LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS

Adoption provides a way for you to become a parent and build your family. LCFS can assist you through every step of your adoption journey. The adoption process starts with a phone conversation with our intake specialist, who will gather some information and answer your questions. You will be assigned your own worker who will walk you through the home-study process and help prepare you for your role as an adoptive parent. LCFS can assist both single adults and couples residing in Illinois to complete an adoption regardless of their faith, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender-identification.

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, LCFS can provide compassionate, respectful and confidential assistance. Services are provided to you at no cost. You will be provided with a LCFS worker who will be your support person and advocate; he/she will meet with you privately and confidentially to help you sort out feelings, examine your options and reach an informed, positive decision concerning your baby’s future.

Life challenges and traumatic experiences can occur to anyone at any stage in his/her life. At times like these, professional counselors at LCFS can help address those situations so that individuals can move forward with their lives.

During counseling, LCFS utilizes a collaborative relationship to assist individuals in identifying areas for growth and build on their strengths to lead fuller lives. We meet the unique needs of each individual, couple or family helping them to gain new perspectives on their situations and focus on practical solutions. The counseling program also utilizes trauma-informed therapies, we assist children and adults in coping with and recovering from past traumas, so that their functioning is enhanced and they can thrive.

The Extended Family Support program provides services to stabilize the home of a relative caregiver who has been caring for children when their biological parents are no longer able to. The services help avoid the relative and child involvement in the child welfare system and any disruption of the family placement. LCFS helps resolve the short-term crisis and prepares relative caregivers to provide caring and nurturing homes for the children now in their care.

Intact Family Services ensure the safety and well-being of children without the need for removal and out-of-home placement by providing families with needed in-home services. The goal is to see the overall number of children in substitute care continue to decrease slowly over time. LCFS ensures the child's development, safety and well-being by strengthening and supporting families. Through this program, families are assigned a child welfare specialist, who provides and links families with an array of supportive services.

LCFS’ innovative Regenerations program serves youth ages 12 - 21 who are dually-involved with both the criminal justice system and the Department of Children and Family Services. The program provides these youth with the support their families and they need to get their lives back on the right track. Program staff work to build relationships and supports for the youth, their identified caregivers and their families to transition the youth back to the community, strengthen stability and minimize recidivism. Intensive wraparound services are provided to the youth and their families to assist in being successful in a community versus institutional setting. Few programs have been designed specifically to address this population’s diverse needs, but the Regenerations program has resulted in positive outcomes.

Southern Thirty Adolescent Center (STAC) is a 30-day short-term emergency-shelter care facility that is located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The populations served are adolescents, ages 11-18. Youth come to STAC for a variety of reasons, such as some are in transition as they struggle with behavioral or emotional issues, others have had unsuccessful foster home placements and some have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect and a placement hasn't been identified.

During a youth's time at STAC , staff assess their strengths and long-term needs and develop individual plans, which help the transition to their new homes.