Every Child Deserves Support
Our Mission: Building a secure & hopeful today, so children facing health issues & poverty succeed tomorrow.
Serving Children & Parents since 1991.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Illness, Violence & Racial Injustice
Childrenβs Place Association provides essential and comprehensive services that are lacking in disinvested neighborhoodsβearly education, trauma therapy, support groups, basic healthcareβby crafting personalized plans for a childβs and their familyβs well-being.
Our goal is to surmount the barriers to thriving that many children and families in impoverished areas experience, and to help them achieve the resiliency, health and knowledge they need to navigate lifeβs challenges successfully.
Every Child Deserves Support
Our Mission: Building a secure & hopeful today, so children facing health issues & poverty succeed tomorrow.
Our Equity-Based Framework for Systemic Change
Community Led
We believe people who live and work in underserved communities best understand their own needs and solutions, and, thus, we are guided by their goals and approaches.
Collaboration
We work alongside community members as equals, drawing on a shared vision while leveraging our unique strengths to make the greatest impact.
Strengths-based Approach
We strive to see the whole child, family, and community – not just their vulnerabilities. We avoid negative stereotypes and outdated βcharityβ models.
Sustainability
We strive to sustain projects until community goals are achieved, recognizing that real change takes time, commitment, and continued resourcing.
Helping Chicagoβs Children and Their Families
Since 1991, weβve been providing care for children and families facing extreme poverty, health issues, violence, housing insecurity and hunger.
What sets us apart:
- We focus on whole family support, knowing that the health of the family is the health of the child.
- We offer a comprehensive, evidence-based service model integrating needed trauma therapy, health services, social services, early education, after school programs, foster care/adoption, family support and supportive housing.
- Our approach is based on the conviction that the community, including its youth, is the expert on its own challenges and that community people are the most likely to propose and shape effective interventions.
- Our early learning program specializes in integrating comprehensive health services and enrolling children with special needs and disabilities other preschools canβt accommodate.
- We focus on neighborhoods challenged by violence, lack of investment, extreme poverty, and poor resources.
- Weβre able to be a resource for families without sufficient income – many earn less than $5000 annually.
- We actively hire people who reflect the community we serve. Persons of color make up 86% of our management team and 79% of direct service staff.
Imagine a future where every child has access to the developmental support they need to experience a quality of life that elevates their perception of who they are and creates a pathway of hope and resilience β regardless of circumstances or zip code.
Help us keep Chicagoβs children safe and growing beautifully with the assistance of our Childrenβs Place programs.
OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Early Childhood Education and Care
Early education is vital for a childβs future achievement, yet low-income families often lack access to early learning opportunities, especially those with children facing illness or disabilities.
Child and Family Support Services
We work with families confronting serious health conditions, trauma and financial challenges to provide housing, summer camps, financial counseling, mental health services and case management.
Foster Care and Adoption
Our Foster Care & Adoption program matches children with capable, loving foster parents who are trained by our organization to care for each childβs specific needs.
Child Thrive
Concentrating on the West Humboldt Park neighborhood, Child Thrive is community-directed, providing education, counseling, mentoring, afterschool programs, and health services in a high-need area of Chicagoβs westside struggling with gun violence, economic uncertainty, and the impacts of structural racism.
From Surviving to Thriving
Personal Success Stories
Our Story
βChildrenβs Place made an incredible impact in my life. It gave me a childhood I didnβt expect I would ever haveβ¦ and a foundation that has allowed me to grow.β
Making a Real Impact on Children’s Lives since 1991
BE THERE FOR CHICAGO’S CHILDREN
Childrenβs Place Association needs you to help us build a secure and hopeful today so children facing health issues and poverty succeed tomorrow.
CHILDREN IN CHICAGO
Live with Gun Violence
Live in Poverty
CHILDREN’S PLACE IMPACT IN 2023
CHILDREN IN CHICAGO
Live with Gun Violence
Live in Poverty
CHILDREN’S PLACE IMPACT IN 2022
OUR CARING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
CHILDREN’S PLACE ASSOCIATIONΒ NEWS
Meet Lizbeth
π Meet Lizbeth Botello, a new Junior Board member. Lizbeth is a Boston University student studying medicine to
Meet Miss Amanda
πMeet Miss Amanda π πMiss Amanda has been one of our incredible educators at the ELC for over 4
Meet Hannah
π Meet Hannah Ashby, our fabulous Junior Board Communications Chair! π Hannah is an Events Coordinator at the Chicago
February Pathways
February was a month filled with celebration and community. As we honored Black History Month, embraced the love of