Solutions Newsletter Summer 2023

Summer Newsletter | 2023

In this Issue:

Agency Happenings Program Highlight: The Heart of the Matter — Why Our Foster Parents Foster Donor Spotlight: Sam and Tracy Heer — Giving Hope Through the Guardian Angel Impact Fund

A Note from us Happy Summer! In this issue, we feature some of the ways CYFS is helping children and families heal from life-changing trauma, abuse and neglect, and other life challenges using a family-centered, inclusive, traumaresponsive, and strength-based approach as we achieve solutions together!

AGENCYhappenings

CYFS Enhances Behavioral Health Services for Children

T

his past spring, CYFS was chosen to provide a new family-focused, strengths-based care coordination program for youth with complex behavioral health needs called Pathways. The Care Coordination program is for children who live in McLean, Livingston, and DeWitt counties, and provides them with intensive mental health services to support and help them succeed at home, in school, and in their communities. The goal of the program is to improve family functioning, reduce caregiver stress, provide stability for at-risk youth in the home, improve school attendance, and reduce hospitalization.

When Kelly was referred to our program due to intense mental health episodes and family crisis, her CYFS Care Coordinator collaborated closely with community services to help build support in the home, school, and community. As a result, Kelly’s behavior improved, and they developed better routines and coping skills as a family. Since participating in the Pathways Program, Kelly has not only successfully averted any further crisis events, but her family has found a renewed sense of stability and well-being. We are excited to be offering these intensive services for youth and their families out of our Bloomington location and seeing the positive impact we are making using our family-centered and strength-based approach!

Page 2 | CYFS Solutions | Summer 2023

CYFS Launches Foster Parent Mentorship Program

K •

•

•

nowing someone who has walked the walk is a great support for CYFS foster parents.

Our Foster Parent Mentor program was piloted in the Peoria area first and we learned:

Foster parents who have access to a mentor are more likely to continue to provide foster care, even when they have had a challenging time.

A foster mentor can provide a foster family with real time support that promotes stability for the child and family.

Foster parents who have a mentor are more likely to reach out for help earlier when they need it.

This year, the CYFS Foster Parent Mentor Program moved from this small pilot to an integrated part of our foster care program.

We are hiring additional foster parent mentors and look forward to expanding this opportunity for additional support to the growing number of families who share their families to provide essential care for children who need them.

Achieving Solutions for Families Affected by Substance Use

I

n collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems, CYFS is part of the Eastern Illinois Intact Family Recovery Pilot program and is making a significant impact with families where one or both parents need substance use interventions. The pilot program is intended to increase the well-being, permanency and safety of children affected by substance use and improve family recovery and stability. This family-centered program’s goal is to get parents into substance use treatment and support them during treatment until they are in full recovery. Funded by Administration for Children and Families, the pilot serves families in Bloomington, Champaign, and Danville. To date, 59 families have participated in the program, and we will continue to provide updates on their success!

CYFS Solutions | Summer 2023 | Page 3

Program Spotlight: The Heart of the Matter — Why Our Foster Parents Foster

H

erneidra Tellery has always opened her heart to children. Whether as a Sunday school teacher, a tutor, or a mentor, she has provided that extra love, nurturing, and support that all children need to thrive. When she became a foster parent for CYFS five years ago, she knew right away it would be a great fit. “I’ve spent my life surrounded by children, planting seeds of wisdom that they could take with them into their adult lives, so becoming a foster parent was the natural next progression.” What makes Herneidra even more special is the difference she makes in the lives of teens. “I quickly realized I had a calling to help support the older children in foster care — around the ages of 14 and up. They often are the ones that feel they have been left behind, and being able to help support them as they reach independence has been so rewarding,” shares Tellery.

The last few foster children living with Herneidra were part of our Transitional Foster Home program.

This special service was developed to assist youth in care who have significant mental health, education, or physical health needs and needed a stable

Page 4 | CYFS Solutions | Summer 2023

placement so they could fully engage in the services they needed. The program is designed to be shortterm — and typically each youth is living with in the foster home for less than 60 days. Herneidra, along with our other Transitional Foster Parents, are specially trained and supported by a cross disciplinary team of CYFS staff to meet the unique needs of each youth while we are recruiting and developing a longer-term solution with a relative or foster family.

For Herneidra, being part of the Transitional Foster Home program has been especially fulfilling. “The last youth in care I had as part of the Transitional program had some significant mental health challenges and was expelled from high school and had to complete his work from home. He didn’t see the value of graduating and so my goal was to plant seeds each day about how obtaining his high school diploma would be the best gift he could give himself.

I am proud to say that before he transitioned to his long-term placement, he did successfully graduate,” stated Tellery.

2 3 1

You must be married and living as a stay at home parent to foster.

Not true! Foster Parents licensed by CYFS are as diverse as all families – some are single parents, some are married, some are blended families, etc. and all are valued and make a huge difference in the life of a child.

Many of our foster parents work and use childcare just like everyone else!

4

Part of any teenagers role is to be challenging!

That’s the nature of being a teen. Teens in foster care who have experienced trauma simply need stability and care to work through that trauma.

Some biological parents have experienced as much trauma as their child in care. They are people like everyone else. They make mistakes. But just like everyone else, they learn and change if given the opportunity.

Make a Difference for Life!

Become a Foster Parent

If you have ever considered being a foster parent, we understand you likely have lot of questions. Our team is just a phone call or email away! Contact Jesse Rodriguez-Hammond at Jrodriguez-hammond@cyfsolutions.org or by calling him at 815.223.4007.

CYFS Solutions | Summer 2023 | Page 5

Donor spotlight: Sam and Tracy Heer — Giving Hope Through the Guardian Angel Impact Fund

L

ike many families, the Heers have spent countless hours supporting their children as they played a variety of sports in Morton, Illinois. That is when they first became aware of The Center for Youth and Family Solutions’ Guardian Angel Residential Program for Youth. The program serves young boys who have experienced significant abuse or neglect, and are exhibiting emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges that require 24-hour services to be provided in a safe, supportive living environment. The goal is to provide comprehensive intensive treatment services which will allow the youth to return to family, a relative family member, a foster family in the community, or independent living.

When the Heers’ son was in junior high, he had a fellow teammate and friend who was living at Guardian Angel. The Heers took note of the fact that many notes would be sent home asking team members to bring money for things like the team uniform or for a meal on the way to an away game, and they began to think of a way they could help this young boy and other boys a part of Guardian Angel by supporting their activity fees and other incidentals when they participated in sports or other extra-curricular activities.

They contacted the Morton Community Foundation and established an endowment fund that would generate annual grant money to help fund incidental sports/activity expenses for the youth at Guardian Angel. Making the first tax-deductible donation to the Morton Community Foundation to establish the fund, they ensured there would be a permanent source of funding for generations to come.

We are so grateful to Sam and Tracy Heer for believing so strongly in the mission of our Guardian Angel Residential program and for stepping up to enhance the lives of these young boys. If you too would like to help grow this endowment, you can make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund by scanning the code to the left with your phone or going to mortoncommunityfoundation. networkforgood.com/projects/140975-guardian-angel-impact-fund or by mailing a check to Morton Community Foundation 135 S First Avenue, Morton IL 61550. You can make the check out to MCF with a note on the memo line saying, “Guardian Angel Impact Fund.”

Page 6 | CYFS Solutions | Summer 2023

and

presents

Scan the code above to purchase tickets!

AUGUST 18TH 6:00 - 9:00 COUNTRY CLUB OF PEORIA

Relax

and spend a late summer evening enjoying friends, food, and great wines. BLANCHARD FAMILY WINES is dedicated to the creation of limited production, hand-crafted, artisan wines, sourced from the top vineyards in the SONOMA VALLEY.

$125 per person

join

us for an evening of food, fun, and wine tasting with Peoria native and Co-founder of Blanchard Family Wines – MARK BLANCHARD. Benefiting The Center for Youth and Family Solutions local programs and services

$850 per table of 8

2610 W. Richwoods Blvd Peoria, IL 61604

Are You Needing A Vacation Getaway?

You could win a $3,000 Alexander Travel gift voucher by purchasing our Wine Down with CYFS raffle tickets for $20! Four other lucky people could win the following: 2nd: $750 Ticketmaster gift card 3rd: $450 Blanchard wine membership 4th: $300 Amazon gift card 5th: $250 Omaha Steaks gift card The raffle drawing will occur on Friday, August 18th at the Wine Down with CYFS event, but you don’t have to be present to win! Call or email Crystal Bentley at CYFS at 309-323-6601 or email her at cbentley@cyfsolutions. org to purchase your raffle ticket!