CYFS Earns Highest Tier in Human Rights Campaign’s All Children All Families Report
Foster Parent Spotlight: Tisha Hess
Summer is in full swing, and with it comes opportunities for growth, healing, and reconnection. In this issue, we highlight the many ways CYFS is transforming lives through our family-centered, inclusive, trauma-responsive, and strength-based approach —our secret ingredients to making a lasting impact!
Whether it’s advocating for inclusivity, amplifying the voices of those we serve, or launching innovative programs that support mental well-being, we remain committed to helping children, individuals, and families overcome life’s challenges.
AGENCY
A Note happenings from us
CYFS Earns Highest Tier in Human Rights Campaign’s All Children All Families Report
CYFS is honored to be recognized in the Human Rights Campaign All Children All Families 2025 Change-Makers Report, receiving the prestigious Innovative Inclusion Tier. This designation is awarded to child welfare agencies that go beyond foundational LGBTQ+ inclusivity, demonstrating leadership in policy advocacy, organizational partnerships, and community impact.
Out of 157 participating organizations nationwide, CYFS is one of just 38 agencies to receive this highest tier. This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to serving all individuals with dignity and respect. We will continue working toward a future where every child, family, and individual feels seen, supported, and safe.
Foster Care Liability Insurance Crisis: A Growing Threat to Child Welfare
Illinois child welfare agencies are facing a major challenge as liability insurance premiums soar, despite few or no claims. Driven by national abuse case settlements, insurers are leaving the market, making it hard for foster care providers to get coverage. During this past spring legislative session, lawmakers led by Rep. Suzanne Ness and groups like CYFS pushed legislation to offer temporary immunity and create a long-term solution task force. However, no agreement was reached in the spring session.
Efforts are expected to continue in the fall. “The bottom line is our purpose is to protect kids from abuse and neglect, and if we don’t arrive at a solution, it’s the children who will suffer from further disruption. We are fully committed to finding solutions as we continue to protect our youth in care,” stated CYFS CEO, Patrick Phelan.
Happy reading, and happy summer!
Amplifying the Voice of the Client: Our Mission in Action
At CYFS, we believe that listening to those we serve is key to providing impactful, effective support. Through our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program, we gather feedback to strengthen services and enhance positive outcomes.
Over the past year, our CQI team collected more than 1,100 client surveys, with 91% of respondents—both youth and adults—reporting that they “feel supported by the staff at CYFS.”
Here’s what some of our clients have shared:
“I was able to leave an abusive relationship, secure housing for my children, and find a job I love. I’ve even made some wonderful friendships.”
“My therapist is the most compassionate, kind, and caring person I know. I can trust them completely.”
“CYFS supported me when I entered foster care at 16. Now, I’m in college pursuing a degree in Psychology, with hopes of earning my master’s and giving back the way CYFS did for me.”
Others praised their Family Workers for their patience and unwavering support:
“She treats our kids with love and kindness. She also recognizes that I’m a work in progress and helps me create a better environment for my family.”
“My worker has stuck by me long-term, and her understanding has made a significant impact on my life and my children’s well-being.”
These powerful voices remind us why we do what we do. By continuously gathering and acting on feedback, we refine our services and develop new ways to reach and uplift more families.
CYFS Launches Senior Mental Health Support Program
Recognizing the growing need for accessible mental health resources for seniors, CYFS Behavioral Health Program is excited to introduce a Senior Mental Health Support Program—made possible through funding from the McLean County Health Department though a grant assisting vulnerable populations.
“The geriatric population is one of the fastest growing and most underserved populations in the McLean County area. Individuals age 55+ face difficult challenges in aging, with limited community resources including mental health counseling and psychoeducational opportunities. We saw this gap in services and decided we wanted to a part of that solution,” stated Stephanie Barisch, CYFS Director of Therapeutic Services.
Designed to bridge gaps in senior care, this free mental health service provides:
• In-home individual counseling focuses on healthy living, cognitive support, and wellness strategies.
• Family counseling to navigate challenges in caregiving and changing family dynamics.
• Group therapy sessions tailored for individuals transitioning to assisted living.
By bringing specialized mental health care directly to adults aged 55 or older living in McLean County, the goal is to foster emotional well-being, resilience, and a dedicated support network for older adults. Our Behavioral Health leadership is also in the process of identifying other potential sources of funding to expand these vital services to those seniors in other counties served by CYFS.
CYFS Enhances Family Visitation Opportunities
Our Family Visitation Program believes in restoring family connections, one visit at a time. The program recently launched to help develop or strengthen the relationship between children and their parents and geared toward non child welfare involved families such as families involved in divorce, separation or parents struggling with family challenges. Using evidence-based Incredible Years Parent Training, our coaches assist parents in understanding the developmental, physical, social, emotional, and educational needs of their children. Coaches then empower parents to use this knowledge to develop and strengthen their parent/ child relationships. The supervised visits are more than just monitoring the interactions between parent and child (ren). It also includes a safety visit, individually tailored visits that include developing skills like emotional regulation and conflict resolution, as well as trauma-informed coaching with parents as the visit occurs.
Referrals accepted come from the courts, attorneys, behavioral health providers, guardian ad litems, and parents. This service is provided in McLean, Livingston, Logan, Ford, and Woodford counties (11th Judicial Circuit) and the first consultation is free. If you would like more information about this service, contact Tom Vu at Tvu@cyfsolutions.org or by calling him at (309) 829-6307.
Foster Parent Spotlight Tisha Hess
ecoming a foster parent is more than a act — it’s a life-changing journey filled with purpose, growth, and the chance to make a lasting impact. It takes empathy, resilience, and a willingness to walk alongside a child through some of life’s most challenging moments.
for the children placed in our home. Seeing that, feeling that, and experiencing that never leaves you even into adulthood.
Q: What do you believe are the biggest misconceptions of being a foster parent?
We know that making the decision to foster isn’t easy—and it shouldn’t be. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring potential foster parents are fully informed and supported every step of the way. One of the most powerful ways to understand what fostering truly means is to hear directly from those who’ve lived it.
We recently sat down with one of our dedicated foster parents, Tisha Hess, to talk about her experiences and answer some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from prospective foster families. Whether you’re considering fostering yourself or supporting someone who is, Tisha’s insights offer a heartfelt, honest glimpse into what it really means to open your home—and your heart— to a child in need.
Here’s a snapshot of our conversation.
Q: What inspired you to become a foster parent?
A: I was inspired to become a foster parent because my biological parents were foster parents and adoptive parents. Growing up in a foster household, I was able to understand the needs, the challenges, and the rewards associated with caring
A: A misconception about being a foster parent is the notion you must have a traditional family set-up to be foster parent. People who are single, who work full-time, or who have varied life experiences make phenomenal foster parents and often bring a unique skill set and mind set to the fostering environment.
Q: What do you say when someone says they would love to foster, but they are afraid they will become too emotionally attached?
A: Emotional attachment is part of the beauty of fostering. Yes, it’s exceedingly difficult when a child leaves, but it’s counterbalanced by a depth of love and trust that cannot be described.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a foster parent?
A: The most rewarding part of being a foster parent is being a part of something so much bigger than yourself. You can experience highs, lows, happiness, sadness, frustration, and accomplishment all in one day. When you experience the myriads of emotions in one day,
that’s truly living life while still positively impacting another life at the same time.
Q: If you were to give someone who is considering becoming a foster parent some advice, what would it be?
A: Some advice I would give those considering foster parenting is to be real! Be real with yourself, be real with your family, be real with your support system, and be real with those around you when determining if fostering is right for you. If you do become a foster parent, it’s important to ask for help when it gets hard, ask for clarification if it gets confusing, and say something if something doesn’t seem right.
Q: If someone isn’t interested in becoming a foster parent, but would like to support those that do, what are the best ways to do this?
A: Foster parenting is not for everyone. A great strength is recognizing that fostering may not
be for you, but your heart still wants to help in other ways. People can help in many ways. It is very helpful if you listen to our stories, if you help spread the positive word about what fostering involves, and if you educate yourself about fostering to help diffuse myths.
Have you been contemplating becoming a foster parent or know someone who has been discerning this life-changing journey? Reach out to Liz Sekowski for a low pressure, supportive conversation at 309- 820- 7616 or by email at ESekowski@cyfsolutions.org
