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…]

Chicago, May 4, 2016- Pay Now Illinois a coalition of 64 Illinois-based human and social service agencies and companies, today sued Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the directors of six statewide agencies seeking immediate payment in full of more than $100 million owed for work performed under contracts that date back to July 1, 2015, the beginning of the state’s current fiscal year. A link to the lawsuit can be found at www.paynowillinois.org.legalaction.html. [Read more…]

Caritas Family Solutions received a $10,000 grant from Ameren Illinois to support the Focus on Kids Campaign, a fundraising effort that aims to renovate one wing of St. John Bosco Children’s Center, the agency’s residential treatment center for abused and neglected children. It is located in Belleville. [Read more…]

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (March 3, 2016)-Jay Taddei and the Associated Physician’s Group have been recognized by Caritas Family Solutions with the second annual Heart & Soul Award for exemplifying the mission of the organization and putting their heart and soul into caring for those served by the agency.

The award was presented at the Caritas Family Solutions Annual Heart & Soul Gala Saturday, February 20, at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. The award annually honors an individuals or organization who, through their service and contributions, has exemplified the agency’s values of Sacredness of Human Life; Dignity and Diversity; Community; Family Life; Stewardship; Justice; Collaboration; and Hope.

Taddei and his associates have fulfilled the Christmas wishes of more than 75 children in Caritas Family Solutions foster care program each year for the past 14 years. The Christmas Toy Drive held by the physicians results in more than $10,000 in toys, clothing, games and books for foster children who might not otherwise have a gift under the tree at Christmas. “Despite a difficult economy, I am very thankful the owners of APG still fully support the Secret Santa Program,” Taddei said. “APG’s goal is that no local child wakes up on Christmas morning without presents to open and food to eat.”

Caritas Family Solutions annual Heart & Soul Gala is the largest and most successful fundraising event for the organization. John Pertzborn, co-anchor for Fox 2 News in the Morning, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. In addition to dinner, verbal and silent auctions, the program included a Fund-A-Need, which raised money to go toward the “Focus on Kids Campaign“. The goal of the campaign is to raise $200,000 to renovate the south wing of St. John Bosco Children’s Center, a residential treatment center for abused and neglected children, ages 6-13. The renovations will help to alleviate the sterile, institutional look of the center which was previously a nursing home.

Major sponsors for the Heart & Soul Gala included Edward Jones; Thompson Coburn, LLP; Jim’s Formal Wear; Gori Julian & Associates, P.C.; and Gateway Development. Proceeds from the event will benefit more than 4,400 individuals and families the agency serves annually.

Caritas Family Solutions, founded in 1947, is a nonprofit social services agency providing adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, senior assisted living, senior employment, Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) for people with developmental disabilities, juvenile offender therapy programs, and the St. John Bosco Children’s Center for abused and neglected children. Caritas serves more than 4,400 individuals annually throughout its 42-county service area through a network of quality services with a spirited, dedicated, professional staff who serve others with respect and dignity at every stage of life. Offices are located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit the Caritas Family Solutions website at www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.