Connections, July 2020

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In this issue: Shelter Joins Child Welfare Coalition, Healthy Families Program News, Possible State Budget Cuts, Backpack Drive, Wine Tasting and more.

"Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you're choking on it — until you let the sun in."
-- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Shelter has joined 51 other child welfare agencies in Illinois to form the Child Welfare Coalition under the umbrella of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, and address diversity and equity in the system. This comes at a time when Governor Pritzker's Cabinet and the Illinois General Assembly are focusing on racial equity at many levels as never before.

It has long been recognized that there is a disproportionate number of Black children in the child welfare system and with fewer positive outcomes. While systemic racism plays a part in the inequity, it is only one facet of the complex problems of an under-resourced system.

The Child Welfare Coalition will be penetrating below the surface and advocating for changes in housing, mental health care, and education as well as a racial bias that form the roots of inequality for children and families we serve. "To bring about real change," says Shelter's executive director Carina Santa Maria, "takes collaboration and a willingness to have discussions outside of people's comfort zones...

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Do You Know a New Parent that Needs Support?

Shelter's Healthy Families program provides FREE one-on-one support for eligible families starting pre-natally through age five to:

Promote infant and child health
Foster educational development and school readiness
Help prevent child abuse and neglect

Now more than ever, virtual home visiting is an essential service for families as they navigate social isolation, economic uncertainty, the challenge of balancing work without childcare, and other unique and heightened stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. To refer a family, please contact: Lynn Puckelwartz, Director, Healthy Families Program at Lpuckelwartz@shelter-inc.org or 847-595-0235

Illinois' budget was on the road to recovery before
COVID-19 hit. Now what can we expect?

The multi-faceted tentacles of COVID-19 are still on the move to put a stranglehold on our society in ever-increasing ways. Illinois is bracing to discover just how tight that stranglehold will be on social services, a leading component in the strength of our communities.

Illinois has had its share of financial crises, most recently the budget impasse that held us hostage, with no balanced budget between fiscal years 2016 – 2018 when 75% of social service agencies were forced to close programs. Illinois was on the road to recovery when COVID-19 struck us down again. There are three significant differences between then and now. Back then...

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ANNUAL BACKPACK DRIVE

School may look a little different this fall, but one thing remains the same...kids in Shelter's programs still need school supplies to get the year off to a good start. Please help us provide new backpacks and school supply gift cards for 100 children and young adults ages preschool through college. Purchase a backpack from a store of your choice and a $35 ($50 for high school/college) gift card from Target or Walmart. Or if you prefer, you may make a cash contribution.

Contact zmcgrath@shelter-inc.org to arrange for contact-less drop off. Contributions must be received by August 7

Click here to sign up or make a contribution.

HELP NEEDED Many of our families are currently struggling to make ends meet due to the temporary loss of jobs or decreased hours of work. There is an immediate need for basic necessities such as food, toilet paper, and disinfectant wipes. You can help by purchasing gift cards to Target, Walmart, or Amazon and sending them directly to our email at shelter@shelter-inc..org. They will either be forwarded to the families who need them or we will purchase and deliver items. Or you may purchase items directly from our AmazonSmile Charity List (below).