CHICAGO (Feb. 9, 2010)—One Hope United was recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois with a $5,000 grant for its success in and continuance of its critical prevention programs for at-risk children and families in Lake and Cook Counties.
“We are proud to support One Hope United,” said Clarita Santos, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois director of community health initiatives. “Our mission is to promote the health and wellness of our members and our communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. By supporting organizations like One Hope United, we are able to reach out to the people most in need.”
The funds from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will benefit both The Parent Group and Wings programs at One Hope United in both Lake and Cook Counties.
“Without the generous support of corporations such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we would not be able to fulfill our mission of protecting children and strengthening families,” said Joyce Heneberry, senior vice president at One Hope United. “In today’s economy, our programs are struggling with whether they will be able to operate the next day. Having corporations philanthropically support the advancement of the community through organizations such as One Hope United is critical to our at-risk neighbors surviving this economic turmoil.”
The Parent Group of One Hope United brings parents together with a professional facilitator to sharpen their child-rearing skills. The voluntary service, provided free to parents thanks to generous funders such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, is designed to support parents and teach parenting skills. The ultimate goal of the program is to prevent child abuse and neglect. Groups meet weekly in English and Spanish. One Hope United accepts referrals from a variety of sources.
The Wings program of One Hope United serves to help new parents adjust to the responsibilities of parenthood. Targeted for new and expecting parents, Wings promotes positive parent-child interaction. It works to enhance family functioning, build trusting relationships and teach problem-solving skills. The purpose of this service is also to prevent child abuse and neglect. Wings is available to families from the prenatal period until the child reaches the age of 5, at no cost, thanks to donors like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. To inquire about the Wings program in Lake County please call, 847.245.6800 and for Cook County, please call 312.9495590.
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About One Hope United
One Hope United is a private human service organization dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families. One Hope United offers a diverse array of prevention, intervention and community-based programs. One Hope United also specializes in child welfare system management, reform, consultation and training. With principal offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Florida, One Hope United serves more than 15,000 children and their families across the country each year. For more information, visit www.onehopeunited.wpengine.com.
