New Mt. Vernon office location sustained extensive water damage following storm

Belleville, Ill., (September 12, 2018) – Caritas Family Solutions, a nonprofit social service agency based in Belleville, Ill., was scheduled to move its regional office in Mount Vernon to a new location later this month. However, the move is postponed due to recent heavy rains which caused flooding in the local area and subsequent water damage to the lower level of the office building.

The agency purchased the building at 321 S. 10^th St. in Mount Vernon in early July and have been preparing it for the move which was scheduled for September 20-21, 2018. Services were to begin at the new address effective Monday, September 24. New move dates have not yet been determined.

Services will continue from the current location at 219 Withers Drive until the restoration at the new office location is complete.

Following storms on September 8 caused by remnants from Hurricane Gordon, several inches of water entered the lower level of the office building which was to become counseling offices and visit rooms for hundreds of families with children in foster care. Almost 6,000 square feet of carpeting was submerged.

Restoration costs have been estimated at tens of thousands of dollars. After pumping out the remaining water and drying out the entire lower level, repairs will include replacing the newly installed carpets, removing and replacing drywall, and final painting and detailing.

Donations are being accepted to offset the restoration costs, which are estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars. Online donations can be made here, or checks can be mailed to Caritas Family Solutions, 219 Withers Dr., Mt. Vernon, IL  62864. All other donation inquiries can be directed to Ashlee Lambert at 618-213-8714.

Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide direct services that meet the social and emotional needs of people of all ages. Services include adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, residential treatment for abused and neglected children, multisystemic therapy for at-risk youth, independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, and assisted living and employment assistance for low-income seniors. Caritas serves more than 4,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham.

Belleville, Ill., (September 5, 2018) – Caritas Family Solutions, a nonprofit social service agency based in Belleville, Ill., will move its regional office in Mount Vernon to a new location by the end of September 2018. The agency recently purchased the building at 321 S. 10^th St. in Mount Vernon and have been preparing it for the move which is scheduled for September 20-21, 2018.  Effective Monday, September 24, all services will be offered at the new address.

Regional staff have provided services from the current location at 219 Withers Drive for the past 11 years, when it was built specifically to house the foster care staff next to the Department of Child and Family Services building in the same complex. Prior to 2007, when the agency operated as Catholic Social Services, the office was in the basement of a former doctor’s office park near downtown Mount Vernon. These locations were leased by the agency.

“We simply need a larger space to accommodate our growing number of staff and clients,” said Regional Director Pam Flota, who has been with the agency since 2002.  “We are excited that the purchase of our office building will actually reduce our occupancy costs as well as transportation costs since we will be closer to the courthouse.  It is also more conveniently located for our clients to access, especially if they use public transportation.”

The building on 10^th Street was built in 1986 for the Brehm Oil Co. Most recently other tenants have used the building for office space. The interior is being renovated by Caritas to suit their needs.

Volunteers from Ameren Illinois will be providing outdoor maintenance and completing landscaping projects at the new Caritas location Thursday, September 6 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. in preparation for the move.

Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide direct services that meet the social and emotional needs of people of all ages. Services include adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, residential treatment for abused and neglected children, multisystemic therapy for at-risk youth, independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, and assisted living and employment assistance for low-income seniors. Caritas serves more than 4,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.

Second annual day of giving to recognize merger with Fontebella Maternity Home

Belleville, Ill., (June 27, 2018) – Caritas Family Solutions, a nonprofit social service agency based in Belleville, Ill., is celebrating its second annual Caritas Day of giving on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Caritas Day was launched in 2017 to celebrate the agency’s 70^th anniversary of becoming a nonprofit in the State of Illinois. The day honors and builds on the successes of numerous individuals, children and families who have been strengthened by the agency’s mission since 1947.

Caritas Day consists of 24 hours of support for the mission of Caritas Family Solutions including online giving opportunities and volunteer projects at various Caritas service locations. New this year is the Caritas Day Calendar Challenge, a daily giving calendar for the entire month of July, designed to make it fun for donors to collect items for distribution to those in need. For more information and a copy of the calendar, visit caritasfamilysolutions.org/caritascalendar.

The focus of this year’s celebration will be Fontebella Maternity Home, which provides shelter and support for pregnant mothers in need. Fontebella merged with Caritas effective July 1, 2018.  There will be a ribbon cutting and merger celebration July 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the home, located at 950 Hartman Lane in O’Fallon, Ill.  O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach will be present to mark the occasion and light refreshments will be served. There will also be a garage sale in the Fontebella shed from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. Items for sale were donated to Fontebella but were unable to be used at the home. All funds raised on Caritas Day 2018 will support the Fontebella program.

Gifts in honor of Caritas Day can be made online at caritasfamilysolutions.org/CaritasDay or by phone at 618-213-8700. Online donation contests will be held throughout the day, with prizes awarded to donors who meet certain criteria, such as first or highest donor of the hour. Available prizes and additional updates will be regularly posted to the Caritas Facebook page, facebook.com/CaritasFS.

There are several volunteer projects planned for Caritas Day 2018. Volunteers from Ameren Illinois, Associated Bank, Women4Given and the Junior Service Club of St. Clair County will assist with projects at the Regional Office in Belleville including at St. John Bosco Children’s Center. Volunteers from Lowe’s and Scott Air Force Base will construct a swing set and install sensory boards for residents at several community homes for developmentally disabled adults in the Metro East area that are managed by Caritas Family Solutions. Legence Bank, HireLevel and Ameren volunteers will be assisting with multiple projects at the Regional Office in Carterville. Projects to support the Regional Office in Mt. Vernon are still being finalized. Anyone interested in volunteering on Caritas Day is asked to contact Volunteer Coordinator Carly Jones at 618-213-8716 or carly.jones@caritasfamily.org.

Caritas Day 2018 sponsors include Clifton Larsen Allen, Egyptian Workspace Partners, House2Home Realty, Senior Services Plus and Scott Credit Union. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Event Coordinator Sam Lappe at 618-213-8717 or sam.lappe@caritasfamily.org.

Belleville, Ill. (April 26, 2018) – The Board of Directors at Fontebella Maternity Home, a nonprofit organization providing shelter and support for women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, has created a merger plan with Caritas Family Solutions. The plan was approved by the Caritas Board of Directors at their meeting Monday, April 23, 2018 and will become effective July 1, 2018 pending the filing of paperwork with the State of Illinois.

“The time has come to plan for the future of Fontebella and to ensure that our mothers and their babies receive the best possible care. We approached Caritas because we believe that our missions align and their infrastructure provides a strong foundation for the future we envision,” said Susan Hoff, who founded Fontebella in 2009 with her husband, Bob.

Caritas Family Solutions has provided pregnancy care and adoption services throughout Southern Illinois since 1947. “We are excited to welcome Fontebella to our array of services,” said Gary Huelsmann, chief executive officer at Caritas Family Solutions. “The maternity home will add another dimension to our pregnancy care program which for many years has provided a supportive option for mothers experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.”

Additional details about the merger will be released as they become available.

The mission of Fontebella Maternity Home is to empower homeless young women facing an unplanned pregnancy by providing them a safe place to live, and the opportunity to become independent women and great moms through educational programs, case management and counseling. Located in O’Fallon, Illinois, the home offers shelter for expectant mothers who have made the courageous choice of life for their unborn child and who find themselves alone or without good and safe options. More information is available at www.fontebella.org.

Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide direct services that meet the social and emotional needs of people of all ages. Services include adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, residential treatment for abused and neglected children, multisystemic therapy for at-risk youth, independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, and assisted living and employment assistance for low-income seniors. Caritas serves more than 4,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.

MST Staff at the Regional Office in Carterville to hold Open House

Carterville, Ill. (March 29, 2018) –Caritas Family Solutions, a nonprofit social service agency in Southern Illinois, was awarded a $60,000 grant from the Illinois Association of Juvenile Justice Councils (IAJJC) to support the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program offered through its Regional Office in Carterville. The grant funding was made available through the Violence Prevention Project for a target audience of at-risk youth in Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Saline counties.

An open house is scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Caritas Family Solutions, 10286 Fleming Road in Carterville, Ill., 62918. This will be an opportunity for members of the community to meet the MST staff and learn about the services offered. Principals, teachers, counselors, social workers, judges, probation officers, and anyone who is interested in learning more about MST is encouraged to attend. For directions or more information, call 618-985-2000.

Caritas Family Solutions has provided MST services since 2014. Initial funding was secured through Union County’s participation in Redeploy Illinois, a state-wide program to decrease juvenile incarceration through community programs that maintain public safety and promote positive outcomes for youth. With the additional grant funding from the IAJCC, Caritas can expand MST services to a wider geographic area with a less restrictive referral process.

“We are very grateful for this generous grant to expand our MST program,” said Gary Huelsmann, chief executive officer at Caritas Family Solutions. “MST has produced amazing results that save money every year by keeping at-risk youth out of trouble and out of jail. We work the program to help them reach their full potential and go on to lead productive lives.”

MST is an intensive family and community-based treatment program that addresses all environments that impact high risk youth: homes and families, schools and teachers, neighborhoods and friends. Therapists empower parents and caregivers to focus the youth on school and gaining job skills as well as introducing them to recreational activities as an alternative to negative behaviors. Evidence has shown that MST significantly reduces arrest rates and incarceration costs. More information is available at www.mstservices.com.

Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide direct services that meet the social and emotional needs of people of all ages. Services include adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, residential treatment for abused and neglected children, multisystemic therapy for at-risk youth, independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, and assisted living and employment assistance for low-income seniors. Caritas serves more than 4,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.

MST Open House flyer

Inaugural “day of giving” planned to mark anniversary

Belleville, Ill. – Caritas Family Solutions, a premier social service agency based in Belleville, Ill., is celebrating its 70^th anniversary of providing services throughout 42 counties in Southern Illinois. On July 31, 2017, exactly 70 years since incorporating as a non-profit in the State of Illinois, Caritas Family Solutions is launching the inaugural “Caritas Day,” a day of giving to mark the anniversary date and celebrate the successes of numerous individuals, children and families who have been strengthened by the agency’s mission since 1947.

Originally incorporated as Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Belleville, the agency name changed to Catholic Social Services in 1968.  In 2012, the agency became non-denominational and in 2014 changed its name to Caritas Family Solutions.

Caritas Day will consist of 24 hours of support for the mission of Caritas Family Solutions including online giving opportunities and volunteer projects at each Caritas service location.  There also will be a Grand Opening of the Caritas Resource Center located at 900 Royal Heights Road in Belleville, Ill.  The Resource Center will be a place to stock and store essential items donated by generous supporters and provided as needed to clients. The Grand Opening will be at 9:00 a.m. and will also include a Ribbon Cutting for the newly remodeled Komlos Rumpus Room at St. John Bosco Children’s Center.  Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert will be present to mark the occasion and refreshments will be available.

A wish list of items needed to stock the Resource Center is available at caritasfamilysolutions.org. Donations to the Resource Center will be collected on Caritas Day from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Royal Heights location.

The Komlos Rumpus Room is named after Ron Komlos, owner of Flooring Systems, Inc., who donated the materials and installation for new flooring in the room. Volunteers from Scott 5/6, a group of non-commissioned officers from Scott Air Force Base, have been integral in planning the renovations in the rumpus room, including painting and more. The room is used as recreation space by the 27 children who live at St. John Bosco Children’s Center where they receive therapeutic treatment for trauma due to abuse or neglect.

There are several volunteer projects planned for Caritas Day 2017. Donation collections for the Resource Center will be staffed by volunteers from SAFB and Archford Angels.  Volunteers from Ameren Illinois will assist with landscaping at the Regional Office in Belleville and projects at the Regional Office in Carterville.  Americorps volunteers will be working on landscaping and painting at several community homes for developmentally disabled adults in the Metro East area that are managed by Caritas Family Solutions.  If you are interested in volunteering on Caritas Day, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Carly Jones at 618-213-8716 or carly.jones@caritasfamily.org.

To make a gift in honor of Caritas Day, please go to caritasfamilysolutions.org or call 618-213-8700.

Grant to fund renovations to Carterville office

Belleville, Ill., (May  2017) – Caritas Family Solutions received a $12,500 grant from Ameren Illinois to renovate their Regional Office located at 10286 Fleming Road in Carterville, Ill. The 11,565 square foot building was once the Cancer Center of Southern Illinois and was purchased by the agency in 2013 when it moved its regional operations from Carbondale. Caritas, formerly Catholic Social Services, is a nonprofit social services agency headquartered in Belleville, Ill. The regional office provides services to residents in the 15 southernmost counties in Illinois. [Read more…]

Belleville, Ill. (September 23, 2016) – Caritas Family Solutions will begin providing social services at a new location in Belleville starting Monday, September 26, 2016. The agency purchased a former nursing home near Memorial Hospital, and after extensive renovations, has moved more than 40 employees in their foster care, adoption and counseling programs to the building at 900 Royal Heights Road. [Read more…]