Hephzibah Childrens Association

HEPHZIBAH IS A CHILD WELFARE AGENCY PROVIDING GROUP HOME CARE, FOSTER CARE AND DAYCARE SERVICES

HEPHZIBAH HOME SERVES SOME OF THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS, WHO HAVE ENDURED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA; SOME TRAUMA THAT IS SUSTAINED AND SEVERE. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1897, OUR PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES AT HEPHZIBAH HOME HAVE GROWN AND EXPANDED TO FURTHER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. WE HAVE INTRODUCED THERAPEUTIC TEAMS, BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS AND INTERVENTIONISTS, ALONG WITH OUR RESIDENTIAL COUNSELORS TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR CARE TEAM WITH THE BEST TOOLS AND ATMOSPHERE THEY NEED TO CARE FOR THE CHILDREN EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY. OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN RANGING IN AGE FROM 3 TO 11. TEN (10) KIDS HAVE BEDS ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THE SECOND FLOOR CONSISTS OF OUR GUARANTEED RATE PROGRAM, WHILE THE OTHER KIDS RESIDE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. THE FIRST FLOOR CONSISTS OF OUR DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TREATMENT CENTER). UNDER BOTH PROGRAMS THE CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH OUTSTANDING CARE AND SERVICES.

FOSTER CARE - HEPHZIBAH OFFERS AN INTENSIVE SPECIALIZED FOSTER CARE PROGRAM THAT BUILDS ON A UNIQUE CONCEPT OF TEAM. FOCUS IS ON FINDING FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT FOR THE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED / BEHAVIORALLY DISORDERED CHILD. HEPHZIBAH'S TEAMS ARE FLEXIBLE IN THAT THEIR COMPOSITION IS DICTATED BY THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD. TEAM MEMBERS ALWAYS INCLUDE THE ASSIGNED CASE MANAGER, CASE AIDE, FOSTER FAMILY, AND SUPERVISOR. OTHER AGENCY STAFF ARE INCLUDED AS DICTATED BY THE CHILD'S NEEDS. TREATMENT PLANS AND DECISIONS ARE MADE BY FORMING CONSENSUS IN A TEAMWORK FRAMEWORK. FOSTER PARENTS ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED AND SUPPORTED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A CORRECTIVE EMOTIONAL AND HEALING ENVIRONMENT TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.HEPHZIBAH MAINTAINS APPROXIMATELY 90 FOSTER CHILDREN AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHO ARE CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OPLACED THROUGHOUT THE COOK COUNTY AREA AS WELL AS IN DUPAGE COUNTY. HEPHZIBAH SERVED A TOTAL OF 103 CHILDREN IN FY22.

DIAGNOSTIC TREATMENT CENTER - PROVIDED SERVICES TO 14 CHILDREN DURING FY22. THE CHILDREN RECEIVED CARING, NURTURING, AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY FOR 365 DAYS. THE CONTINUOUS OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A STABLE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CHILDREN TO BEGIN AND CONTINUE TO HEAL FROM ALL OF THEIR PAST ABUSE AND TRAUMA. DAILY THERAPEUTIC INTERACTIONS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL CHILDCARE STAFF, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THERAPISTS AID IN THE HEALING PROCESS.

DAY CARE - PROGRAM SERVES OVER 600 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDSFULFILLING A CRITICAL NEED IN THE OAK PARK COMMUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE, SCHOOL-AGE DAY CARE. OUR PROGRAM OFFERS A NURTURING, ENRICHING AND DYNAMIC DAY CARE EXPERIENCE FOR OAK PARK CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 AFTER SCHOOL, ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. OUR DAY CARE ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL BY FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WIDE VARIETY OF SKILLS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. CHILDREN GAIN EXPERIENCE IN AREAS SUCH AS ARTS AND CRAFTS, GROUP GAMES, MOVEMENT AND MUSIC, FIELD TRIPS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING AND ICE SKATING.