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In this issue: Foster Care Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, New Foster Care Director,
5K Thank You's, Upcoming Events, Jobs at Shelter |
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MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH |
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May is National Foster Care Month, and this year’s theme is Relative and Kin Connections: Keeping Families Strong. Did you know Shelter’s Foster Care Program works to reunite families whenever it’s in the youth’s best interest and that our foster families may be traditional or home-of-relative? How many of these Facts & Stats do you know? - 407,000 children and youth are in foster care and 34 percent were placed with relatives or kin.
- The term kin encompasses both relatives (those related by blood or marriage) and fictive kin (those unrelated but have such a close emotional relationship that they are considered family to children and youth).
- When children cannot remain safely in their home, placement with relatives and kin —both formally through the child welfare system and informally through family arrangements—can increase stability, reduce trauma, and help children maintain a sense of family, belonging, and identity.
- Investing in culturally appropriate services and supports for relative and kin caregivers may help reinforce a child’s cultural identity and traditions.
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Shelter's New Foster Care Director Aims to Strengthen Community Ties |
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Shelter welcomes our new Foster Care Director, Christina Gaytan! Christina comes to us with an extensive background in child welfare services. She received her master's degree in social work from Dominican University in 2019 and earned her license in clinical social work in 2022. Christina has more than ten years of experience in child welfare, providing intact family services, and recently serving as family Intact Supervisor for Lake County. Christina, who resides in Chicago, said she was drawn to Shelter as our missions are aligned to end the cycle of child abuse by providing comprehensive services to individuals and families. When asked what she was looking forward to at Shelter, Christina said she had a "long list of goals in this position to help develop stronger community connections, stability to children, and move forward with clear communication and expectations with families and community." In addition, Christina knows about Shelter's commitment to diversity and looks forward to contributing her identity as a bi-lingual member of the LGBTQ+ community with a Mexican heritage. We are thrilled to have someone with Christina's abilities and commitment to children and families on our team and whose contagious laughter can brighten anyone's day! |
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With your support, we raised nearly $10,000 for child abuse prevention. No one person or organization can stop child abuse alone. Only by working together can we build a brighter future for our community's children. |
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 | In one week! Join us for an engaging cooking demonstration & delicious three-course dinner that celebrates the season. Monday, May 23 at 6:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago |
| |  | Join us for a great day of golf on an award winning course and help raise critical funds for children and families in crisis or suffering from trauma. Golf fees include lunch, dinner, and an open bar. Sponsorship opportunities are available. |
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 | Score great seats now to this private, invitation-only concert. Bunker Hill Charities returns 25% of all tickets and sponsorships sold through Shelter back to us! |
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Shelter is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade on June 5 at 11 am. Click here for information about the Pinta Pride Project and the parade. Hear Molly Pinta speak at our 2022 Home is Where the Heart is Gala (at the 1:00 hour mark). |
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 | Bobbi from The Gardens at Arlington Heights for donating Easter baskets to children in our Emergency Group Homes. |
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 | Hannah and the Key Club at Deerfield High School for donating paper goods and beautiful cards for kids in our care. |
| Thank you Barrington Junior Women's Club for your support of Shelter's new Clinical Program. Thank you to all who have purchased clothing and gift cards or made cash donations to Shelter's Spring Clothing Drive. |
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 | IICF for choosing Shelter as a beneficiary for your trivia night charity event. Two of our caseworkers attended the event. |
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We seek team members who reflect our values of dedication, collaboration, positive attitude, inclusion, and passion. Click here to view open positions. |
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