The founding Board of Starfish Family Homes, (SFH) organized in the Fall of 2009 to respond to the needs of abused and neglected children in Kankakee County. At its inception, 171 children within the County were placed into approximately 70 foster care homes and agencies each year, most prominently for cause of neglect, abuse, risk of harm, sexual assault or failure to thrive. National data indicates that three of four foster children are separated from siblings, most will live in six or more foster homes and half never finish high school. Once out of the foster care system, 84% have a child with in 18 months, 40% live on public assistance and 25% are homeless at some point in their adult lives.
|
|
|
|
Current Starfish Family Homes Board of Directors
SueAnn O’Connor – Chairperson
Dale Gerretse - Treasurer
Dr. Gregg Chenoweth
 Laurie Gilmore
Judge Michael Kick
Debby Owen
Marty Whalen
Noelle Bradley
John Williams
The board of directors for Starfish Family Homes meet every second Thursday at 12:00pm (noon).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starfish Family Homes
Starfish Family Homes is committed to providing hope, love and safety to abused and neglected children in a stable Christian community, through physical, educational, social and spiritual care.
SFH is an affiliate of the World Leadership Foundation, a 501 © 3 public charity organized to provide youth with tools to succeed as leaders.
|
|
|
|
Our nation’s foster care system was created to protect children who are not safe in their own homes. For many children, foster care is literally life-saving. Yet, for many more, what should be a short-term refuge from abuse or neglect becomes months and years of uncertainty while their lives are put on hold.
Moving from home to home while in care often means switching schools, missing doctors checkups, losing contact with friends, relatives and yes, even brothers and sisters, and many times without any explanation. This is why Starfish Family Homes has been created.
 read more
 Nothing touches our hearts more than helping a child. And, helping a child who has been abused or neglected will affect you in ways you would never expect. We need your help to make sure the children of abuse or neglect in our community are placed in a safe, loving permanent home.
|
|
|
|
Starfish Family Homes
and Olivet Nazarene University are working together to offer a program for ONU students. This program will allow the student to volunteer at Starfish to tutor, mentor and befriend the children. This field placement program will offer assistance to our house parents, give the children a tremendous resource and offer social
work college credits to the
ONU students.
Starfish Family Homes has a mission and dream to provide foster children the choices they deserve as God’s children. They did not choose to be abused or neglected. They did not choose to live in a home of fear and uncertainty. read more about our missionPlease consider donating time, dollars or in kind services to this much needed cause.
|
|
|
|
|
