The ability to love is what’s needed most...woven throughout their life’s story. When Ed was completing his seminary training, he wrote his Master’s thesis on the topic of “equipping

TidingsProtecting Children | Strengthening Families | Building Futures SPRING 2019

IN FOSTER CARE FROM THE AGE OF 7 TO 14, TAMICA HATCHETT, MSW

is neither bitter nor angry. Instead, she found her calling helping to reunite families who need compassionate care and support just like her family did twenty years ago. Her biggest reward today is helping to strengthen and reunite families because of her work. Tamica didn’t get to experience this opportunity, but wishes she had.

Tamica came to Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois as a program supervisor in the Decatur office last year. “I don’t think my experience as a foster child makes me better at what I do, but it definitely informs my perspective and makes me more empathetic to what families may be facing,” says Tamica.

In the second grade, Tamica’s school contacted DCFS when they believed a health issue wasn’t being properly treated. Tamica’s mother trusted that DCFS was there to help and when asked if she had any additional needs, she admitted to heroin use and her desire to obtain treatment. At the time, Tamica and her four siblings lived with their mom in their grandmother’s home. DCFS immediately placed all of the children in protective custody and ordered that her mom move out in order for the children to continue to live with their grandmother.

“I remember the caseworkers telling my grandmother that we would be taken from her if she let our mom talk to us. They also spoke very negatively about my mom in front of me and my siblings,” said Tamica. Tamica’s mother didn’t receive the assistance she needed to turn her life around during that time. Because of this, at 14, Tamica and her brothers and sisters were adopted by their grandmother.

“Before she died, my mom lived with me and admitted that she felt judged and alone during that time. I wonder if she had

gotten the support that she needed, if someone had believed in her, maybe she could have gotten clean sooner.”

At LCFS, struggling families find a compassionate partner that believes in working together, so that children can return home. Moms and dads receive services to become better parents without judgement, and foster families are supported in temporarily caring for children to help decrease the trauma caused by the issues that resulted in separation and the separation itself.

Because of this, Tamica believes she has found the perfect work home in LCFS and is heartened by practice improvements over the last two decades. “If you don’t believe in the capacity to change, you don’t belong in this field. At LCFS, birth families are treated with compassion. We know that they want and can be better for their children, and we are there to support them in that goal. Negative talk about birth parents is not tolerated.”

With you by our side, we can ensure foster children feel safe and cared for while birth families work to reunite with their children.

The ability to love is what’s needed most

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinoiswww.lcfs.orgwww.facebook.com/LCFSIL@LCFSIllinois

continued on page 2

As a supervisor, Tamica coaches her staff to take the time to talk with families in order to understand the barriers they are facing. Then with the families, workers are coached to develop solutions to overcome those obstacles.

One of the biggest challenges Tamica sees in the system is the shortage of foster parents. There is a great need for foster families for older children, sibling groups and children of color. “All kids need love. All kids are resilient. And the right foster parent can turn a child’s life around,” says Tamica.

Recently, Tamica witnessed the blessings that foster parents can bring when a relative foster placement for a young boy proved unsuccessful. Every day, the child was screaming at school or physically threatening other students due to his own trauma. His relatives were not equipped to handle his behavior, so LCFS found an alternative foster family that had the tools to be successful in calming him. Due to their understanding of trauma, compassion, unconditional love and support, the child was able to make dramatic improvements over time. “While he still needs help to deal with the trauma he experienced, he no longer screams or tries to physically abuse others.”

Her advice for anyone considering fostering, “Do it! If you can find it in your heart to take even one child, it helps. Don’t get caught up in thinking you need special skills or experience, the ability to love is what’s needed most.”

Thank you again, for being the power behind this important work.

OUR MISSIONIn response to God’s love, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois engages with youth, adults, families, communities and other stakeholders to improve the well-being of those we are called to serve.

OUR PURPOSELutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois improves the well-being of people throughout the state by protecting children, strengthening families and building futures. We serve all faiths, races, orientations and ethnic backgrounds.

THANK YOUWith your partnership and support, LCFS will continue to be a place where children and families can find the help they need and hope for the future. To view our latest donor lists, visit www.lcfs.org/ThankYouDonors

About LCFS

The ability to lovecontinued from page 1

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CEO

Opportunities to celebrate

LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

OF ILLINOIS exists to nurture and strengthen families. The next couple months provide all of us with opportunities to celebrate those that are so integral to our work.

In May, we recognize National Foster Care Month. LCFS cares for approximately 2,000 children every year through our foster care programs. These are children that need a family to care for them, while we

work with their birth families on the issues that resulted in the children’s removal.

Foster parents are truly saints among us. They open up their homes, their lives and most importantly their hearts to care for our children. LCFS foster parents always demonstrate their love for the children and youth in their care. They work as a team with our staff to help birth families heal and get children safely home when possible. They stand ready to adopt or provide permanent guardianship when that is the best plan for the child. God has surely blessed us with so many wonderful foster parents.

We also celebrate Mother’s Day in May. In addition to our foster mothers, LCFS celebrates our birth mothers and adoptive mothers. There is nothing like a mother’s love and it is a joy working with all of our mothers.

And last, but certainly not least (being a father of three daughters myself), we celebrate Father’s Day in June. It takes the entire LCFS family—moms, dads, foster parents, birth families, adoptive parents, extended families, LCFS staff and all of our supporters to ensure that our children are nurtured and able to achieve their God-given potential! Thank you for all that you do for the children in our care.

New and Notable

THE HONORABLE EDWARD J.

SCHOENBAUM AND MRS. SARAH

SCHOENBAUM have dedicated much of their lives to social ministry activities. That commitment is woven throughout their life’s story.

When Ed was completing his seminary training, he wrote his Master’s thesis on the topic of

“equipping lay people for ministry in the world.” “Because of my thesis, I decided that instead of standing in the pulpit telling people what they ought to do, I would attempt to be a role model of what a non-pastor could do with his/her God-given knowledge, skills and talents to help the world.”

Today, Ed continues to be a servant leader and volunteers as Chair of the LCMS Central Illinois District Constitution Committee, a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and as a contributor for the State of Illinois Oral History Museum just to name a few.

When Ed settled his family in Springfield, he was a founding member of a Pan-Lutheran group of community leaders who regularly met to discuss how they could better support struggling families. LCFS was also a part of that group and a strong connection grew. Over the years, Ed has served on the LCFS Board of Trustees and Foundation Board. “I feel blessed that God has used my talents, my experience and knowledge, and my resources to help the world and people in need.”

Ed admires his wife and credits her for her role in taking responsibility for their finances and their smart charitable giving strategy. “Over the years, my wife and I have put money into my 401(k) or other investments. When I turned 70 ½ , we decided to use our required minimum distribution to benefit worthy organizations like LCFS, while saving on taxes,” explained Ed. “We support LCFS because there are so many families and kids who need help, and we know LCFS helps a lot of people in a lot of different ways.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can make a difference for LCFS while taking advantage of tax benefits, visit www.LCFSLegacy.org or contact Marylyn Rodgers at (708) 488-5557 or [email protected].

Making a Difference — Using your God-given talents

LOOKING FOR AN EASY

WAY TO HELP US

THIS YEAR?

THE IRA ROLLOVER IS A SIMPLE AND EASY WAY TO HELP OUR WORK.

If you are 70½, you may roll over up to $100,000 from your IRA to charity without paying any federal income tax on your gift.

To make an IRA rollover gift, simply contact your custodian and request that an amount be transferred to LCFS. Your gift could be $1,000, $10,000, $50,000 or even $100,000. Please contact Marylyn Rodgers at 708-488-5557 or visit LCFSLegacy.org to learn more about how an IRA rollover gift can help you and LCFS’ mission!

Harvest Festival

LCFS’

Friday, October 25, 2019NEW VENUE! City Winery, Chicago

LEARN MORE AT

lcfs.org/HarvestFestival

FOODLIVE MUSIC

LIVEAUCTIONFRIENDS

FUN

CASUAL ATMOSPHERECOCKTAILSCELEBRATE

YOU CAN SEND FOSTER KIDS BACK-TO-SCHOOL with everything they need to succeed. Make sure that no child in LCFS’ care goes without the essentials by making a donation today. A gift of $25 will provide one child with a complete set of supplies and a backpack.

Together we can help these children have a great school year. You can make a donation online at lcfs.org/backtoschool. For more information, contact Leslie Lopez at 708-488-5568 or [email protected]. Thank you for your support.

Help a foster child succeed in school.

Yes, I want to provide 1 or more children with back-to-school supplies this year.

$25 supports 1 Child $125 supports 5 Children

$50 supports 2 Children $250 supports 10 Children

I want to make my donation via

Check Please make checks payable to LCFS.

Credit Card

VISA MasterCard Discover Amex

CARD NUMBER EXP DATE

SIGNATURE AMOUNT

Please clip this form and return it to LCFS, One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

800-363-LCFS (5237) | www.lcfs.org

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Carol Stream, IL

Permit #101

We welcome your feedback, questions and comments. Contact us at [email protected].

One Oakbrook Terrace, Suite 501, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 800-363-LCFS (5237)

All photographs in Tidings without an identifying caption are used for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual LCFS clients or staff.

Tidings SPRING 2019

License number: 012998