Children’s Champions Fund
Protecting Programs Serving Children and Families
As a child, homelessness can cause lasting trauma that lingers into adulthood. The Therapeutic Childcare Center at Father Joe’s Villages works to provide caring support and integrated services that address the behavioral, developmental, medical and dental needs of children experiencing homelessness, all in one location.
Without the specialized interventions from Therapeutic Childcare’s licensed staff, children experiencing homelessness are two times more likely to have developmental delays and twice as likely to repeat a school grade. Behavioral Health Clinicians are available to help children process traumatic experiences from homelessness, while Child Development Specialists promote healthy growth at every level.
The Therapeutic Childcare Center is also a key link in each parent’s journey to stable housing. While their children are in a safe, nurturing environment, parents are able to access services that help them end their homelessness for good – including job training and employment services, behavioral health services and more. These programs help parents like Tina who, after being unable to afford a rent increase on her apartment, became homeless with her two little girls. Thankfully, Tina learned about Father Joe’s Villages and moved into the organization’s Family Living Center.
Once Tina moved into the shelter, she was able to enroll her girls in the preschool program at the Therapeutic Childcare Center. This enabled her to commit to a consistent work schedule and she quickly found full-time employment. “The Therapeutic Childcare is one of the best programs here. The teachers that work there are really great. It is a relief to have a safe place to take my kids.”
Knowing her children are thriving and have access to safe shelter, meals and services, Tina is able to focus on saving for housing and providing for her children. Tina now has hope that she and her children will be able to achieve a secure and successful future. For Tina, and many other families struggling with homelessness, building a better life would not have been possible without Father Joe’s Villages and the Therapeutic Childcare Center.
That is why each year, Father Joe’s Villages depends on the Children’s Charity Gala to raise critical funds for the Therapeutic Childcare Center and other programs serving children and families. Due to continued Covid restrictions, however, the organization is unable to host the gala this year. As a result, Father Joe’s Villages created the Children’s Champions Fund to serve as this year’s primary fundraiser to protect programs serving close to 900 children and over 350 families. Children’s Champions funding is critical so that the Therapeutic Childcare Center may continue to provide essential services to those most vulnerable.
Additionally, recognition of each Children’s Champions gift will be showcased on the Growing Tree in the new Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa’s Family Courtyard and Playground and will serve as an inspiration to children and families for years to come. Most importantly, you will be giving each child the best opportunities possible to build sound futures as adults.
Every child deserves a happy and healthy life. A gift to Children’s Champions provides families and children in need with a second chance at a successful start. Learn more about how you can support critical services for children and families in need at my.neighbor.org.
