Discover a Unique Way to Serve Children in Foster Care!

Learn More About Becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer Spring Training Class Begins May 4!     Thursday, April 28, 2016 6:00 pm CASA of McHenry County Office  70 N. Williams St., Suite B, Crystal Lake     Stop in to learn more about CASA and our mission to advocate for abused and neglected children. Share this email with someone you think would make a great CASA volunteer.   Learn how you can get involved and make a difference for a child in McHenry County. CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children from ages 0 -21 years old. There is a child out there who needs your voice.     Can't make it to the information session? Give the office a call at 779-994-4398 or email ellen@casamchenrycounty.org.   Please visit www.casamchenrycounty.org   *Attendance does not constitute a further committment. **Attendance is not required to join training. For a volunteer application, visit www.casamchenrycounty.org

Free Workshop for Caregivers and Children!

 

 

 

April 30: Keeping our Children Safe

Let's Talk About Body Safety

What? Participate in this FREE workshop!This is part of a series of workshops for caregivers and children (4-8 years old) geared towards empowering our community in promoting safety of our children against child sexual abuse.  Licensed therapists will facilitate separate groups for caregivers and children. Join us in our effort to help caregivers and children maintain safety by speaking about this important topic! Where? Hoffman Estates Village Hall Hennessey Room 1900 Hassell Road Hoffman Estates IL When? Saturday, April 30, 2016 12:00-1:00pm     RSVP Register now at cachelps.org!      Sponsored by: The Children's Advocacy Center of North & Northwest Cook County Core Psychotherapy Center, Ltd. Safe from the Start   Core Psychotherapy Center | 847-240-5080 | www.corepsychcenter.com

FREE Book! "Passport Through Darkness"

 


 
In celebration of Make Way Partner's 13th birthday, they are making available a FREE Kindle edition of Passport Through Darkness, written by Kimberly Smith, Co-founder and President of MWP.  What an incredible journey they have been on!



"In essence, the book is not about Sudan, human trafficking, missions or the like. At heart, Passport through Darkness is about the journey of discovering the reason you were born and the unfolding journey of finding the right next steps. My greatest joy from the book is that many people have told me that sharing my story helped them to launch their own. The free offer is only good today and tomorrow so act fast!"  - Kimberly Smith

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first presidential proclamation in 1983. The month is a time to recognize the importance of individuals, businesses and communities working together to help prevent child abuse and promote the healing of abused children and their families.

During the month of April, The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) plans to bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month through community events. We hope you will join them!

• Youth Art Show – April 11th
  Young artists are encouraged to submit their artwork with a “safety” theme for this art contest. Click here to learn more.
  

• CAC Pinwheel Planting – April 15th
  Come to the CAC main office in Hoffman Estates between 8:00am and 10:00am to plant a pinwheel in the Garden of Support.  Click here to RSVP!
  

• Hope, Heal, Grow Gala – April 30th
  CAC will host the Hope, Heal, Grow Gala at Medinah Country Club. Buy your ticket now!
  

• Body Safety Workshop - April 30th
  During this FREE workshop, licensed therapists will talk to both parents and children about body safety. To register, click here!
  

• Pinwheels for Prevention – Campaign running all April
  The Women’s Hearts for Healing Group is proud to announce its Pinwheel for Prevention campaign. Originally started by Prevent Child Abuse America, pinwheel gardens are an impactful way to help raise awareness about child abuse and are an established symbol for child abuse prevention. Pinwheels represent the precious, carefree, and fun childhood which every child is entitled to. Women’s Hearts for Healing invite you to plant a pinwheel garden at your home or business.  Click here to purchase your pinwheel garden today!
  

Safe Families Volunteer Training!

Safe Families for Children and Willow Creek South Barrington Present:

The Greater Chicago Volunteer Training Day

Saturday, May 14th, 2016

Prospective Safe Families, you're invited to a live, accelerated Comprehensive Training Session. 

Offered as an alternative to online training, this event is designed to equip you to welcome a child into your home (Host Family) or support a host or placing parent (Family Friend) and move you through the training process efficiently. The live Comprehensive Training Session includes everything you need to become a certified Safe Family Volunteer—all in one place. 

• Start or submit your application
• Get fingerprints taken for the background check
• Complete your training hours
• Meet like-minded families who will support you

 

REGISTER HERE

 

The training will be in two parts.  The first two hours will be for all volunteers. The second two hours will be for Host Families.  So, anyone interested in being a Family Friend only needs to stay for the first two hours.  Host Families need to stay for the whole training.

 

Doors open at 8:30 AM for those who need to start an application, schedule a home study, start a background check, or ask one-on-one questions.  The training session begins at 9:00 AM sharp.  The training will be held in Room B206.  Please enter the B building where the Chapel is located.

A light breakfast and lunch is included. 

Free Parking is available.  

Reserve your spot today! We look forward to seeing you on May 14th to equip and encourage you in your journey.

If you have further questions please contact Sarah Mohr, 773-653-2222, or smohr@safefamilies.net

Have questions about Safe Families Volunteer Training - Willow Creek South Barrington? Contact Safe Families for Children

A "Lost" Daughter Speaks and All of China Listens

I went to China to find the birth mother who left me on a street corner. Instead, I became the focus of a nation’s buried pain. - By Jenna Cook

Foreignpolicy.com
March 30, 2016

WUHAN, China — A woman in her mid-40s cradled a scrap of blue cloth checkered with red. “Have you seen this before?” she asked. “Do you recognize this pattern?” I held it up to the light and noticed the cotton edges had frayed and tattered over the years. “We already had three girls,” she explained. “We needed a boy. We were too poor. I saved up money for the cloth, and I spent a month hand-sewing you a little baby suit and matching hat. After 50 days, I abandoned you by a bridge.” But she used the Chinese word for “lost” instead of “abandoned.” “I dressed you in the new clothes for good luck. I kept this scrap for 20 years to remember you. My little baby, you must have seen this cloth before! You must have the matching clothes?” No, I shook my head. I had never seen it. Her face fell and she began to sob.

This was the summer of 2012, in the oppressively humid, industrial city of Wuhan, China. I grew up in Massachusetts and had returned to Wuhan with my adoptive mother in search of my birth parents. I felt I owed it to my birth family to try to locate them; but most of all, I owed it to myself. I never expected that the search would attract an outpouring of media attention; bring forward dozens of families, all claiming that I was their lost daughter; and uncover a nationwide pain, forged over decades, with which the country is still reckoning.

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Come Learn How to Play!

Join us all year long for Empowered to Connect workshops, every 4th Wednesday of

the month! 

These workshops are video-driven, and facilitated by an adoption professional from Bethany Christian Services.

This month we will present:

Playful Interaction!

Wednesday, April 27th, 2016
7:30 - 8:45 PM
Willow Creek Community Church
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL 60010
Room: Guest Central (off the main lobby)

 

Through play, children learn to develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. Playful Interaction, featuring child development experts, outlines the importance of play and provides practical examples of playful interaction from The Institute of Child Development’s Hope Connection Summer Camp.

***Registration for this event is not required. This workshop is offered FREE of charge.

***Training Credit Hours are offered for licensed foster parents.   Questions?  E-mail vcministry127@gmail.com    Childcare for infants through pre-K is available, and Awana is available for Kindergarten through Grade 5 at Midweek for Kids.