$850,000 awarded to support family strengthening initiatives

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Chicago Tribune announced 27 grant awards totaling $850,000. Awarded through Chicago Tribune Charities, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the grants will assist 27 local agencies that provide a broad range of parenting programs. These treatment programs are designed to improve the social and emotional well-being of children affected by abuse and family violence, and to assist in reducing the risk of child abuse.

Since 1990, more than $100 million in charitable grants have been made through Chicago Tribune Charities, helping thousands across Chicagoland, by providing educational and social service assistance.

The McCormick Foundation matches all donations at 50 cents on the dollar, increasing the impact of individual contributions. The Foundation pays all campaign and administrative costs, ensuring 100 percent of donations, plus the match, is granted to local nonprofits. To learn about some of the individuals who have benefited from these programs, and/or to make a donation, please consider visiting: chicagotribune.com/donate, or calling 1.800.217.3190.

“Chicago Tribune Charities believes all children deserve to live in a positive and caring home environment,” said Tony Hunter, CEO of Tribune Publishing, and Publisher and CEO of Chicago Tribune Company. “By supporting programs striving to improve parenting skills and provide counseling services to both parents and their children, we can develop a strong support system enabling families to succeed.”

David Hiller, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation said, “The center of a child’s universe is the family and home. Yet many children live in an environment where violence and abuse are prevalent. The agencies supported by Chicago Tribune Charities can make a real difference in providing that which is every child’s right—a safe and secure home.”

The twenty-seven 2012 grant recipients are:

1. Advocate Charitable Foundation will receive $25,000 for Childhood Trauma Treatment program for low-income families, providing psychotherapy and counseling services to severely abused children, most of whom live in foster care.

2. Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home) will receive $25,000 for Children's Counseling program, providing individual and family counseling for children with trauma-related issues due to domestic violence.

3. Between Friends will receive $20,000 for the Children's Program, which provides group, individual, and family counseling to help children who have been severely affected by domestic violence.

4. Bridge Youth & Family Services will receive $30,000 for Bridge Traumatic Stress program, which provides treatment to children and their families in the immediate aftermath of trauma caused by domestic violence and/or child abuse.

5. Casa Central Social Services Corporation will receive $30,000 for Safe Start program, which provides intensive therapeutic and supportive services including parent and community training on the impact of violence on young children in eight West Side communities.

6. Chicago Children's Advocacy Center will receive $25,000 for PATHH Collaborative Project, which eliminates wait-list duplication, and improves system efficiency for sexually abused children and their families; and $40,000 for Mental Health program, which provides crisis intervention and therapeutic services to family members and victims traumatized by sexual abuse.

7. Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County will receive $25,000 for Safe from the Start program, which provides coordinated therapeutic services for children exposed to violence.

8. Children's Research Triangle will receive $25,000 for Trauma Treatment program, which provides short and long-term psychotherapy, caregiver support, and case management for children with a history of abuse and/or neglect.

9. Christopher House will receive $30,000 for Social Work Services program, which provides home visits, parenting classes, individual, family, and group counseling to clients receiving services from other agency programs.

10. Connections for Abused Women and their Children will receive $25,000 for Children’s Services program, which provides therapy sessions at two sites, to child victims of violence for individual and family counseling, parent education, and support services.

11. Crisis Center For South Suburbia will receive $35,000 for Children's Services program, which includes individual and family counseling, parent-child groups, and intense trauma treatment for child victims of domestic violence.

12. Family Focus, Inc. will receive a total of $50,000 for Right From the Start ($30,000) and Mission Men Fathers' Support Group ($20,000) programs, which provide parenting support to reduce the risk of parental abusive practices and attitudes.

13. Family Rescue will receive $35,000 for Children’s Services, which offers trauma reduction therapy and counseling, and supportive services to children and their mothers who are traumatized by domestic violence and homelessness.

14. Hektoen Institute for Medical Research, LLC will receive $20,000 for Child Trauma Training Project, to increase the number of trauma-informed staff training programs at local domestic violence, housing and mental health agencies.

15. Housing Opportunity For Women will receive $15,000 for Partners for Rogers Park Education and Wellness Committee, which coordinates and builds services designed to break down system barriers that prevent family members access to wrap-around services in their Rogers Park community.

16. La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center will receive $30,000 for Chicago Child Trauma Center program, which provides counseling to children experiencing multiple forms of trauma including abuse, loss through violent death, and domestic violence.

17. Lydia Home Association will receive $15,000 for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy program, an intensive, evidence-based intervention, primarily serving families through their Safe Families program. It provides temporary homes for children, while their mothers stabilize their lives.

18. Metropolitan Family Services will receive $45,000 for Healthy Families program, providing home visits and parental training for young mothers. A portion of the grant will also be used for the development of father-focused services.

19. Mujeres Latinas en Accion will receive $30,000 for Children’s Therapy program, which provides culturally-sensitive group counseling to children who have witnessed family violence and/or experienced physical abuse.

20. Near North Health Service Corporation will receive $25,000 for Healthy Families program, providing parental skills and program referrals for young mothers with multiple risk factors associated with child abuse/neglect.

21. One Hope United Northern Region will receive $30,000 for Wings/Healthy Families program, which provides parental skills,family support services, home visits, and referrals to families at risk of child abuse and/or neglect in Lake and McHenry counties.

22. SGA Youth & Family Services will receive $20,000 for Family Support Program, which provides young pregnant mothers and families with home visits, health screenings, positive parental skills, and information on prenatal and infant care.

23. South Suburban Family Shelter will receive $30,000 for Children’s Counseling program, which provides weekly therapy sessions to child victims of domestic violence, and a six-week parenting group for their mothers.

24. Teen Parent Connection, Inc. will receive $35,000 for Family Strengthening programs, providing prenatal care, parenting instruction, and weekly support groups for young mothers struggling with poverty, social isolation, and other risk factors.

25. Voices for Illinois Children will receive $50,000 for support of Chicago-area children's mental health advocacy and training programs.

26. Women's Treatment Center will receive $45,000 for Parenting Education and Child Abuse Prevention program, which provides residential trauma-informed treatment, parenting groups and therapeutic counseling for women and their children in recovery.

27. Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center will receive $40,000 for Children's Counseling program, which provides individual therapy and support groups to sexually abused children, ages 3 to 17.