September Pathways

Autumn’s arrival heralds the return to school as we reflect on a busy September while preparing for the month ahead. September highlights include: The Early Learning team worked tirelessly to launch the preschool season successfully; the Thrive team beginning their first full year at KIPP One; and the Foster Care and Adoption team receiving an award for outstanding efforts.

Along with our all-hands-on-deck approach, the remarkable organizations we collaborate with infuse new energy and resources to bolster our pursuit of equity for all. Our September supporters included Bridge Industrial, Cotter Consulting, and Misericordia; we are forever grateful.

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, October 18: Foster Parent Orientation
Wednesday, October 25: Foster Parent Training
Friday, October 27: Thrive Family Night
Tuesday, October 31: Early Learning Center Fall Festival
Friday, November 17: Thrive Family Night
Monday-Wednesday, November 20-22: Thrive Fall Mini Camps

CLICK HERE for more event details and volunteer opportunities

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

Adopt A Family is Back!
It’s that wonderful time of year again! Adopt A Family is back in action! For over 30 years, we’ve been uniting countless families with Adopting Angels. Their gifts of toys, clothing, household essentials, food, and more bring joy and hope to homes, making the holidays truly special.

We invite you to join us in becoming an Adopting Angel and spreading the joy that lasts a lifetime. Let’s make this holiday season unforgettable!

CLICK HERE to fill fill out our donor form, and join the fun.

Meet A CPA Team Member

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

Month in Review
This month, the Thrive team organized a Pre-Afterschool Mini Camp where our youth received homework assistance and indulged in enriching artistic and cultural activities.

Back to School
Our journey at KIPP One commenced on September 26th. Excitingly, one of our program partners, Silk Road Rising, is leading engaging activities every Monday and Tuesday through the end of October!

Thrive Fridays
Thrive Fridays are back! Join us for a dynamic program where students can immerse themselves in artistic, cultural, and recreational activities. We’re dedicated to nurturing a safe space where youth can form connections and build a strong community.

Thrive Fridays will occur at our center, 3543 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60651, from 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm. All youth in grades 1st through 8th are welcome to join the fun!

EMAIL US to join the fun.

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

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 Review
Our team’s September focus: recruitment and enrollment! It’s also Head Start’s safety month! Parents joined our monthly meeting to explore transportation, active supervision, and household safety. Classrooms delved into safety signs and rules.

Close to Full Capacity
Our Center-Based Early Head Start program hit full enrollment with 32 students last week, while our Home-Based program and Center-Based Head Start are on the cusp of reaching the same milestone!

Planting Future Success
Our little ones had a blast planting flowers and delving into the fascinating world of horticulture as part of their curriculum! Looks like we’ve nurtured some future green thumbs in the making!

Kudos
Daniela Mota, our dedicated Home Based Supervisor, fearlessly tackles a range of new responsibilities, leading an understaffed team to full enrollment, a milestone not achieved since pre-Covid times. Beyond her supervisory role, Daniela actively engages with the community, recruiting fresh talent and providing unwavering support.

Month in Review
The Foster Care team remains hard at work, juggling their usual responsibilities while handling a surge of new cases in the past month.

Adoption Success
Congratulations to Foster Care Case Manager Aesha Jackson for successfully finalizing an adoption on September 26th. Destiny Smith, who has significant special medical needs, found her forever home with her maternal grandparents, Sandra and Darnell Smith. Kudos to everyone who played a part in making this heartwarming adoption a reality.

Award Winning Team
Ivan Harrison lII, our Director of Child Welfare, received the Director’s Award from DCFS on Sept. 15th for our outstanding 2023 Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan! Our plan, addressing foster parent rights and responsibilities, ranked among the top 3 in the state. Well done Foster Care team!

Pictured above: Mark D. Smith, Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Cinaiya Stubbs, Barbara Ford, a CPA Foster Parent, and Ivan Harrison III.

Kudos
Foster Care Case Manager Sean Cline achieved flawless 100% compliance on a recent monthly quality file review by DCFS! The reviewer hailed his file as “perfect” and showered him with well-deserved congratulations!

Place The Hope

Children’s Place International is excited to announce the annual Place the Hope campaign, our most significant outreach initiative dedicated to supporting children and families in our overseas programs. We cordially invite you to join us for the virtual kickoff event, followed by an enlightening health equity panel discussion featuring a diverse range of partners.

Let’s come together to impact the lives of children and families worldwide positively. Your participation in this event will help us spread hope and support those in need.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12th, from Noon to 1 PM, and participate in this meaningful discussion!

Award Finalists
Exciting news from the International team! We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been selected as a finalist from nearly 1,000 applicants from more than 70 countries in the Hunger & Poverty category for the prestigious .ORG Awards! The winners will be announced on November 16th. Good luck, Team International!

CLICK HERE to learn more.

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
Our friends and partners at Bridge Industrial Chicago showed up once again to build bicycles for the families we serve. Cinaiya Stubbs, Children’s Place Association’s CEO, conveyed our mission to the team, emphasizing the profound significance of their support. A bicycle represents the invaluable gift of mobility, adventure, and freedom for many children in our community. Our kiddos will be thrilled and filled with pride as they receive their new bikes. We look forward to sharing some happy reactions and bright smiles with you soon!

CLICK HERE to see more pictures.

Read, Play, Donate
Our pals at Cotter Consulting keep making a huge impact! Their team visited the ELC, read, played, and generously provided school supplies. Big thanks, Cotter Consulting! We’re eagerly looking forward to your next visit!

CLICK HERE to see more pictures.

Major Company & Foundation Supporters
Bright Promises Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity AIDS, Sanborn Williams Consulting, LLC, The Clarius Group, LLC, Yield Giving Open Call Fund

Major Individual Supporters
Lynette Bouchie, Roy Hefner and Marena Sabo, Eric and Katie L. Hoffman, Binita Kwankin & Joe Hmieleski, Norene A. and Raymond Mulligan, Daniel E and Elizabeth J. Reidy Tee, Bonnie Schoenberg, James and Mary Ann Sloand, Tom and Tina Vujovich

Child Champions (CPA Monthly donors)
Rachel Joyner

Pickleball Success
The 3rd Annual Pickleball tournament in late August was a smashing success! Our friends at Joie and Wendi Group from At Properties/Christie’s International Real Estate raised an impressive $9,260 with 150 enthusiastic attendees eager to learn about Children’s Place Association services.

In-Kind Donations
Cotter Consulting dropped off school supplies at the ELC.

Misericordia donated books, crafts, hygiene products, infant supplies, and other goodies for our ELC staff and families to shop through!

Bridge Industrial Chicago built and donated bicycles.

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.

Early Learning Center
Fall Festival, Tuesday, October 31, 10 a.m. – Noon
We are seeking 7 to 14 volunteers to help with pumpkin decorating (1 to 2 volunteers per classroom). EMAIL US if you are interested.

EMAIL US if you are interested.

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

Pumpkins: We are seeking 110 pumpkins for our Fall Festival for the kids to decorate on October 31st.

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.