Strong families create thriving children

Perspectives

Hello <<First Name>>,

This year, we celebrate 140 years of dedicated service to Illinois families. Our presence has been felt in homes, classrooms, and communities across the state, making a difference in the lives of over 30,000 children, youth, and families every year. We’re taking this history into a new era, and we’re signaling this pivot with a new name. 

In 1883, Children’s Home & Aid was founded on the belief that it was a collective responsibility to ensure safe homes for children. Our founder, the Revered Martin Van Arsdale, described it this way: “There is a home in a good family for every homeless child and woe to me if I do not find it.” Put simply, we existed to create a safe environment for children… but more often than not, one separate from their family.

There is a through-line from our impetus to undertake this work 140 years ago – the wellbeing of children– and how that same drive requires a fresh look at our impact.

Our long history and more recent research underscore the same, powerful conclusion: separating a child from their family risks compromising their ability to thrive later in life. A powerful insight for an organization that helped shape the modern child welfare system and foster care in Illinois and nationally. This is what makes our aspiration to end the need for foster care as we know it so striking.

We’re calling for a new approach to this work. One that puts families and prevention first. As we did in the past with the launch of Children Home Societies throughout the country, we are stepping up to lead by being unequivocal about our belief that family is the single greatest asset for child wellbeing.

We’ll do this by replacing what we think of today as child welfare with what we know promotes child and family wellbeing. We’ll do this by turning the page on Children’s Home & Aid and becoming Brightpoint. Our vision, mission and strategy are all crystal clear that our purpose is to create and support opportunities for families to establish thriving environments for their children. It is within families that children and youth find love, support, and guidance to overcome life's challenges—big and small.

Our new name, Brightpoint, signals our unwavering commitment to disrupt the systemic and multi-generational cycle of racial, social, and economic inequality by investing in families. This new identity is a recommitment to our partnership with families as the single greatest asset for child and youth wellbeing.  This is because at Brightpoint, we believe that strong families create thriving children.  

Our name and tagline underscore this belief. The “bright" in Brightpoint, represents the positivity, hope, and optimism we share with families and children who may not initially feel especially bright when we meet them. Our role is to reassure and encourage them, lighting a path to a better future. The "point" in Brightpoint signals our focused approach. Families and children are at the forefront of every decision we make. And finally, our tagline—strong families, thriving children—tells you our intended impact and what we aspire to build each and every day.

As Brightpoint, we acknowledge that bravery comes from the choices our families make daily. We’re committed to being brave with them by pushing boundaries and transforming systems which limit their choices and opportunities. This means partnering with families by providing the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive, ever mindful of our vision of a more equitable, inclusive world where children and families thrive in strong communities.

We’re ready for the next 140 years of transforming lives as Brightpoint. We hope you are too.

Mike Shaver
President and CEO
Brightpoint

Featured Article

Our President and CEO Mike Shaver's commentary was featured in The Telegraph in Alton, Illinois. For generations, the child welfare system has operated under the premise that removing children from their home often is the best solution during a family crisis. Mike believes that we can and should do better — for our children, for our families and for our communities. Read the full opinion piece here!

Our Brightpoint Video

On May 24th, 2023, Children's Home & Aid officially became Brightpoint. We celebrated our new identity with a video that uses images of our wonderful families and spoken word to tell the story of our evolution. Watch it here!

Brightpoint Programs

Brightpoint Parent Support Services
Brightpoint believes parents are at the forefront of strong families. The Parent Support services offered by Brightpoint are designed to recognize the parent’s unique and irreplaceable role in developing young lives.

Brightpoint offers the following Parent Support programs:

Prenatal Services
Home Visiting Coaching
Family Guidance and Support
Fatherhood Programs

To learn more about Brightpoint's various Parent Support programs, visit this link!

Recent Brightpoint Events

Thrive Breakfast

The annual Thrive Breakfast was held on May 24th, 2023, in Bloomington, Illinois at the DoubleTree by Hilton and was the official statewide launch of our new identity! There were over 250 registered attendees. To hear an interview from WGLT with our President and CEO, Mike Shaver and Vice President of our Central Region, Mendy Smith discussing how our new identity as Brightpoint brings a new focus to our work that puts families at the center of everything we do click here.

Breaking Barriers Breakfast

Brightpoint held our annual Breaking Barriers, Centering Families, Transforming Systems Breakfast on June 8th, 2023 at the Chicago Cultural Center. The morning was the Chicago celebration of our new identity and centered on how transforming systems can lead to strong families and thriving children. Nicholas Kristof, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the New York Times, was our keynote speaker. Artist and poet Harold Green wowed guests and spoke about the power fathers play in the lives of their children with the poem “Something to Live For”, which you can view here.

Send your comments or feedback to communications@brightpoint.org

Copyright © 2023

Our mailing address is:
200 W. Monroe St. Ste 2100
Chicago, IL 60606

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