Our Blog
Shelter, Inc. Joins Fourth Annual “Mental Health Action Day”
Shelter, Inc. announced their participation, in partnership with more than 2,300 leading brands, nonprofits and cultural leaders globally, in the fourth-annual Mental Health Action Day, to be held on Thursday, May 16.
Shelter Receives Cook County Behavioral Health Grant
The Cook County Department of Public Health has announced Shelter is one of 18 recipients out of 140 applicants to receive a Behavioral Health Initiative Grant (BHI) to support behavioral health services for Cook County’s most vulnerable communities. The BHI program...
Changing Lanes: A New Chapter for Diana Morris
Diana is now returning to her role as the Group Home Coordinator and looking forward to working once again directly with youths. While she says she will miss HR, she is excited to be working with the teams at the Jennings and Buckholz emergency homes.
Black History Month Award
This month, Shelter is joining the nation in recognizing Black History Month and the diversity that has made us the agency we are. Adding to the celebration is having one of our own staff being recognized for his outstanding achievements in mentoring young people.
Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Test Your Knowledge
National Human Trafficking Awareness Month is recognized annually in the United States in January to bring attention and opposition to human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
According to the White House, the people most vulnerable to human trafficking in the U.S. include youth in the welfare or juvenile justice system, runaway and homeless youth, undocumented immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and people with substance use disorder.
Let It Be Us is Partnering with Shelter Inc. to Recruit Homes for the Emergency Foster Care Program.
The Emergency Foster Care Program aims to provide children with somewhere to go temporarily, on an emergency basis, so they receive the special kind of care and safe environment that a well-supported foster home can provide while they stabilize from the disruption they’ve experienced.
Not Feeling So Merry or Jolly?
If the holidays don’t make you feel warm and fuzzy and fill you with cheer, you aren’t alone! Most of us, a whopping 88% of people, feel stressed by the holidays, and 64% of people with mental health challenges feel worse.
Children Who Witness Domestic Violence May Suffer Long-term Difficulties
Children and youth who have been exposed to domestic violence are more likely than their peers to experience a range of difficulties. These challenges may include behavioral and emotional struggles that impact their social relationships with children and adults, cognitive problems that interfere with skill development and school performance, and long-term physical and mental health problems.
Shelter’s Clinical Director Receives Crain’s Notable Black Leaders and Executives Award
Congratulations to Shelter’s Clinical Director Gilbert Allen, who, with his brother Dr. Michael Allen, are among those who received Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Black Leaders and Executives Award of 2022.
Shelter Partners With Let It Be Us for Emergency Foster Care Program
Shelter is proud to announce a $2,000,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to partner with Let It Be Us for a new Emergency Foster Care Program.
Is Back to School Back to Normal?
More than two years since the pandemic began, students are again heading back to the classroom, and we all want to breathe a sigh of relief that things are back to normal. But today’s “normal” isn’t the same as it was pre-COVID
Dial 988: Mental Health Hotline Launches July 16
Help is only 3 numbers away. As of Saturday, July 16, the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline will go into effect, routing calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255.) Trained counselors will take anonymous calls and texts to the hotline 24/7.
Dealing With Tragedies
With modern technology that brings us news instantly, we are constantly being hit with a tsunami of trauma and violence. Mass shootings, terrorism, natural disasters, and global warming seem to lurk everywhere.
Celebrating Pride Month
Colorful parades, joyous picnics, and inspiring festivals are becoming entrenched in June around the world to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The tradition began as a commemoration of when members of the queer community, in 1969, fought back against the violence of anti-gay police at the Stonewall Inn in New York. It signaled a new resistance and sense of pride by all who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and questioning.
Shelter Responds to Shooting
Yesterday, 19 elementary school children and two teachers were shot dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by a lone 18-year-old with an assault rifle.
For many of the students in the school for 2nd – 4th grade that morning, the end of the school year and the beginning of a carefree summer were on their minds. For 19 of them, summer would never come.
Keeping Families Strong
May is National Foster Care Month, and this year’s theme is Relative and Kin Connections: Keeping Families Strong. Did you know Shelter’s Foster Care Program works to reunite families whenever it’s in the youth’s best interest and that our foster families may be traditional or home-of-relative?
In Remembrance: What We Have Learned in the Last Three Years
April 15 marks the third anniversary of six-year-old AJ Freund’s death from child abuse. Though most of us remember his name, there have been so many others since including six-year-olds Damari Perry and infants Ameer and Johntavis Newell. Have we learned anything since then?
Women’s History Month: Honoring Women of Ukraine
Since 1987, Women’s History Month has been celebrated in March to recognize the contribution of women in history, culture, and society. Ironically, this year’s theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” Right now, no women are making history more than those in Ukraine…
Social Workers’ Month: Behind the Scenes at Shelter
Chicago’s own Jane Adams who won the Nobel Prize in 1931, Dorothy Height won the Congressional Gold Medal, Wendy Sherman was awarded the National Security Medal…all social workers of whom we are proud. But we are equally proud of Shelter’s social workers, who may not get the same fame or glory, but day after day, impact the lives of children…
Black History Month: A Name to Remember
No Black history in America or history of children’s advocacy can be complete without the name of Marian Wright Edelman. Her impact on the welfare of all children has been profound…
Your Role In Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Some people are surprised, due to misinformation, to learn Shelter serves a growing number of children and youth who have been victims of human trafficking, but victims come from everywhere. By knowing the facts and sharing them with others, YOU MAY SAVE A LIFE….
Death of a Child Hauntingly Familiar
On December 29, 2021, six-year-old Damari Perry of North Chicago was forced by a relative to stand in a cold shower as a punishment, for an extended period, when he began to vomit. Though he became unresponsive, and his condition critical, no one called 911, and Damari died…
HOLIDAY CHEER FOR YOU!
We wish you the happiest of holidays from all of us at Shelter and thank you for making the season memorable for Shelter’s children, youths, and families!
Between COVID and the staff shortages we share with the country, and the ups and downs of social services, it hasn’t been an easy year. Yet, because of you and other members of our Shelter family, we have accomplished so much….
Meet the Student Who Keeps Kids on Track
Before completing his freshman year in college, Noah Mayo was making plans for this summer. He would continue his track workouts for his body, take two summer classes for his brain, but as he says, he “wanted to do something to help others and feed his soul.”
Noah researched where his talents could be applied and heard from his grandmother about Shelter and the Boys’ Group Home.
Shelter’s Pride is Showing!
Children and adolescents who identify as LGBTQ+, just like all children, enter the child welfare system because their biological families cannot provide safe and nurturing homes. However, LGBTQ+ youths are overrepresented in the system.
Multiple studies show between 25 – 43% of LGBTQ+ youth are homeless because of their family’s non-acceptance of their sexual orientation or gender identity…
Shelter, Inc. Breaks Ground on New Home for Youth Survivors of Human Trafficking
Shelter, Inc. is proud to announce the groundbreaking on Illinois’ first DCFS-licensed home for CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children), survivors, the first of its kind, with completion expected in 2025.
With Your Support, We Accomplished So Much in Child Welfare Last Year!
As the fiscal year 2023-2024 fiscal year endeds, we reflected on our growth, excellence accomplishments, and community connections. Together we have been able to help children and families break the cycle of abuse and neglect and realize their goals and dreams.
Back-to-School: Supporting Mental Health
Academic pressure, social expectations and different environments can trigger a rise in anxiety. Schools are more aware than ever of mental health needs for students, yet there are still things you can do at home to support a strong start to the school year for you and your child’s mental health.
Daily Herald, July 17, 2024
Housing for girls and young women who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking is expected to open next year in Palatine.
Shelter, Inc. Awarded Cook County Behavioral Health Grant
Shelter, Inc. is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a grant from Cook County Health’s Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County Initiative.
Celebrating Pride Month: Reflections from a Child of the 60’s
There were several times when my parents had to have crucial but uncomfortable conversations with me – I was a very curious kid, but there was a lot happening, so naturally I had questions about it. The Stonewall Riots sparked the gay rights activism that we celebrate today. Everyone should have the ability to live their lives as we see fit, isn’t that what this country was supposed to be founded upon?
Shelter, Inc. Welcomes New Annual Fund Manager
Kayla Torres is a dedicated and results-driven development professional with a proven track record in fundraising, donor engagement and community outreach. Kayla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is proficient in various technical and data management systems.
Shelter, Inc. Receives National Accreditation
Shelter, Inc. has achieved national accreditation through COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current. Shelter, Inc. is a child welfare agency that works to end the cycle of child abuse and neglect through comprehensive and community-based services for children and families at risk and in need.