Fall Newsletter | 2023
In this Issue:
Agency Happenings Feature Highlight: Get to Know Our New CEO, Patrick Phelan Volunteer Spotlight: Jeanine and Mike Procksch Get Involved at CYFS!
A Note from us Happy Fall! In this issue, not only do we provide you with some agency updates that illustrate our commitment to helping children and families heal, cope, and thrive, we are excited to feature some important people who help us achieve solutions!
AGENCYhappenings New Scholarship Fund Unveiled in Honor of Former CEO Trish Fox
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e are excited to announce The Patricia Fox Scholarship Fund has been created to honor former CEO of CYFS, Trish Fox. CYFS Board President Julie Hohulin stated, “It’s difficult to adequately acknowledge the enormous impact that Trish made during her tenure at CYFS. This scholarship fund, initiated by her staff as a way to thank her, is just one of the many ways Trish’s legacy will continue to be felt by the CYFS community in the years to come.” The scholarship fund is eligible for any current or previous young adults served by The Center for Youth and Family Solutions to pay for fees associated with advancing their career and tied to pursuing a degree, vocational or technical training. Want to donate to the Patricia Fox Scholarship fund? Simply go to: www.cyfsolutions.org/services/donation/ or contact our Director of Marketing and Development, Celeste Matheson at cmatheson@cyfsolutions.org or (309) 323-6619. You may also scan the QR code with your phone to the right to go to our donate page.
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CYFS Partners with LifeLine Pilots in Achieving Solutions
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YFS was grateful to partner with LifeLine Pilots — a non-profit organization whose mission is to coordinate free air transportation, through volunteer pilots, for passengers with medical and humanitarian needs far from home. LifeLine Pilots coordinated a flight for one of our youth in care with a complex medical condition, and the 5-hour drive was not possible. Pilot Ron Fox volunteered to take the flight, turning the long drive into a quick trip for the child, and two of our Child Welfare team members. They were met at the destination airport with balloons, signs, and lots of smiles. We are grateful for partners like LifeLine Pilots, who envision a world where every person has equal access to transportation for healthcare.
CYFS Achieves Full COA Re-Accreditation
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arlier this fall, CYFS went through the process of becoming reaccredited with the Council on Accreditation (COA). COA’s mission is to partner with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards. We are excited to announce we remain fully accredited. As Assistant Director Amy Dralle stated, “CYFS is a continuous learning agency, so the accreditation process aligns well with who we are and how we approach our work. COA accreditation allows us to check our current practice with best practice standards to continually improve the services we provide to our clients. To know our work has been evaluated by an outside entity, and meets high quality standards, is further confirmation that our staff are living our mission with excellence.”
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Feature Spotlight: Get to Know Our New CEO, Patrick Phelan
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YFS is thrilled to introduce Patrick Phelan, who was appointed to serve as the agency’s CEO, upon Trish Fox’s retirement. For the past 10 years, Patrick served as CEO for Sinnissippi Centers, a community-based behavioral health center serving northern Illinois. Along with holding an MBA, Patrick has an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). He began his human services career in the Peoria area serving as a residential counselor, treatment specialist, and therapist. He then moved into more leadership roles including service integration coordination, clinical coordinator as well as assuming a vice-president role for operations and behavioral health. These professional experiences set the stage well for him to take on executive leadership as CEO for Sinnissippi Centers. We wanted to give you an opportunity to get to know Patrick and what his goals are for CYFS through this Q & A.
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What is it about the mission of CYFS that you are most drawn to? Approximately 25 years ago, as a young clinician, I decided that I really wanted to work with kids and families. They have continued to be my passion ever since. Over the last few years, I have drifted a bit further from that passion, however, I knew that something was missing for me, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Talking with the Leadership and Board at CYFS was like a revelation, and I realized that I truly needed to be of service to young people. In addition, my personal mission has always been to help those in the greatest need, who have often been forsaken by others and who society as a whole often forgets are wonderful and valuable humans who need love and support. CYFS exists to provide compassionate support to those who need it most, and I am dedicated to ensuring that mission continues.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the social services industry today, and how do you see CYFS overcoming them?
What makes you the most excited about your new role as CEO at The Center for Youth and Family Solutions?
One of the biggest challenges facing CYFS and all similar organizations is the ability to hire and retain staff. The demand is growing while the workforce is shrinking. There are some practical short-term solutions to this challenge, and they all relate to making CYFS the employer of choice for those dedicated to serving the families in our community. However, the longterm solutions for the field as a whole are much more complex. We need to ensure that from an early age, even middle school, that kids understand the opportunities in fields like social work or psychology. Then we have to provide a comfortable living for them, even those with the greatest passion. If we are going to prioritize this work as a society, then we need to hear our young people saying, “When I grow up I want to be a social worker.”
I am thrilled to be focused on kids and families, as I see the potential for the greatest impact on families and our communities through this work. It is so gratifying to hear the stories of young people who maintain or find permanent homes, who have improved relationships in their family, and whose lives have been saved by the work that we do. I have also watched CYFS from the organization’s inception, and as it grew to serve so many families. I am so proud to be a part of this organization, a leader and innovator in the service of families.
We must also address attitudes, stigma and prejudices that impact how our society views those we serve. We have to recognize that trauma, illness, and generational poverty all play significant roles in our behavior and the outcomes for our kids. We must continue to invest in our communities in such a way that will prevent our neighbors from living in poverty, experiencing trauma, and suffering from mental health issues and addictions that are treatable. CYFS exists to provide compassionate support to those who need it most, and I am dedicated to ensuring that mission continues. At CYFS, while we continue to pursue our goals of helping those kids and families most in need, we also need to pursue advocacy on the factors that lead to these societal challenges, and through the work we do inspire others to get involved and to care the way that we do. CYFS Solutions | Fall 2023 | Page 5
Volunteer spotlight: Jeanine and Mike Procksch
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YFS volunteers bring immense value and their unwavering commitment to our mission allows us to have an even greater impact in helping children and families heal, cope, and thrive. Meet Jeanine and Mike Procksch, who came up with the idea for CYFS to host a wine-tasting fundraiser. Because of their involvement, CYFS has had two successful wine tasting events where proceeds went directly to support our programs. Check out more information on why and how the Procksch’s became involved: Q: What inspired you to become involved with CYFS? A: We were invited to a fundraising event for CYFS, Blues for Cause. There we learned more about the life-giving services CYFS provides to families and decided we wanted to get involved. Q: What do you appreciate the most about the mission of CYFS? A: The CYFS Adoption program is near and dear to our hearts as our nephew came into our family through their program in 2015. In addition, we have been involved with youth organizations through our church and other Christian outreach programs around Peoria for about 20 years. Through these experiences, we understand that it takes a village to support and grow children into productive and happy adults. CYFS helps fill gaps and are truly supportive to area families in need. Q: What advice would you give someone interested in volunteering, but are concerned they do not have enough time to commit? A: When you get involved in something you feel enthusiastic about, it doesn’t seem like work! We got involved in fundraising for CYFS because we wanted to support the organization (and we love wine!). When you are a part of a volunteer group effort working on a project, you realize it isn’t going to be that big of a time commitment because there are others playing a part. Many hands make light work!
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Get Involved at CYFS! Feeling inspired to get involved with CYFS? Our volunteers have a true spirit of generosity and bring hope to those in need. Check out the many ways you could be part of our mission!
Become a Friendly Visitor: Improve the quality of life for an isolated senior through regularly scheduled visits, running errands, taking walks, and enjoying friendship!
Coordinate a Volunteer Group: Get a group of friends together and help us with a variety of projects that support our programs!
Mentor a Child:
Help us Fundraise:
Be a role model for a child who has experienced significant trauma by introducing them to a new hobby, helping them with their reading, or simply playing board games!
Join our Development Committee and help us behind the scenes with our fundraising activities and efforts!
Be a Secret Santa: Help us ensure every child in our care receives a present during the holidays!
Share your gifts, gain experience, and give back to your community! Contact our Director of Marketing and Development Celeste Matheson at (309) 323-6619 or cmatheson@cyfsolutions.org today to get involved at CYFS!
CYFS Solutions | Fall 2023 | Page 7
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