Foster Care Alumni of America - Illinois Chapter

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Foster Care Alumni of America - Illinois Chapter

The mission of Foster Care Alumni of America is to connect the foster care alumni community and to transform policy and practice.

At FCAA we base all of our planning and decision-making on the following core values:

URGENCY

We understand the pressing importance of improving the foster care system—as a whole and for each individual child. We draw on this urgency to fuel our inspiration and passion for supporting the well-being of people in and from foster care. INNOVATION

We value new ideas and creativity in improving the

lives of people who share the foster care experience, and we promote the multiple areas of perspective and expertise brought by our members and our allies. INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Our organization constantly follows the highest ethical standards and is accountable to alumni and our allies for meeting our mission with integrity. Additionally, we hold those who are responsible for practice and policy in child welfare to the highest standards and support them in meeting those standards. DIVERSITY

We appreciate and honor our differences and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We value multiple perspectives and create a culture where our differences are an asset. COLLABORATION

We cannot accomplish our mission alone. We support connections and collaboration within the alumni community and with other individuals and organizations by building meaningful and effective partnerships. We maintain our autonomy from child welfare organizations in order to promote true collaboration. HOPE

We consistently function with hopefulness and optimism about people in and from foster care, as well as the system itself. We bring the love we have for people who share the foster care experience to inspire and motivate our efforts every day.

09/24/2025

🦃✨ Want to help plan the Thanksgiving Dinner? Join the Thanksgiving Planning Committee!

Our first meeting is tomorrow at 4 PM CST on Zoom. Can’t make it? No worries—you can still sign up and we’ll catch you up so you’re ready for the next one.

👉 Sign up here: bit.ly/fcaatdayvolunteer and we will send you the link

Your ideas and energy are what make this possible—let’s make it another Thanksgiving to remember! 💜

09/23/2025

🍂✨ You’re Invited! ✨🍂
Foster Care Alumni of America – Illinois Chapter is hosting our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and we’d love for you to join us!

📅 Saturday, November 22nd
📍 Lawrence Hall Chicago (4833 N Francisco Ave, Chicago, IL 60625)
⏰ Doors open at noon | Meal served at 12:45 PM
👥 Open to all youth in care, alumni, and their families

This is a space for the whole foster care community to come together, share a meal, and celebrate gratitude and connection. 🧡
👉 RSVP by November 8th here: bit.ly/fcaa_il_thanksgiving2025

🌟 Want to help make this celebration possible? Join our Planning Committee!
Committee members will:
✔️ Plan the menu & food contributions
✔️ Coordinate cooking & set-up
✔️ Help secure donations & sponsors
✔️ Support on the day of the event

➡️ Sign up here to volunteer: bit.ly/fcaatdayvolunteer

Let’s make this year’s Thanksgiving dinner a joyful gathering filled with community, care, and connection. We can’t wait to see you there! 🦃💛

05/28/2025

EVENT ALERT!!! 🎓✨ Join us for a powerful celebration! Foster Greatness is hosting a Virtual Formal Graduation Ceremony to honor current and former foster youth from across the country who have conquered high school, college, or any degree program.

This is more than a graduation—it's a tribute to dedication, brilliance, and power. Whether you're graduating or just showing support, we invite you to show up LOUD AND PROUD to celebrate this incredible community.

🎤 We’re honored to have our very own Board Chair, April M. Curtis speaking at the event—don’t miss her inspiring message!

Monday, June 16th 3PM-5PM PST | 7PM-9PM EST

Graduates who would like to be recognized during the ceremony should complete this form:
https://doinggoodworks.typeform.com/to/fviqxtsL

All other attendees should RSVP to the event through the Foster Greatness App.
https://community.fostergreatness.co/c/general-events/foster-youth-graduation-ceremony

05/16/2025

🚀 Don’t Forget! FCAA Policy & Advocacy Call – May 22nd at 6 pm CST

Foster alumni, this is your chance to shape the future of child welfare! Join us for our upcoming Policy & Advocacy Call – a space created by foster alumni, for foster alumni.

🗓️ When: Thursday, May 22nd, 6 pm CST
💻 Where: Online (Register to get the invite: bit.ly/FCAAPOLICYCALL)
🗣️ Who: Foster Care Alumni, 18 and older

✨ Why You Should Join:
✅ Collaborate on advocacy efforts
✅ Share your experiences and insights
✅ Connect with others leading the way for change

Let’s work together to create a system that truly serves those it’s meant to protect. 💪

👉 Register now: bit.ly/FCAAPOLICYCALL

03/24/2025

🌟 Calling All Foster Care Alumni! 🌟

We’re looking for alumni who are passionate about making a difference to speak on our panel “What Youth Need for Success” at the Biennial Juvenile Conference in Illinois on April 24th. This is your chance to share your experiences and insights with young people transitioning to adulthood!

✅ Honorarium provided
✅ Lodging & transportation covered (as needed)
✅ Must be 21 or older & from Illinois

If you’re interested, fill out the form by March 31st to join this important conversation:
👉 bit.ly/jcspkrinterest

11/01/2024

Thanking our NEWEST sponsors: Illinois Collaboration on Youth, NASW-Illinois Chapter, ACLU of Illinois!! Can’t wait to see you all soon.

09/12/2024

🌟 Excited to announce that I’ll be the keynote speaker at “Healthy Pregnancy Prep Party,” a community baby shower hosted by Gifts from Liam at UCAN in collaboration with Black is Gold!

📅 Date: October 5th, 2024
🕙 Time: 10:30 am - 3pm
📍 Location: UCAN

Join us for a day of educational workshops on pregnancy, baby giveaways, lunch, vendors, childcare, and more. This event is open to young pregnant people up to 24 years old, plus one guest.

09/06/2024

🚀 Save the Date! Join us for another powerful virtual roundtable, Breaking Barriers: Pathways to a Thriving Life Beyond Foster Care.
September 26th, 2024
2:30pm-4pm EST
Register Here: bit.ly/NPC_RT2
We'll be diving into key areas like Housing, Education & Career Readiness, and Support Systems to help foster youth build successful futures. Don’t miss this important conversation—your voice and ideas can make a difference! 🌟

06/05/2024

"The Foster Care Alumni of America-Illinois Chapter is deeply saddened by the harm experienced by the youth and young adults in Aunt Martha's care. We stand in solidarity with other advocates in seeking to understand what occurred and how we can prevent such incidents from happening in the future. For years, we have heard from those who have been placed in various settings across Illinois about the abuse they endured at the hands of caregivers assigned by DCFS. It is long overdue that we address these issues openly.

However, we commend the swift response and leadership demonstrated by Director Mueller. Rather than attempting to conceal these allegations, Director Mueller and the Department have acted with transparency and urgency, as noted by the Judges. Recognizing mistakes and promptly addressing them exemplifies true leadership and accountability.

This marks a new era for the Department of Children and Family Services, and we remain hopeful about its future under Director Mueller's guidance."

One man who worked at Aunt Martha's through a third-party security firm was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a 14-year-old girl.

05/28/2024

As we approach a significant milestone—Foster Care Alumni of America’s 20th anniversary—we want to celebrate the incredible journey and achievements of our community over the past two decades. We couldn't have reached this point without all the involvement, dedication and support from you all! bit.ly/FCAA20YEARSCONTRIBUTE

We are calling on you to help us make this celebration truly special. We invite you to share your stories, pictures, and videos that highlight the impact FCAA has had on your life and the lives of others. Your contributions will be used as part of our anniversary campaign to showcase the meaningful work and positive changes fostered by FCAA.

Here are some ways you can contribute: bit.ly/FCAA20YEARSCONTRIBUTE
Share Your Story: Tell us about your experiences with FCAA, how it has helped you, how you’ve contributed, or any significant moments or achievements you remember.

Photos and Videos: Provide pictures or videos that capture memorable moments, events, or milestones associated with FCAA.

Messages of Support: Record a short video or write a message expressing what FCAA means to you and your hopes for the future. bit.ly/FCAA20YEARSCONTRIBUTE

Address

6503 N Ashland
Chicago, IL
60626

Telephone

+13124856082

Website

http://www.fostercarealumni.org/illinois-chapter/

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