of the first at Children’s Home […]
Meet Cassie: Former Intern and Current Foster Care Case Manager
When Cassie Flynn began her Master of Social Work program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she planned to become a therapist. However, her experience as an intern at Children’s Home + Aid changed that vision and she found her calling as a case manager on the very team she interned for. “It was […]
Becoming a Foster Parent
Children’s Home + Aid’s Foster Home Licensing Manager, Kurt Kalas, stresses that potential foster parents must go into the process with an open mind and an open heart. “You must be prepared to accept children who have just been separated from their parents and therefore may be less than thrilled to move into your home,” […]
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, […]
The Quality Parenting Initiative
The Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) is a new approach to the foster care system. Started by the Youth Law Center in San Francisco, it has launched across Illinois. By treating all stakeholders, from biological parents to judges to youth themselves, as allies rather than adversaries, the system can be maximized to focus on child development and high […]
10 Signs You’re Ready to be a Foster Parent
You want to give children a safe home for a temporary time until which they can return home Foster care is a temporary situation. While sometimes families are unable to be reunited, it is always important to support the reunification of the youth with their family. Giving children a loving, stable home while families do what […]
National Social Work Month – David Fox
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 […]
Cultural Competence and LGBTQ
Children’s Home + Aid is proud to be recognized by Human Rights Campaign as an All Children All Families Child Welfare Agency and as a leader in supporting and serving LGBT youth and families. This video from Youth Today, features two amazing young people that we have had the honor of serving through foster care […]
Foster Care – Getting Results
Each year, Children’s Home + Aid serves over 1,700 children who have suffered abuse or neglect, been removed from their homes by the State of Illinois, and placed in the care of Children’s Home + Aid. Across 60 Illinois counties, Children’s Home + Aid provides foster homes and services that ensure children’s safety, permanency and […]