To support trauma-informed care (TIC) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) practices & spaces within each classroom to support all areas of children's learning and ensure that students regain all the ground lost during the height of the pandemic.
To infuse Social Emotional Learning into existing parent programming at all Chicago Public Schools in the Little Village neighborhood, serving 200 low-income children and their families.
To improve trauma-informed and social emotional learning skills for children at our Mitzi Freidheim Englewood Child & Family Center.
For peer-facilitated, community-based programs that encourage Social Emotional Learning competencies in parents so that they support children's learning, self-regulation and value development. This program will occur at 5 sites serving 300 low-income children living in South Chicago, Englewood, South Shore, Auburn Gresham and Austin.
To expand the SEL parent program called the Child Parent Academy (CPA) to 22 sites.
To develop a framework that builds the capacity of staff at 7+ sites in the Chicago Metropolitan Area to increase parent engagement around Social Emoitonal Learning.
To support healing from racial trauma by supporting 12 to 18 year-olds to take actionable steps to resolve issues in their community and introduce youth to skills and strategies to approach people in positions of powers such as elected representatives at the local, city and state levels.
Additional training for early childhood teachers to integrate new technology systems into the classroom setting for students who are continuing remote learning.
To expand programs infused with Social Emotional Learning to parent engagement programs at all 11 sites serving 750 middle and high school students and 250 parents and caregivers.
To create a Parent SEL curriculum, training model, and professional development materials. This program will take place at four sites and will serve more than 350 children and 400 parents (2018-2022). COVID-19 emergency relief grant to provide access to child care for essential workers and first responders (2020).
To expand its evidence-based SEL program model provided to the families living in its shelters for women and their children in Auburn Gresham, Englewood and North Lawndale. This program will reach approximately 200 children and parents (2018-2022). COVID-19 emergency relief grant to provide shelter and food for homeless families with children (2020).
To expand its partnership with Chicago Public Schools to provide free SEL-based support, training and ongoing feedback to parents and caregivers of children who have severe behavioral and emotional problems at an additional 25 schools, reaching more than 3,000 children and parents
To to formally incorporate SEL into its existing mental health programs, including developing and implementing the new Family‐Centered Coaching model to provide a holistic and collaborative approach to working with families to identify needs and set goals for children who have been victims of sexual abuse (2019-2022). COVID-19 emergency relief grant to provide support services to abused children.
To support kindergarten readiness through assessment tools and strategies. Serving 50 children, 96% of whom are low-income.
For implementing Attachment, Self-Regulation & Competency (ARC) Framework into classrooms at 3 agencies serving 300 children on the west side of Chicago (2015) and to strengthen peer reflective processes at the Early Learning academy (2017).
For Head Start educational tablet learning program serving 80 low-income children in Evanston.
To overhaul youth and family support programs by infusing Social Emotional Learning in to all aspects of youth services. Serving 180 refugee children and 140 refugee parents and caregivers.
To expand the EPIC program (Empowering Parents,Inspiring Child) program tailored for pregnant and parenting teens, which serves as a support for parents while also teaching SEL skills and the importance of reading with children.
To build the capacity of Child and Family Connection to provide infants, toddlers, and their caregivers who have experienced trauma with relationship-based, trauma-informed services to support the child’s recovery and promote the child’s growth and development.
To provide trauma-informed support and systems within the juvenile justice community so that vulnerable populations receive trauma-informed representation and advocacy. Partners include the Office of Cook County Public Guardian (OPG) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Cook and Lake County (2014-2016). COVID-19 emergency relief grant to provide low-income families with low to no cost mental health services for children (2020).
To incorporate and strengthen a trauma-informed approach at 3 child-serving agencies in Quincy, Illinois.
To provide strong trauma-informed training and support at 3 agencies in the Roseland community including Impact Family Center and Phalanx Family Services, KLEO, and Intertwine Counseling.
For infant mental health programs serving 30 children in North Center community.
To adapt the Healing Hurt People trauma program to the emergency room setting at Comer and Stroger Hospitals.
For the state-wide public awareness campaign on childhood trauma "Look Through Their Eyes" in partnership with Voices for Illinois Children.
To provide trauma-informed training at partner agencies Apna Ghar in Uptown, Habilitative Systems Inc. at multiple sites on the west side , and the ARK of St. Sabina in Englewood.
“FEEL Fit +” project served 150 children in Rogers Park. This unique program led by teen girls consists of experiential and interactive nutrition and fitness-focused programming including cooking, gardening and other engaging activities.
“Promoting Health Through Better Nutritional Choices” project, served 60 children in the south suburb of Chicago Heights and includes nutrition, cooking and physical fitness classes, parent engagement and an assessment of the food offered through its Food Pantry.