Governor Rauner Signs Bill to Create Youth Budget Commission
This year, the Start to Finish Coalition developed and championed HB5202, which passed unanimously out of the Illinois General Assembly and was signed into law August 11 on Kids Day at the Illinois State Fair. The new legislation establishes the Youth Budget Commission, to be comprised of a diverse group of experts in the needs of youth and […]
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 […]
Ensuring Youth in Illinois Live Exceptional Lives
The Ahlquist Center On September 20, the Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice & Innovation at Children’s Home & Aid convened a group of 30 policy practitioners to introduce the framework for Start to Finish: Completing Our Commitment to Youth, an initiative focused on youth ages 8-25. The goal of the initiative is to begin to […]
Home Visiting Pilot Program Presents at National Conference
In September, Jaime Russell, Children’s Home & Aid Project Manager of Home Visiting Child Welfare Partnership, and Lesley Schwartz, Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development Manager of Program Evaluation (MIECHVP) presented at the MIECHV National Conference. Jaime and Lesley shared the initial findings of the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) pilot program. Supported […]
Completing Our Commitment to Youth
The Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation is pleased to present A Fiscal Scan of Illinois Public Investments in Children and Youth, Ages 8-25. Thanks to the generous support of The Chicago Community Trust, this scan takes a new approach to the state budget, organizing it by goals for youth rather than by individual […]