Jewish Child & Family Service

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“IT TAKES MORE THAN A VILLAGE:
The Foster Care Crisis in Illinois”

Foster Parent Recruitment Information Meeting

At any given time, there are as many as 3000 to 4000 children and adolescents not living with their biological families in Illinois. They may be living in a friend’s basement, or even in the park, homeless and fearful of returning home. They may have been beaten, sexually abused or simply neglected. Until such time as their situation becomes known to a neighbor, teacher, church member or a concerned family member, they are at risk and vulnerable to the bad behavior of peers or even adult predators. Once brought to the attention of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), these children will become part of the substitute care system until such time that they can safely return home, if that is a reasonable option.
At the present time, there are approximately 20,000 children in foster care in the state of Illinois. Many of them have significant issues of emotional attachment and loss resulting from childhood trauma. 50% of them have chronic medical problems; 30% are victims of various forms of abuse and neglect, leaving emotional as well as physical scars. The level of trauma and behavioral dysfunction will determine if a child will be placed in a group home or in foster care, the latter being deemed more appropriate for a variety of clinical and financial reasons.


-ILLINOIS NEEDS QUALIFIED, LICENSED FOSTER PARENTS

-JCFS IS RECRUITING INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES FOR THIS CHALLENGING COMMITMENT


You are invited to attend an INFORMATION MEETING that will explain everything you need to know about foster parenting, licensing standards and working with the JCFS Social Service Team.


Thank you for your interest.


Marc Bermann, Recruiter
Jewish Child and Family Services
Foster Care Department
216 W. Jackson Suite 800
Chicago, Ill. 60606

direct line: 312-673-2755
e-mail: marcbermann@jcfs.org



Jewish Child and Family Services is a full service, non-sectarian contractor for the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services