Who We Are
One Family Illinois, founded over 30 years ago, is a non-profit organization that provides an individual licensed home in a supportive, community environment that marshals all the resources needed to help children in foster care heal and achieve their permanency goals.
The Village Model of Care prioritizes the following: 1) Children live together with their siblings; 2) Children receive care and support from a full-time, professionally trained and licensed Foster Parent; 3) Children thrive in a private, single-family home; 4) Children benefit from the support of the Village, designed as an intentional community of care; and 5) Families receive strengthening services to support their needs and keep them intact whenever possible.
One Family Illinois unites brothers and sisters in foster care and provides a safe space to heal for at-risk youth. Currently, the organization operates four sites: three Villages providing sibling group foster care at an 17-home Village (opened in 1993) in Lockport, Illinois; a 17-home Village (opened in 2004) in the Auburn Gresham, Englewood neighborhood of Chicago; a 14-home Village (opened in 2014) in the Roosevelt Square Community of Chicago, as well as Casa Tepeyac (acquired in 2011), a facility that offers preventative and in-home services in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago.
One Family Illinois celebrates a 90% high school graduation rate, compared to a national average of 56% for children in foster care. In 2023, One Family Illinois maintained Candid’s (formerly GuideStar) highest award, Platinum Seal of Transparency, and Charity Navigator’s Rating of Four-Stars.
Mission Statement
One Family Illinois advances the safety and well-being of children by keeping siblings together in foster care, empowering youth, nurturing strong families, and partnering in the development of communities.
Vision
One Family Illinois aspires to provide every child a bright future with a forever home that thrives in a strong connected community.
Values
At One Family Illinois, we share the following values, and they define our work with each other, with children and families, and with the community:
Compassion – We are driven by our care for others and practice empathy by listening to all.
Inclusion – We take pride in creating equitable environments and providing access to resources for all.
Integrity – We honor our commitments in an ethical manner to build trust and credibility.
Adaptability – We are growing, innovating, and ready to adjust as new opportunities arise.
Our Programs
Sibling Foster Care
Our Sibling Foster Care program gives children and youth in foster care the opportunity to grow up with their siblings and remain together as a family, with the support of a live-in Professional Foster Parent, in-house case management teams, as well as clinical therapy and other on-site services. This program prioritizes reunifying youth with their families whenever possible. When that is not possible, permanent guardianship or adoption are among the continuing efforts to provide long-term stability.
In-Home Family Services
Our In-Home Family Services help families build on their strengths, tackle tough problems, and stabilize to help youth deal with issues related to delinquency, academics, and relationships. This program helps parents gain effective parenting skills, attain support services, resolve conflict and crisis, and improve social, life, coping, and academic skills.
Health & Nutrition Education
Our Health & Nutrition Education Program offers Cooking & Nutrition Programs to the community of Illinois. We work with a team of workforce specialists who help secure great jobs for all training participants. Participants receive Culinary Training, Job Placement Support, and additional Support Services.
Our History
For over 30 years, One Family Illinois has provided the highest quality of care for Illinois’ underserved youth and families. It has operated as its own 501(c)3 since 1990.
Since our beginning, we strive to provide children and youth in care with the highest level of support and resources. Today, we continue to do so by recognizing the importance of families and communities working together to reach the common goal of reuniting healthy families.
Our Villages
The unique strength of our Villages lies in the collective power of dedicated Professional Foster Parents, Child Welfare staff, Clinical Therapy programs, and many more on-site services working together to help underserved children and families.
Click here to see a gallery of photos of our Villages and sites.
Lockport Village
17545 Village Lane
Lockport, IL 60441
P: 815-740-7280
F: 815-740-7282
Lockport Village
Opened in 1993, located on 20 acres near Joliet, IL. The Village is comprised of 17 single-family homes, a community and learning center, a playground, and an administrative building.
Chicago Village
7600 S. Parnell
Chicago, IL 60620
P: 773-783-0500
F: 773-783-0600
Chicago Village
Opened in 2004, located on 7.5 acres in the South Side of Chicago. The Village is comprised of 17 single-family homes, a community and learning center within an administrative building, a community garden and green area.
Roosevelt Square Village
1133 W. 13th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
P: 312-243-1901
F: 312-243-3086
Roosevelt Square Village
Opened in 2014, the Roosevelt Square Village is comprised of 14 single-family homes near the medical district and UIC campus. The Tim McCormick Community Center opened in 2021 with a state-of-the-art learning kitchen and offers programming for the children and families we serve as well as for the broader community.
Casa Tepeyac
4538 S. Hermitage
Chicago, IL 60609
P: 773-247-7725
F: 773-247-7794
Casa Tepeyac
Acquired in 2011, Casa Tepeyac provides In-Home Family Services, Prevention Programs, and Resources to the Back of the Yards neighborhood and beyond.
Administrative Office
216 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite #925
Chicago, IL 60606
P: 312-372-8200
F: 312-372-8202
Administrative Office
The Administrative Office is located in the southwest Loop of Downtown Chicago. It serves as the centralized hub for operations in the Advancement, Communications, Finance, and Human Resources Departments.
Awards, Accreditations & Honors
In 2023, the Tim McCormick Community Center was awarded the Chicago Building Congress Merit Award in the Commercial Construction Under $50 million category at the CBC Merit Awards. The CBC Merit Awards celebrates the building industry by highlighting Chicagoland projects built during the three previous years.
In 2015, One Family Illinois was named Top 20 Charities in Chicago by Chicago Magazine.
In 2012, One Family Illinois was recognized by Chicago Magazine as one of the 15 charities in Chicago to be awarded the “Gold Standard”
In 2009, One Family Illinois was awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Award for both Architectural Excellence in Community Design and Outstanding Non-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project for the Lavezzorio Community Center at Chicago Village.
