Together, we opened doors of opportunity for over 1,850 of our neighbors last year.
By giving as generously as you can, YOU make it possible for Arden Shore to focus on what matters: the health and well-being of children and families in our community.
Double Your Impact. For every new dollar donated by an individual from November 22-December 20, 2022, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County will match it dollar for dollar up to $10,000! That means if you’ve never given before or if you increase your gift, this is a chance for your donation to go twice as far toward improving the lives of children and families throughout our community.
Mental Health is the Heart of Community Health. Mental health is key to our quality of life and our ability to thrive. That’s why Arden Shore began providing therapeutic support for children and families in 1898 and launched its program specifically dedicated to community mental health 10 years ago. Arden Shore’s Behavioral Health & Support Services address the root causes of childhood trauma by building social and emotional wellness, healthy life choices, school persistence, and parental resilience. Children and families from Arden Shore’s Foster Care, Intact Family Preservation Services, and Group Home for Youth, as well as individuals from the community, receive individual and family therapies and participate in educational groups, such as trauma-informed parenting education.
With deep appreciation for the value of family, we are proud to share our successes with you this year.
Change requires us to align our thinking, feeling, and doing—a commitment of the head, heart, and hands. In the wake of the pandemic, there is an expanded awareness of our community’s mental health. Depression and anxiety TRIPLED. Individuals ages 13-30 are in distress with 54% of teens indicating that there is “no point to plan for the future.” 75% of parents said they could have used more support, with 24% of parents receiving a new mental health diagnosis. These figures are even more alarming for persons of color and low-income households. (Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, American Psychological Association, NAMI Illinois).
“I am 16 years old. I started therapy with Arden Shore after I began living with a foster family. I was struggling to find peace. Why am I in foster care? Why couldn’t I just be a part of a “normal” family? In therapy, I learned that writing down my feelings helps me accept that what I am living through is not my fault. I am still working on processing my emotions, but I already feel more at peace with myself and my situation, which helps me keep a more positive attitude with the people around me.” -Child in Foster Care
Last year, 70% of Arden Shore’s clients reported improved quality of life. As one of the only organizations in Lake County that accepts Medicaid, provides therapy in Spanish, and now offers services regardless of ability to pay, Arden Shore’s program is an essential and effective resource. When Lake County’s Health Department (the county’s largest provider of psychiatric services) closed its waiting list, Arden Shore became the first choice provider for referrals.
In the past 5 years, Arden Shore trained over 70 interns, building our local workforce. There are only 14 behavioral health care providers for every 10,000 Illinois residents. That’s why Arden Shore’s service program is also a teaching program, preparing counseling, social work, and psychiatric nurse practitioner students to meet the needs of the community.
Arden Shore Child and Family Services is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization. EIN 36-2167724