Safe Families Prayer Requests
6 week old boy—K has been in placement since he was 24 hours old! His mom was planning to put him up for adoption but instead made the decision to keep him and asked for a SF placement while she makes arrangements to get him home. His mom is in her last semester of nursing school and will be finished in mid-May. She has worked to get all needed baby supplies and furniture so that she is prepared for his return in the next few weeks. Her biggest obstacle is that she is on the waiting list for daycare and does not have anyone to watch him while she attends school.
2 ½ year old girl and 19 month old boy—These siblings have been in placement since Feb. 16. Their mom is unable to care for them to due complications with her current pregnancy. She will be going into the hospital in the next few days and will be induced as soon as the baby’s lungs are developed. Their father is a veteran who returned from active service in the fall with traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. He is currently in a treatment facility for his brain injury and hopes to be released within the next 6 weeks.
6 year old boy—S continues to live with his grandparents in a unique SF placement while his parents seek a court ordered temporary guardianship. He has been with his grandparents since last August. His birth mom is unable to care for him due to substance abuse and mental health issues.
8 month old girl—J has been in placement since September. Her mom faces several obstacles in getting J back, including substance abuse and homelessness. J has tubes in her ears and was thought to be deaf when she first entered into a SF placement. She can hear but continues to have trouble with her hearing and the prognosis is not good. She is also undergoing physical therapy and is facing surgery on her back in about 10 months. Her host SF has worked hard to seek treatment for all of J’s medical needs, and she is doing great in her SF placement.
17 year old girl—B has been in placement since last July under a court approved arrangement. B is doing well with her host SF and has been in contact with her grandma, where she lived prior to SF.
9 month old boy—J has been with his SF since November. DCFS returned his 4 year old brother to birth mom last month, and we are praying the J will be going home soon. His mom needs to follow through on several appointments/programs in order for J to return. J is thriving in his SF home and is a healthy, happy baby.
15 year old girl—A has been in placement since January. This is a complicated situation and is currently a court ordered placement. A is unable to return home due to domestic violence and abuse issues in the home. A is waiting for a spot to open up at Dream Center where she will live and attend school. She is working hard in school and has adjusted well to her host SF home.
6 year old girl and 2 year old boy—These siblings entered placement two weeks ago and hope to return home by Easter. Their birth mom is waiting for housing through Home of the Sparrow, a domestic violence shelter in McHenry County. She is also looking for a job.
2 year old girl—A is in placement while her mom works with DCFS to seek treatment for substance abuse and find housing. A has been in placement for 2 weeks and is doing great with her host SF.
8 year old girl—C was in placement while her mom saved up money to find appropriate housing. C’s mom was working second and third shifts to make more money so that she can move out of the motel where she is currently staying into an apartment. C returned to her mom on Friday for a couple of weeks while her mom is working first shift and will return to her host SF home when her mom starts working nights again.
6 year old boy—We are currently seeking a placement for this active kindergartner. J’s dad will soon be homeless because the friend he is staying with recently lost her house in a foreclosure. J’s dad has some mental health concerns and physical impairments that make it difficult for him to work. J will be in placement while his dad finds housing and seeks employment.
Regional Safe Families Needs
We are always in need of more host Safe Families! There have been up to 18 children in placement at any given time since last fall. The need is great, and we have connected with several agencies recently that will use Safe Families as a referral source. Please spread the word to friends, co-workers, and church leaders who might be interested in becoming a host SF or who would give us the opportunity to share about Safe Families.
The Cycling for Safe Families fundraiser is June 9th! You can support this event by riding and getting people to support you, asking relatives, friends, and co-workers to ride, sponsoring someone who is riding, or volunteering the day of the event. Watch for more details in the near future.
