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Open August Connections for the latest Shelter news
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In this issue:What Back-to-School Means for Children at our Emergency Shelters, Healthy Families Grads Are Off to Kindergarten, Team Bonding, Leave a Legacy of Hope, Learn About Becoming an Emergency Foster Parent, Your Work Can Change a Life
AT OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS Back to School Means Back to Being a Kid
For most kids, back-to-school means new classes, familiar faces, and getting back into a routine. For young people staying at our Emergency Shelters, it can mean something even more: a chance to feel like a kid again.
Children and teens may come to us after experiencing family conflict, abuse, neglect, or rejection. In the midst of uncertainty, everyday routines can provide a powerful sense of stability.
“Our young people thrive on structure and familiarity,” says Stacy Page, supervisor at Shelter’s Jennings Emergency Shelter for girls. “Knowing they’re going to get up at 5:30 a.m., do their hair, catch the bus, and make the first bell at 7:30 a.m. is comforting to them. They know they’re going to see their friends, go to dance club or a pep rally.”
Most youth staying at our emergency shelters continue attending their home schools, allowing them to maintain friendships and stay connected to their communities. That consistency matters. When they return after school, they know our staff will be there to listen, encourage, and be a consistent presence.
“They want someone to care about them, advocate for them, and keep them safe,” says Mario Bailey, supervisor at our Buckholz Emergency Shelter for boys.
For children living away from home, these moments show them that they are more than the circumstances that brought them to Shelter.
As Mario puts it, “They just want to be kids. Hang out with friends after school, be in sports, even go to Great America.”
Your support helps make that possible. Together, we give children in crisis the safety, stability, and hope to look forward to what comes next.
WATCH: Stacy and Mario talk about school, stability, trust and what people often misunderstand about youth living in emergency shelters.
Subscribe to our You Tube Channel and stay connected to the work you help make possible!
Five Years Later, Four Families Ready for Kindergarten
On July 30, Shelter’s Healthy Families program marked a joyful Summer Celebration & Graduation at Kids Empire in Palatine. Staff honored four children, along with their parents, who completed the program and are heading to kindergarten this fall.
For five years, these families received free, one-on-one home visits from Shelter staff who provided compassionate guidance, parenting resources, and practical tools to strengthen family bonds. Healthy Families partners with young parents facing significant challenges, helping them build the skills and confidence to be the best parents they can be. Do you know a young parent who could benefit from extra support?
On August 7, Shelter staff traded their emails and to-do lists for good food, games, and a beautiful day at Camelot Park. Our annual Staff Appreciation Picnic was a chance to relax, enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the people who make our work possible. Strong teams need time to connect and caring for our community starts with caring for one another. We’re grateful for every member of the Shelter team and all they do each day to protect children, strengthen families, and transform communities.
Leave a Legacy of Hope
AUGUST IS NATIONAL MAKE-A-WILL MONTH. Put your wishes in writing and create a lasting legacy of support for children and families who are experiencing trauma or facing crisis.
With the help of an attorney, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to Shelter Youth & Family Services as part of your estate plan. You can also name Shelter as a beneficiary of eligible accounts or assets.
A planned gift can truly change the trajectory of a child's life and help them reach their full potential. For information, contact Kristen Daniels, Chief Development Officer.
Partners Making a Difference
Thanks to the invaluable support of partner organizations this past month, more youth and families in our community found safety, stability, and hope.
Chief Development Officer Kristen Daniels had the opportunity to volunteer at Rotary Fest on Friday, July 17, connecting with community members and accepting a generous grant from the Elk Grove Rotary Club that celebrates a partnership built on shared values and community impact.
Emergency Foster Parent Q & A Thursday, August 27 6:00-7:30 p.m. (in person or virtually) Moretti's Restaurant in Bedford Park
Learn about becoming an Emergency Foster parent with Shelter. We especially encourage bilingual Spanish-speaking families, educators, healthcare professionals, first responders, and individuals with parenting or special needs experience to attend. Register
Make a Difference Where It Matters Most
Join Shelter’s team and help young women who have survived human trafficking heal, rebuild, and discover their full potential. We’re hiring a Supervisor, Therapist, and Youth Care Workers to provide compassionate support, stability, and hope as residents take meaningful steps toward healing and independence. If you are looking for work that makes a lasting difference, we invite you to join us in creating a safe place where young women can thrive.
Shelter Youth & Family Services 3227 N. Wilke Rd., Suite 150 Arlington Heights, IL 60004 24-Hour Referral Line: 847.255.8060 www.shelter-inc.org
Shelter Youth & Family Services is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgroundsand identities.
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