Our Blog

Shelter Receives Cook County Behavioral Health Grant

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

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

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

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.

Not Feeling So Merry or Jolly?

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 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.

Is Back to School Back to Normal?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…

In Memoriam: Pat Cinquini

In Memoriam: Pat Cinquini

It is with immense sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of our esteemed colleagues, Pat Cinquini. Pat was not only an invaluable member of our team but also a dear friend and a source of inspiration to so many of us. Her dedication, passion and commitment to excellence were truly remarkable.

Shelter, Inc. Welcomes New Development Director

Shelter, Inc. Welcomes New Development Director

Simone Wheeler brings over fifteen years of fund development and philanthropic innovation, primarily in human services and child welfare. Simone most recently served as VP Development at The Cradle, a recognized leader in infant adoption, where she successfully developed and implemented a fundraising plan to drive sustainable growth.

Make a Difference Today!

Get InvolvedDonate →