Watch SOS Illinois 2nd Annual Women's Leadership Forum!
The SOS Children’s Villages Illinois’ 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Forum was hosted yesterday! We are excited to share this 90-minute dialogue that featured five fascinating women who represent companies and businesses cross the State of Illinois. The goal of the Forum is to hear the journey of women into leadership and consider strategies to improve opportunities for women.
Join us for the SOS Illinois Women in Leadership Forum
Celebrate Women's History Month with SOS Illinois 2nd Annual Women's Leadership Forum
Happy International Women's Day from Chicago Foundlings Home!
We're excited to celebrate all month! Join us and register for this engaging event hosted by one of our funding recipients!
The SOS Children’s Villages Illinois’ 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 at 11am CST. We are excited to share this 90-minute dialogue that will feature five fascinating women who represent companies and businesses across the State of Illinois. The goal of the Forum is to hear the journey of women into leadership and consider strategies to improve opportunities for women.
View this Event Online here!
A Message Of Remembrance Honoring MLK Day & Black History Month
This January, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois and its Racial Justice Committee shares a message of remembrance as it honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognizes the many individuals who have sacrificed to create a path forward so that Dr. King’s dream can be realized. To celebrate MLK Day and begin the celebrations for Black History Month, the Racial Justice Committee offered events and service projects for our children and families to learn from, take part in, and enjoy.
You can view the original post on the website of SOS Children’s Villages of Illinois.
Inspire our youth with a book this Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with SOS Illinois.
Annual Black History Month Book Drive
Hosted by SOS Children’s Villages of Illinois.
Check back in our event page next February, we look forward to celebrating with you!
Thank you for supporting this important project to inspire youth in foster care.
Interested in making this a company or volunteer project? Please let us know!
Contact Hope Burk at hburk@sosillinois.org.
The Top Three Highlights of 2020 as SOS Illinois Closes the Door on its 30th Anniversary Year
“Home Alone” and “Dances with Wolves” were released. “Beverly Hills, 90210” premiered. The Hubble space telescope was placed into orbit. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed. “Sue” the best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever (now at the Field Museum) was discovered. Nelson Mandela was released from a South African prison. Thirty-four countries met in Paris, France to formally mark the end of the Cold War. This remarkable list of things and more share something in common with SOS Children’s Villages Illinois: This past year, we all turned 30.
As SOS Illinois embarked on the celebration of our 30th year of providing innovative, transformational care to children in foster care and at-risk youth and families, we reached several significant milestones – all during a most unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 virus. To wrap up this year of important moments in our organization’s history, we would like to share the top three highlights of 2020.
As we embarked on the celebration of our 30th year of providing innovative, transformational care to children in foster care and at-risk youth and families, SOS Illinois reached several significant milestones – all during a most unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 virus. To wrap up this year of important moments in our organization’s history, we would like to share the top three highlights of 2020:
#3 Innovation: Uplifted by the Generosity of Our Amazing Donors
We are grateful for the immense support of our corporate partners and donors who found new ways of supporting us in a most unprecedented year. As COVID-19 interrupted every facet of life, we were grateful our services were deemed essential; and therefore, continued without interruption.
As an organization with a 30-year history of having faced both challenges and successes, we were thankful we did not have to confront this uncertainty alone. SOS Illinois rose to the occasion; and we did this with the help of our Board of Directors and amazing friends. For your outpouring of encouragement, we are so thankful that you stayed connected to us during these unprecedented times. We are pleased to be able to share a few highlights:
In the early weeks of the pandemic through August, SOS Illinois families received meals twice a week from the #FeedItForward initiative, started by the Lavin Family Foundation.
Swissôtel Chicago held a free give-back initiative with a virtual story hour where they matched donations, delivered groceries to each of our families’ homes, helped us host our Zoom events for Foster Parent Appreciation and our virtual graduations, as well as supported our Holiday Giving Program.
Christian and Sibi Bale recognized the importance of having a good computer to work on for school during this pandemic and donated a new Chromebook to each household and connected us with Baby2Baby to provide baby supplies for our youngest youth in care.
HSBC’s Hispanic Latin Diversity Committee donated 75 brand new Dell “Venue 10 Pro 5056” tablets, keyboards, and more for our families to use in their remote learning efforts. So many thanks for helping our children succeed.
The Ignite a Better World Foundation, Synchrony Bank, and the United Way of Will County among dozens of other individual and corporate donors donated funds specifically to address ongoing expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chicago Regatta presented by Wintrust kept hope afloat with on-water racing during the regatta and a virtual auction and event afterwards.
The Related Lendlease Charity Golf Classic looked a bit different, but went off without a hitch and supported our families in an amazing response from longtime supporters. Thank you so much.
Evening of Hope took a turn onto the “Information Superhighway” and held a virtual event in November. Committee Members, Honorees, Sponsors, and attendees raised an incredible amount of money for the children in our care. Also, a special thanks to Actor David Eigenberg, Swissôtel Chicago Executive Chef Dan McGee, and an SOS Illinois Alumnus for participating in a special cookie baking segment.
Chicago Bear’s Player Deon Bush shared Thanksgiving Dinners with Chicago Village Families, and during the holidays, Chicago Bear’s Defensive End Akiem Hicks and his mother spread holiday cheer in a safe, and socially distanced celebration.
Holiday Giving donors pivoted with us to start online teams and raise funds for our Foster Parents to purchase holiday gifts for the youth in our care. This particular campaign raised over $55,000! This is in addition to many meals, treats, and other gifts delivered to our families this season.
We are incredibly grateful to all our donors, and would like to specifically thank: Christian and Sibi Bale; Swissôtel Chicago; Bohne Foundation; T-Mobile; Chicago Blackhawks Foundation; Chicago Yacht Club; Synchrony Bank; PHMG; Lochner; Central Church of Chicago Foundation; Conagra Foods; CC’s Wish List/ Enchanted Backpack; Lavin Family Foundation; BorgWarner; Maestro Cares Foundation; Goya Foods; Atlas Wealth Management; Headwaters Relief Organization; Home Depot in Homer Glen/The Home Depot Foundation; Win Biernacki and Rama Dandamudi, M.D.
#2 Resilience: Responding to COVID-19 to Keep Children and Families Safe
COVID-19 made this year of providing care to children and families very different from prior years. As a result, operations of the organization had to adapt. With these new and unforeseen changes, SOS Illinois reacted rapidly to successfully navigate the new pandemic. SOS Illinois first responded quickly by ensuring children and families were safe, as well as provided appropriate personal protective equipment. From there, SOS Illinois had a strategic focus on safety, education, behavioral health, and diversity & inclusion at our Villages and sites.
Safety: As we reopened the administrative sites, we took precautionary measures by putting into place additional protocols. Read a special message from our CEO, Tim McCormick, on the safety measures we took.
Education: As Foster Parents took on the additional roles related to our children’s virtual education, we realized additional support was needed. With the expertise of Win Biernacki, video segments for Foster Parents helped answer questions regarding online education. We also developed an entirely new Education Department focused on supporting every age and level of learning at our Villages as e-learning continued. See how we celebrated our graduates virtually this year.
Behavioral Health: The level of uncertainty experienced by all of us was challenging and in many ways traumatic, which is all too often part of what occurs for children entering the foster care system. Group sessions via Zoom took place, and resources were being provided to help Foster Parents. Also, we participated in Mental Illness Awareness Week.
Diversity & Inclusion: As our Villages and services continue to care for children and families of diverse racial and ethics backgrounds, SOS Illinois made the commitment to do more to provide diversity and inclusion training, workshops, and education for our Foster Parents and staff. Additionally, a committed group if staff have led this effort throught the Racial Justice Committee, which will launch initiatives in 2021.
#1 Determination: The Opening of the Roosevelt Square Community Center
The Roosevelt Square Community Center, designed by internationally recognized architect Juan Moreno and construction led by Lendlease, was completed this year, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks due to construction being deemed an essential service. The Center is an 11,000 square-foot facility that features a 3,000 square-foot multipurpose room, Goya Learning Kitchen, learning annex, staff offices, playground, community garden, and more. Even with the uncertainty that COVID-19 presented, thanks to the tireless work of the construction teams, the Center was completed on time and on budget.
Most notable about this building, is that it is a first-of-its-kind for the City of Chicago. The Center is the first public building in the City allowed to be fully constructed from cross laminated timbers, as well as glulam columns and beams. Additionally, other sustainable and renewable energy sources like solar panels, energy efficient appliances, light fixtures, and a community garden, reflect the focus of building sustainable futures for our children, as well as our desire to help create a greener future for our City.
Launching this Center was a huge milestone for SOS Illinois and will be a lasting legacy as it continues to serve over 5,000 children and community members for years to come.
Special thank you, once again, to all of the donors, partners, and board members who helped to make the Roosevelt Square Community Center a reality. From philanthropy, to in-kind support, to countless hours of service, we are deeply grateful to you all. Learn more about the Center and our donors in our virtual tour.
Saying Goodbye to 2020 and Hello to the Next 30 Years
SOS Illinois has been proud to provide three decades of hope through the phenomenal individuals of staff, board members, volunteers, corporate partners, and donors working together tirelessly to support the important mission of caring for Illinois’ most vulnerable children and families. Thank you, and we look forward to the next 30 years.
Please view the original post here.
SOS Illinois Participates in Mental Illness Awareness Week 2020
During this time, we have learned our health is linked; and we have experienced a ripple effect. The health of one person, one neighborhood, one city, one state, one nation, has been tested. The same is true of our mental health. Our connectedness is forcing us to stay apart physically, but emotionally we need each other to get through this. By staying home we protect our world’s physical health, but by connecting through a phone call, zoom meeting, or social media we protect each other’s mental health. We are each other’s strength. Join SOS Illinois in support for Mental Illness Awareness Week – #MIAW.
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is raising awareness for mental health October 4-10 in an effort to ensure children in foster care have the opportunity to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. We place great importance on the mental health of the children in our care. That’s why SOS Illinois has a dedicated team of clinicians that provide trauma-informed therapeutic services for each of the children and families we serve.
Children in Foster Care are 60% More Likely to Struggle with a Mental Health Condition
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Foster Care American Initiative, mental and behavioral health is the “greatest unmet health need for children and teens in foster care.” The statistics for children in foster care in relation to mental health issues are alarming, especially considering the following statistics on youth mental health in the general population:
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
17.2% of the general population of high school students have “serious thoughts” of suicide, including 47.7% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14
High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
70.4% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental illness
For youth in foster care, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community, these statistics are increased.
Psychotropic Medications Prescribed Present Alarming Concerns
Medications such as mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety prescriptions, antipsychotics and stimulants are being prescribed to youth in foster care as a method of treatment for behavioral and mental health issues in children as young as 3 years of age.
Research has identified alarming concerns in relation to the administration of these psychotropic medications, including the fact that oftentimes multiple medications are used simultaneously from the onset of treatment.
The SOS Illinois Village model of care presents daily, regular opportunities for youth in foster care to obtain guidance, counseling and support that offers a stable environment centered around the healing of traumatic events in their lives so that they may break free from the limitations set by their mental health conditions and eliminate their dependency on psychotropic medications.
The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act Seeks to Closely Monitor Administration of Psychotropic Medications
This Act was brought into effect in 2011 and requires that State Child and Family Services Plans includes details of how emotional trauma associated with maltreatment for children in foster care is addressed, including details on how psychotropic medication usage is monitored.
You can read more about the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act here.
In addition to the monitoring of psychotropic medication usage, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008 requires that each state consult with pediatricians and additional experts in order to develop a plan for the coordination and oversight of medical and mental health services for children in foster care.
SOS Illinois Provides Opportunities for Healing and Longevity
Each child that enters our Villages has a dedicated support system from the very start. From our full-time Foster Parents to our on-site clinicians, therapists, mentors, case managers, support staff and more, the youth in our care are able to find safety and security in knowing they’re surrounded by a community that only wants the best for them.
These children are offered a real chance at renewing their sense of trust and hope. They’re also able to heal from the traumas of their past while gaining footing on steady ground in an effort to provide them the confidence, skills and resources they need in order to become responsible and caring adults.
SOS Illinois Supports the #MIAW Campaign
You are not alone #MIAW
The theme of this year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week is, “What People with Mental Illness Want You to Know.” Throughout the week, we will be raising the voices of those with lived experience to talk about some of the conditions and symptoms that are most misunderstood.
Mental Illness Awareness Week runs from October 4 – 10 and coincides with additional related events:
Tuesday Oct. 6: National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding
Thursday Oct. 8: National Depression Screening Day
Saturday Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day
Saturday Oct. 10: NAMI Walks National Day of Hope
You Are Not Alone
NAMI continues our year-long awareness campaign, You Are Not Alone, to feature the stories of people affected by mental illness to fight stigma, inspire others and educate the broader public. Now more than ever, the mental health community must come together and show that no one is ever really alone. No one should be without the information, support, connection and help they need.
How To Participate in #MIAW
There are many ways to get involved and remind people they are not alone by sharing stories about how connecting with someone during the health crisis has affected you, or what it means to have access to care by sharing through text, graphics, video or any other medium.
Follow SOS Illinois during the #MIAW Campaign
During Mental Illness Awareness Week, and the full month of October, SOS Illinois will be sharing resources, insights, and wisdom about caring for your own mental health, and supporting the mental health of others. You can find us on our social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Additionally, we will be sharing information about the ways that our Village Model of Care helps to support the mental health of youth in foster care, and how you can get involved to help get our communities happy and healthy.
View the original post here.
Welcoming All Families: SOS Illinois Supports Same-Sex Foster Parents
In February 2020, the United States Supreme Court agreed to decide if private foster care agencies in the U.S. can turn down LGBTQ foster parent applicants under religious objectification. Though a decision from SCOUTS has yet to be made, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois recognizes that at the heart of a healthy foster care family is dedication and compassionate support. It is our belief and practice that diverse single adults and couples provide loving, committed care to the children in our Villages, and offer an important perspective to our Village life. We are proud to welcome LGBTQ Foster Parents into the SOS Illinois family, and invite you to consider taking on this life-changing role.
History of LGBTQ Foster Parents in the U.S.
As SOS Illinois celebrates our 30th Anniversary, so too we celebrate the diverse Foster Parents who have joined our community, serving thousands of children across our three Villages in Chicago and Lockport, Illinois. The history of LGBTQ foster parents is, in some ways, parallel to our own, as we have openly welcomed LGBTQ candidates and staff for the last three decades.
Over the last ten years, many child welfare professionals and agencies alike have begun to welcome LGBTQ parents and families in the fold. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, coalitions and advocates began petitioning for state-wide and national recognition of not only same-sex marriages, but same-sex adoptions and foster care placements. Over a thirty-year span, a growing body of research on LGBTQ parents and their children clearly affirms the ability of LGBTQ individuals and same-sex couples to parent, alleviating myths and false narratives about the negative impact on children raised by LGBTQ parents.
In May 2013, the “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” was introduced to U.S. Congress, but was never enacted. This Act would have stipulated that any organization that facilitates the foster and adoptive care of children and has some form of funding from the federal government could not discriminate against prospective foster or adoptive parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. This stipulation also protected children being fostered or adopted from discrimination based sexual orientation and gender identity. However, as this bill would have only applied to organizations and agencies receiving federal funding, private institutions would still have been able to refuse prospective same-sex adults and couples.
Such push-and-pull of policy has not stopped LGBTQ adults from growing their families through foster care and adoption. By 2020, LGBTQ adults are fostering and adopting at rates higher per capita than those outside of the LGBTQ community. In fact, according to Life Long Adoptions, same-sex parents in the United States are four times more likely than different-sex parents to be raising an adopted or fostered child. Among couples with children under the age of 18 in the home, 13% of same-sex parents have an adopted child, compared to just 3% of different-sex parents.
As we continue to move forward with our own mission, we are committed to supporting and encouraging LGBTQ adults and couples to become part of the SOS Illinois community.
Why Support LGBTQ Foster Parents?
Aside from supporting the civic rights of LGBTQ adults, especially in regards to becoming parents, there are unique advantages to including LGBTQ foster parents within foster care communities.
There are more than 450,000 children and youth currently in foster care in the United States, many with diverse backgrounds, identities, and needs. As such, child welfare and foster care agencies are tasked to recruit an equally diverse pool of families to provide crucial support. In particular, LGBTQ foster parents may provide specialized support for LGBTQ children and teens, who are often overrepresented in the foster care population compared to their peers.
According to recent census research, between 7-27% of all youth in foster care identify with a sexual orientation other than “heterosexual,” creating increased needs for empathetic support.
Additionally, according to AdoptUSKids, “LGBTQ families bring particular strengths to parenting children in foster care, including an ability to identify with difficult feelings of isolation or a sense of being ‘different.’” For those within the foster care system, having a parent that understands what it means to be misunderstood by your peers, targeted for harassment, or under-supported by policy is a major benefit.
Becoming a Foster Parent at SOS Illinois
Joining the diverse Foster Parent community at SOS Illinois offers unique opportunities not available within a traditional foster care model.
One of the things that sets SOS Illinois apart from traditional foster care is full-time, professional Foster Parents. The SOS Illinois model places Foster Parents in single-family homes in one of its Villages, where up to six children ranging in age from infants to young adults call home.
For our Foster Parents, daily life involves taking care of each child’s diverse needs and schedules. During the COVID-19 health crisis, the dedication of our Foster Parents is even more remarkable, as they have taken on new roles as at-home teachers and tutors, coaches, and more. Applying to join our community today means that you can join this league of extraordinary single adults and couples committed to providing hope and healing to siblings in Illinois foster care. Learn more today on our Foster Parenting page to see if our inclusive community is right for you.
Please see the original post on SOS Illinois’ website.
SOS Children's Villages Illinois: The Connection Between Public Health Crises & Child Abuse
Please visit the original post on the SOS Children’s Villages of Illinois website.
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Over the last several month, our world has been facing a health crisis, with the United States not immune to the toll of COVID-19. While this is a significant concern for national and global health and economics, there is another epidemic that affects our communities; one that is exasterbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: child abuse. As April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is working to point out the connection between crisis moments like COVID-19 and an increased rate of child abuse in vulnerable communities. By creating important education around this issue, we are committed to keeping children safe through continued reporting, intervention, and healing services.
What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse presents itself in many forms including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect. There are several mportant statistics of child abuse to consider to understand the severity of this issue, including:
There are nearly 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States every year.
Reports show that approximately 5 children die every day from abuse and most of these children are under the age of 3.
It’s estimated that 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18 usually by a family member.
90% of child victims know the perpetrator in some way, and 68% are abused by a family member.
In many cases, children are too fearful to tell someone about the abuse they endure, so many cases of abuse and neglect are only reported because someone noticed a sign of abuse. This is why it is so important for communities to learn what the signs of abuse are so that we can prevent it together. Learn more about the signs of child abuse and how you can prevent it here.
How Does COVID-19 Impact Abuse Statistics?
There are a number of factors present during the current health crisis that can contribute to an increase in child abuse.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and specific states have been asked to maintain social distancing ordinances and remain at home as much as possible. While this is important so that the virus might not spread further, it is affecting other areas of life.
Many parents are experiencing heightened stress due to lack of work, food, resources, and more. By not being able to go to work, unemployment rates have increased, causing these types of financial insecurity. Further, as most schools are currently closed, many parents are required to help educate their children through virutal classes and e-assignments. This comes with increased concern for parents who are working from home full-time, have limited education or language skills, or other barriers. All of these element can cause significant amounts of stress. As stress is a main factor contributing to child abuse, we can draw a correlation between rising instances of both.
As children are remaining in the home with parents who have significantly increased stress levels, there is additional risk of stress being taken out on children through verbal or phyiscal abuse. Additionally, as child are spending most, if not all, of their time at home, reports of child abuse are declining. As educators, coaches, church officials, and community members are often the most common reporters of suspected abuse, those who typically file a report are not in contact with the children. This means that instances of abuse may be going unreported, not allowing for proper intervention to take place.
What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse During This Time
It’s a little difficult to report child abuse if you are not in contact with a child during this time of social distancing. However, we can all do our part to diminish the factors that contribute to child abuse. This includes helping a family that you know might be under more stress than usual, whether financially, physically, or mentally. There are practical actions that can make a major difference in helping to decrease stressors in the home of a loved one, peer, student, or community member. Some examples include:
Buying necessary groceries, cleaning supplies, toiletries, and resources for a neighbor with minimal income and dropping it off at their door
Checking in with neighbors, friends, and coworkers on the phone to see if they need any support
Connecting with students and families that you know are of increased risk during this time, such as those who with parents that are unemployed
Sending parents helpful tools for online learning, working from home, and indoor activities
Following up on any reported but unresolved suspected instances of abuse or neglect in the home
Seeking a wellness check on a neighbor, student, or community member who has been absent from virtual gatherings (such as online classroom sessions, virtual church services, and more)
For educators, making sure to follow all professional procedures is important to ensure that privacy and confidentialy is maintained.
Supporting the Children Abuse Prevention Efforts of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois
You can help to spread awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month in support of SOS Illinois by sharing our blogs, social media posts, and resources on your own social platforms and webpages. By doing so, you not only help to strengthen the awareness of SOS Illinois in the community, but can provide life-saving tools that decrease instances of abuse and neglect.
Feeling extra empowered to make a difference during Child Abuse Prevention Month and the current health crisis? Make a gift to SOS Illinois today to help sustain the programs and services offered to children in foster care and at-risk families, and join our digital connection efforts to get others involved.
SOS Illinois Revisits the History of Foster Care Awareness Month
Each May, the United States honors Foster Care Awareness Month to show support for children in foster care, foster parents, and biological families on their paths towards healing. During Foster Care Awareness Month, and throughout the year, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Illinois a better place for children in foster care. By acknowledging Foster Parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections, we change the narrative of the child welfare system. SOS Illinois is proud to join in Foster Care Awareness Month to celebrate all those who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in care.
History of Foster Care Awareness Month
The United States Department of Health and Human Services established the Children’s Bureau 107 years ago. Since then, the Bureau has worked to assist children in foster care, engage youth in decisions that affect their lives, and support Foster Parents, kinship caregivers, child welfare professionals, and others who help these children. As we raise awareness for children in foster care, SOS Illinois would like to share a brief history of Foster Care Awareness Month in the U.S.:
· Before the creation of the Children’s Bureau in 1912, child welfare and foster care were mainly in the hands of private and religious organizations.
· In 1919, the Children’s Bureau published Minimum Standards of Child Welfare, which affirmed the importance of keeping children in their own homes whenever possible and, when that was impossible, providing a “home life” with foster families.
· In 1923, the Children’s Bureau published Foster-Home Care for Dependent Children, an acknowledgment of the growing preference for foster family care over institutional care.
· During World War II, when more than 8,000 children were evacuated from Europe to the United States, the Children’s Bureau oversaw their temporary placement in U.S. foster homes.
· The Children’s Bureau published “The Rights of Foster Parents” in the May 1970 issue of its journal Children. That same year, the Children’s Bureau sponsored the National Conference of Foster Parents.
· In 1972, the Children’s Bureau sponsored—and President Nixon proclaimed—National Action for Foster Children Week to raise awareness of the needs of children in foster care and recruit more foster parents. The following year, Children published “The Bill of Rights for Foster Children.”
· In 1988, President Reagan issued the first Presidential proclamation that established May as National Foster Care Month.
In support of these efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families: Office of Regional Operations, its Child Welfare Information Gateway, and over 20 National Foster Care Partners created a 2020 Campaign Resource Guide: Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents.
Additionally, each year, the U.S. President makes a formal announcement through a Presidential proclamation to support National Foster Care Awareness Month. The White House acknowledges the profound contributions of the individuals and organizations supporting foster and kinship caregivers, and those of community providers and professionals who are helping children in foster care find safe and stable families. All are invited to observe this month by taking time to help children and youth in foster care, and to recognize the commitment of those who touch their lives, particularly celebrating their foster parents and other caregivers.
SOS Illinois Raises Awareness for Children in Foster Care Today
This year, help share the SOS Illinois mission with your co-workers, friends, families, and communities in a number of different ways. Join the conversation to support the children at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois—and all children in foster care. Get your copy of our 2020 Influencer Tool Kit, which includes TEN different opportunities to get involved, key dates, and plenty of information to share with your networks. These ten opportunities offer different levels of time commitment, which allows you to support in a way that works with your schedule.
Celebrate Children and Youth All Year Long
In addition to National Foster Care Month in May, SOS Illinois supports two other special initiative months: National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and National Adoption Month in November. At SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, we are committed to providing safe, stable, loving homes. We do this by keeping brothers and sisters together in an individual home in the care of a full-time, professional Foster Parent. In doing so, we lay the foundation for rebuilding trust, confidence, and hope for each child in our care. We invite you to support our programs and services. You can donate here to help us continue strengthening families and transforming lives. Together, we are building the future of foster care.
“All Roads Lead to Home”: SOS Illinois Featured on Kennedy Expressway’s Wintrust Mural Building
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is excited to announce the unveiling of “All Roads Lead to Home” as featured on the Wintrust Mural Building. This Mural, located at 1735 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, will be viewable from the Kennedy Expressway—one of the busiest roads in the state. SOS Illinois looks forward to welcoming our community members into our evolving journey as we gear up for Child Abuse Prevention Month and Foster Care Awareness Month.
All Roads Lead to Home Mural
About the Wintrust Mural
The Wintrust Mural, a three-sided building viewable from the Kennedy Expressway owned at operated by Wintrust Financial, stands as voice for nonprofits across the Chicagoland area. The mural, attracting thousands of city-bound commuters each day, sheds light on the missions of some of Illinois most reputable, dedicated, and impact-driven nonprofits committed to making a difference, building experiences, and strengthening our city.
SOS Illinois is honored to have been chosen to be featured on the mural from mid-March through mid-April 2020, creating the perfect introduction to SOS Illinois’ major awareness months: Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) and Foster Care Awareness Month (May).
About “All Roads Lead to Home”
The inspiration for SOS Illinois’ “All Roads Lead to Home” is based on a shared story that for many begins with young, vulnerable lives that have endured abuse or abandonment. The “All Roads Lead Home” mural focuses on bringing much needed awareness to the nearly 500,000 children in foster care in the U.S.
This mural looks to highlight SOS Illinois’ Village model of care, which is an innovative approach to traditional foster care. This model keeps brothers and sisters together in the care of a full-time, professional Foster Parent, living as a family in a single-family home and surrounded with an intentional community of support that includes onsite case management, therapeutic, academic, and recreational services. The Village lays the foundation for rebuilding trust, confidence, and hope for each child in our care. We do this so that children can go on to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
In addition to providing safe, stable, loving homes, we marshal all the resources needed to help children heal and achieve their permanency goals. Whether brothers and sisters are living on our Villages, or moving to their “forever homes,” SOS Illinois is there for every milestone.
Impact of the SOS Illinois Wintrust Mural
Whether zooming passed the Mural in a hurry or stuck in traffic with time to explore its detail, SOS Illinois is grateful for this opportunity for the mural to serve as a new type of “front door” to our organization over the next month.
It is our hope that viewers take away from the mural that there are organizations dedicated to building the future of foster care. As media stories so often focus on the heartbreak and missteps of the foster care system, and as policies are written to protect the most vulnerable lives, we are seeking for this mural to invite viewers into our evolving story; one of hope, persistence, and safety.
With this mural, SOS Illinois aims to show that regardless of the road that is traveled, we will continue to advocate for and support children and families in pursuit of a forever home. For us, we want viewers to recognize that “all roads lead to home” is not a catchphrase, but a promise that we have been keeping for thirty years.
Wintrust’s Longstanding Partnership with SOS Illinois
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is fortunate to have the long-time partnership of Wintrust, which began during the construction of the 14-homes of the third Village in Chicago’s Roosevelt Square neighborhood more than five years ago. In the years following, Wintrust has offered support at every level of the organization, especially as it relates to spreading awareness of SOS Illinois’ programs and services.
Edward J. Wehmer, Founder/President/CEO of Wintrust Financial Corporation, said, “SOS (Illinois) is a light under a bushel basket. My personal philosophy is you have to give kids a leg up. If you can give someone a leg up, you can change a just one life . . . you can’t get a better feeling than that.”
By supporting SOS Illinois, Wintrust has embodied the notion of giving a “leg up” by making a profound impact on the lives of children in Illinois foster care. With this help, we are strengthening families, stabilizing communities, and building the future of foster care.
Thank you, Wintrust, for once again supporting our children and families with this special feature on the mural!
Inspired by the Mural? Here is How You Can Help
Feeling impacted by the joyous art on the “All Roads Lead to Home” Wintrust mural and wanting to do more? You can help support the children and families we serve by getting involved inside and outside of our Villages and sites.
Throughout the next two months, we will be participating in Child Abuse Prevention Month and raising awareness during Foster Care Awareness Month with various Village events and activities. You can get involved by making a donation in honor of these awareness months, learning about becoming a Foster Parent or Child Welfare Specialist, or getting your copy of our 2020 Influencer Tool Kit that includes ten different opportunities to get involved in spreading awareness of our mission. For information on becoming an Influencer, contact Tina Cisarik at tcisarik@sosillinois.org.
Please view the original post on SOS Illinois’ blog here.