October Pathways

October was a dynamic, fruitful, and enjoyable month, filled with a whirlwind of activity across all of our programs. From adoptions to celebrating our dedicated ELC fathers, continuing our after-school programming, and hosting a health equity panel with our international team, it was a month brimming with excitement. On top of all these endeavors, our Philanthropy team was tirelessly engaged in planning for the Adopt A Family initiative while our Junior Board is gearing up for an upcoming fundraiser.

We deeply appreciate all our invaluable partnerships, and, this month, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Optiv and Impact for Good for their generous support. If your team is interested in joining us on this incredible journey to uplift the lives of children and families, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email. Let’s start a conversation and explore the possibilities together.

Peruse the highlights of this eventful month below, and stay tuned for a glimpse of what lies ahead.

Mark Your Calendar 

Check out these fun events we have coming up, and join us! 

Wednesday, November 15: Foster Parent Orientation
Friday, November 17: Thrive Family Night
Monday-Wednesday, November 20-22: Thrive Fall Mini Camps
Wednesday, November 22: Foster Parent Training
*Thursday, December 7: Play With Purpose – Virtual Trivia Fundraiser

CLICK HERE for more event details and volunteer opportunities

* Events open to the public (most of our events are community-based)

A Season of Hope
The winter and holiday season, a time of warmth and joy for many, becomes an even more trying period for the children and families we support. Their critical needs intensify during this season, making your generosity all the more vital. Your contribution can be the defining factor between a season filled with despair and one overflowing with hope.

With our Hope for the Holidays Campaign, we earnestly seek to raise $25,000 urgently needed funds to secure the health, safety, education, and essential resources these children and families need not only to survive but to thrive.

CLICK HERE to support our kids and families with your donation.

Adopt A Family is Back!
It’s that time of year again! Adopt A Family is back in action! The lists have been gathered, and we are busy matching donor families with CPA families.

Adopting Angels
There is still time for you to adopt a family.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

Join the Elf Team
We are seeking elf volunteers to help with gift sorting on Dec. 2nd or 3rd.

CLICK HERE for more elf details

Play With Purpose – Virtual Trivia
Join the fun with Children’s Place Association’s Junior Board! Get ready to test your knowledge and Play With Purpose at our Online Trivia Night on December 7th at 6 pm.

Tickets are $25. Pick up yours today!

CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets.

Meet A CPA Team Member

Check below and see what our amazing teams have been up to over the last month.

Month in Review
Child Thrive is in full swing at KIPP One Academy, following a successful pre-and afterschool mini camp. We’re thrilled to have held our first Family Night of the school year on October 27th as we decorated pumpkins to celebrate the beautiful fall season.

Join Our Team
Exciting News! We’re looking for new team members! Check out our three open positions: Program Operation Manager, Lead Out of School Time Instructor, and Youth Coordinator.

Join us and be part of our incredible journey!

CLICK HERE to learn more.

Kudos
Child Thrive extends a heartfelt applause to Tim Young, our dedicated Out of School Time Program Manager. His exceptional efforts in developing and leading our programming at KIPP One Academy have made a significant impact.

Sports Physicals & Pediatric Consultations
Is your child feeling under the weather? From common colds to COVID-19 concerns, we’ve got you covered! Take advantage of our complimentary school-age pediatric consultations offered in collaboration with Rush and Dr. Margi. Every Wednesday (unless Dr. Margi specifies otherwise), from 1–5 pm, we’re available to provide expert guidance and support. Don’t miss out; schedule your appointment today by emailing Diana.

Month in ReviewIt has been a thrilling month filled with the dynamic recruitment and enrollment of children and families, who are on the verge of being fully enrolled. Our commitment to empowering parents is evident through the informative training sessions held during our parent meetings. Furthermore, we’ve successfully elected representatives for our Policy Council in both the Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) programs, emphasizing our dedication to valuing our families’ voices.

Our dedicated staff and team have collaborated effectively to ensure we not only achieved but surpassed our 45th program day, meeting all compliance requirements and program milestones with exceptional proficiency.

Bring Your Dad to School Day
We hosted “Bring Your Dad to School Day” and welcomed 22 dads for a memorable morning. Father figures and students enjoyed quality time together! Kids gave their dads a classroom tour, shared favorite activities, and met teachers. Then, everyone gathered for a continental breakfast to connect with other dads and celebrate father-child bonds. Our team also provided coloring pages for students to draw pictures of themselves and their dads.

CLICK HERE to see more pictures.

Kudos
Nicole Walsh, our exceptional Lead Family Support Specialist, has consistently exceeded expectations by ensuring full program enrollment while addressing the unique needs of each family. She schedules additional time for goal-oriented discussions, shares detailed information and support plans with our staff, and remains accessible to all. Her dedication extends to both the Center-Based and Home-Based Teams, and we deeply value her unwavering dedication, passion, and hard work. Thank you, Nicole.

Month in Review
We’ve been quite busy getting ready for Adopt-A-Family! In addition to that, we’ve been diligently processing adoption paperwork for multiple cases and welcoming a few new special needs intake cases.

Implementation Plan
We’re actively crafting our agency’s 2024 Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan and are looking for invaluable feedback from our Foster parents, staff, and other stakeholders as we refine our approach to foster parent rights and responsibilities.

Kudos
Hats off to Foster Care Case Manager Almeta Rollins! Her outstanding efforts resulted in a remarkable achievement – reuniting one of her foster care youth clients with their father. Her dedication and expertise made this heartwarming reunion possible.

Reunification

Congrats to birth father Tywan Peals! His unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have brought his daughter, who has special-needs, Jamiah Peals, back into his loving care. His hard work, dedication, and commitment made this rare reunification to a father possible.

Month In Review
This month, our team was hard at work! We’ve been preparing for the health equity panel with our community-based partners, and we have also been building support for our largest annual fundraiser – Place the Hope, all while collaborating with our dedicated teams on the ground in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Tanzania.

Health Equity Panel:
Our global team led a profound dialogue on health equity, uniting partners from across the globe. Topics ranged from combating hatred and discrimination to addressing ongoing challenges in their respective nations. Even in the face of daunting circumstances, they explored ways to progress.

CLICK HERE to watch the panel discussion.

Place the Hope
Ready to make a difference? Join our Place the Hope campaign, running until the year’s end, and provide crucial support to children in our overseas programs.

To learn more, EMAIL US, or visit our campaign page to get started!

Partnerships & Collaborations
Our team consistently explores avenues to engage local corporations in funding and volunteer opportunities with the aim of creating a network of child champions.

Team Building
Fifty awesome Optiv’s Chicago sales team members recently came together for an incredible team-building adventure! They crafted adorable stuffed animals, attached heartwarming cards, and generously donated books for our little ones.

Companies like Optiv help us support our families, and we are eternally grateful. And a big shoutout to Impact 4 Good for uniting us with this fantastic group.

CLICK HERE to see more pictures.

Sip, Eat, & ShopOur fantastic supporters, Joie & Wendi Group from At Properties | Christie’s International Real Estate, are hosting a delightful Sip, Eat & Shop event at the Denim Lounge on November 8th. A portion of the proceeds will be generously donated to Children’s Place.

Their ongoing commitment, including the Pickleball Tournament for the past three years, exemplifies their unwavering support for CPA.

Major Company & Foundation Supporters
Abbot, Abbvie, Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine C/O Michael Howard, Impact 4 Good C/O Dana Figueroa

Major Individual Supporters
Marjorie Benton, Rees Candee, Daaron Dohler, Jan and Dick Gram, Howard Jacob, Dennis Jennings, Elizabeth Jones, David & Carolyn Kalinich, Elizabeth Keno, Harold A. Kessler, Binita Kwankin & Joe Hmieleski, James McAuley, Leslie McLeod, Nathan Metzger, Richard Moser, Marilynn Oliphant, Una Ortell, Ted & Nancy Otto, Nancy Siepman, Pauline Taylor, Eric Wilder, Melody Wolber, Paige Zelinsky, Karen Zylberman

Child Champions (CPA Monthly donors)
Tyra Castle

Volunteer. Donate. Join Our Team.
Join in and be part of the positive solution in helping Chicago’s most vulnerable kids. We have a variety of volunteering, support, and engagement opportunities.

Child Thrive
Fall Mini Camp
Monday – Wednesday, November 20 – 22, 10:00 am – 3:00 p.m.
Seeking volunteers for 90 minutes or more to help facilitate programming.

EMAIL US if you are interested in volunteering.

Donor Engagement Committee
Volunteers needed to help champion our mission, connect us to new partners/sponsors/donors/volunteers, and build visibility for Children’s Place in the broader community.

For more details on role descriptions and/or to learn more, EMAIL US.

Calling Young Professionals
Looking for young Chicago professionals who are interested in making a positive impact, connect with other young professionals, and have a great time. Join our Junior Board.

CLICK HERE to learn more and apply.

Ongoing Opportunities

There are plenty of volunteer and donation opportunities throughout the year. Check out which might be most suitable for you:

Host a friend & family house party or fundraiser to benefit Children’s Place
Get involved with Adopt a Family
Lead an employee group community service day and/or fun activity day with our kids & youth
and so much more!

CLICK HERE to inquire.

Child Thrive

Art supplies (color pencils, canvases, watercolor paper, construction paper, etc.)
STEM kits/supplies (popsicle sticks, tape, glue, glue guns, etc.)
Board games (varying ages from 8+)

EMAIL US if you are able to donate any of these needs.

Early Learning Center

Diapers and wipes
Coats and gloves
Non-perishable items for family-giving baskets for raffle for families.

EMAIL US to donate.

 Foster Care 

Gift cards (Visa/MC, Walmart, Target) for families in need or in crisis 
Infant car seats (rear-facing only) generally for kids age birth to 12 months
Convertible car seats (forward facing with harness) generally for kids ages 1–3
Booster car seats (forward facing) generally for kids ages 4-7

EMAIL US if you are able to donate any of these needs.

General – All Programs

New or gently used winter clothing
Toiletries, essential household supplies
Baby items (formula, diapers, etc.)

EMAIL US if you are able to donate any of these needs.

Back to School Supplies

Year-Round Needs

Here are some of the opportunities we are looking for:

Full Time:

Early Head Start Teacher & Aide
Health and Nutrition Aide
Family Case Manager
Family Support Specialist (2)
Inclusion Aide
Parent Educator
Program Operations Manager

Part Time:

Foster Care Therapist
Youth Coordinator
Out of School Instructor

Seasonal:

Substitute Teacher

CLICK HERE for more details on open positions and how to apply.

Invest in a Child’s Future

We believe EVERY child and family deserves equal access to care, safety, and shelter – regardless of circumstances or zip code.  Your support helps us provide critical services to those most affected by serious health issues and extreme poverty.  

Become a Child Champion
Ready to make a meaningful impact? Your modest monthly contributions have the power to change lives. Imagine 25, 100, or 1,000 individuals each giving just $10 a month to support our families’ health, combat poverty, and address racial challenges.

Your small donation, like skipping a monthly Starbucks, champions health and racial equity, empowers future success, and sustains an emergency relief fund. Your generosity transforms lives and uplifts our community.

CLICK HERE to join our Child Champions today! Together, we can create a brighter future for our kids.

CLICK HERE TO SEE CPA PICTURES

Come join us socially

An easy way to support CPA’s work is by engaging with us on our social media channels. By liking, commenting, and sharing our work, you help us expand our reach bringing in new volunteers, donors, and awareness.