Our Blog
YOU Be the Judge!
For the majority of voters, the judicial races, aka all those unfamiliar names at the bottom of the ballot, get either a default vote of “yes,” “no,” or they skip over them, saying, “I don’t know anything about them…”
Where Good News Is Happening
Our collective mental health is taking a hit every day as the world seems to head further into despair. We are bombarded with bad news and negativity from every direction, and our new normal has become a defensive position in a climate of crisis we believe is beyond our control. We need an infusion of good news, and it’s happening at Shelter…
Safe Social Media For Kids
During social isolation, many kids and their families have attributed social media for keeping them sane, and connectivity is an undeniable benefit of today’s technology. With 95% of teens having access to a smartphone, they can communicate with friends and family, be entertained, learn about news as it happens, and express their creativity all with the tips of their fingers. But the downside of social media is always lurking just beneath the surface…
Voting Barriers Broken in Illinois
On May 21, 2020, in consideration of the pandemic, the Illinois House approved expanding voting by mail in the November election funded by federal pandemic relief funds, thus tearing down one more barrier to residents exercising their right to vote. If you voted in the past two years or if you were registered to vote in the 2020 primary, you’ll automatically receive a vote-by-mail application. If not, you need only request one…
Shelter’s Work Recognized
Earning accreditation is one of the ways in which Shelter chooses to ensure the highest standards and best practices for those we serve and deliver full transparency of our fiscal management and results-oriented outcomes.
Shelter Tackles Hard Issues
Shelter has joined 51 other child welfare agencies in Illinois to form the Child Welfare Coalition under the umbrella of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, and address diversity and equity in the system. This comes at a time when Governor Pritzker’s Cabinet and the Illinois General Assembly are focusing on racial equity at many levels as never before.a
What’s Happening Behind Closed Doors? Your Help is Needed
Because 62% of child abuse is perpetrated by a member of a child’s own family, since the Illinois stay-at-home order in March, many children are in crisis. Normally, mandated reporters, neighbors, and friends would report suspected abuse, but times aren’t normal, and no one can see behind closed doors. Calls to the DCFS hotline have dropped dramatically, with only the most critical cases being exposed.
Reports of Child Abuse Plummet by 60%
Illinois’ chronically overburdened Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS} report cases of child abuse are down by 60%. For the uninitiated, this may be interpreted as the stay at home lockdown has had a positive effect. In reality, it underscores many youths are in greater danger by being isolated with their families.
News From The Trenches: Emergency Group Homes
Sometimes it takes a crisis to discover the real power of dedication and teamwork. The COVID-19 crisis has shown a spotlight on our two emergency group homes, Jennings Home for Girls and the Boys’ Group Home, revealing what can be accomplished when we all work together…