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 VICTIMS OF SEVERE ABUSE, NEGLECT AND TRAUMA AND CHILDREN IN NEED OF BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION, AGES 3-11 IN ILLINOIS. AT HEPHZIBAH HOME WE OFFER CHILDREN A SAFE HAVEN, AND A PLACE FOR THEM TO STABILIZE AND HEAL SO THAT THEY CAN EVENTUALLY RETURN TO A HOME ENVIRONMENT. HEPHZIBAH HOME OFFERS EACH CHILD AN INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PLAN BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. OUR CLINICAL TEAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO HELP CHILDREN HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND DEVELOP HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND LIFE SKILLS, AND OUR EDUCATION TEAM SUPPORTS THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. THE SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN COMES IN THE FORM OF THERAPIES SUCH AS ART AND PET THERAPY, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT THERAPY AND SENSORY MODULATION TREATMENT. OUR TEAM HELPS CHILDREN MEET THEIR GOALS AND DEVELOP THE VITAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO MOVE TO FOSTER OR PERMANENT PLACEMENTS. IN FY23, 31 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THE HEPHZIBAH HOME.

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.

FOSTER CARE - CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE NEED LOVE AND SUPPORT IN ORDER TO HEAL. HEPHZIBAH OFFERS A FULL SPECTRUM OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF LOVING HOMES. WE HELP CHILDREN HEAL AND PREPARE THEM FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR FOSTER JOURNEY, WHETHER IT IS RETURNING TO BIOLOGICAL FAMILY MEMBERS, OR IN AN ADOPTIVE HOME. HEPHZIBAH ALSO RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND SUPPORTS FOSTER PARENTS WHO OPEN THEIR HOMES TO CHILDREN IN NEED. WE SURROUND OUR FOSTER PARENTS WITH THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY, LOVING AND CARING RELATIONSHIP AND HOME FOR ALL. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES PARENTING GROUPS, IN-HOME CONSULTATION, FOSTER PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, TRAINING SESSIONS, PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS, AND THE HEPHZIBAH FOSTER PARENT ADVISORY BOARD. IN FY23, 107 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.

DAY CARE - HEPHZIBAH'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 700 CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDSFULFILLING A CRITICAL NEED IN THE OAK PARK COMMUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE, NURTURING, AND ENRICHING AFTER-SCHOOL CARE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. WE OFFER A DYNAMIC CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 AFTER SCHOOL AND FULL-DAY CARE ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT EACH OF THE EIGHT DISTRICT 97 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN OAK PARK. WE ALSO OFFER FULL-DAY SUMMER DAY CAMP MONDAY-FRIDAY IN OAK PARK FOR CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE WE OFFER A SLIDING-FEE PAY SCALE, BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY AND INCOME TO FAMILIES THAT NEED AFTER SCHOOL CARE ON SITE AT THEIR CHILD'S LOCAL SCHOOL, AND IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN CHILDCARE BECOMES A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR SOME. OUR CHILDCARE 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.