Changing lives
One child at a time
Your Bridge to Resources and Opportunity


Programs that strengthen families, support healing, and build healthier communities
Real Stories with lasting impact
Our Approach To Care
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Help support the lives of over 4,000 adults and children each year.
How We Help
- Restoring and strengthening families
- Preparing young adults to make positive, informed life decisions
- Supporting parents/guardians in developing practical parenting skills
- Providing wellness education and prevention programs across the community

Mission & Vision
Serving Southern Illinois Counties Where Youth Need It Most


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(618) 688-7040
Puentes de Esperanza

Serving the Needs of Southern Illinois' Hispanic Communities


Serving Southern Illinois Counties Where Youth Need It Most

the Called
- ADHD
- Adjustment Disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief/Bereavement
- Mood Disorders
- PTSD
- Relationship Issues
- Social Issues
- Art Therapy
- CBT
- DBT Skills Building
- Family Therapy
- Person-centered Psychotherapy
- Play Therapy
- Trauma-focused
You Can Help Us Spread Hope for the Holidays! Join us in helping spread Hope for the Holidays for all those we serve. Donate to help purchase Thanksgiving Meals, Winter Coats, Family Holiday Bags or Gifts for our Youth. Click here to donate, sponsor, volunteer or get a child's wishlist.

2026 Golf Classic


Many foster parents want to support their foster children’s cultural identity but face challenges. Limited resources, uncertainty, or fear of “getting it wrong” can make the task feel overwhelming. What matters most is effort — not perfection.
- Build a network of support among schools, community leaders, and cultural liaisons.
- Approach traditions with respect and humility, asking questions instead of making assumptions.
- Prioritize progress over perfection. Even small steps, such as incorporating a child’s favorite cultural meal, can affirm their identity.

Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care

“Will I live with my parents again? Will I stay with my foster parents forever?” For children in foster care, the answer to many questions is often "maybe." Maybe Days addresses the questions, feelings, and concerns these children most often face.
All Kinds of Families

This children's book celebrates diverse family structures through rhythmic, humorous text and illustrations of silly animal families. It highlights various setups—two dads, single parents, grandparents, or adopted children—emphasizing that love makes a family, regardless of size or makeup.
Invisible String

The core message of this book is that an invisible thread of love connects people, even when apart, offering comfort and reassurance that they’re never truly alone. It explores separation, loss, and connection in a creative way that helps children understand their feelings and fosters belonging despite distance.
Who Takes Care of You

Childcare looks different from family to family. Whether there’s one caregiver, or two, or four—whether it’s a mommy, a grandpa, or a sitter—the most important thing for a child to know is that they are loved. This sweet board book highlights different kinds of caregivers, as well as the diversity among them.
The Family Book

Although not specifically for children in foster care, this book is a valuable resource because it celebrates family diversity and teaches that love is what matters most. Its positive, colorful portrayal of families—like those with two moms, two dads, or single parents—can help foster children understand and embrace their own situations.
Safe and Loved: A Foster Parent and Social Worker’s Story

This book comforts toddlers and preschoolers in foster care by reassuring them they are safe and loved. As a foster parent to ten and a social worker, Somers brings authenticity and insight into children’s emotional needs and system challenges.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind

Highlights include brain hemisphere integration, using connection and redirection for development, mindfulness for emotional regulation, and applying CBT with your child.
The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family

This book offers TBRI-based, trauma-informed strategies to help parents build trust, emotional safety, and connection while supporting fear reduction, gentle authority, sensory needs, and social skills.













