Map of SOS activies in the USA

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United States: Poverty Amid Plenty

The United States is a nation of contrasts, an economic powerhouse that has seen wealth inequality rising at an alarming rate. According to UNICEF, 30% of American children live below the poverty line, which is significantly above the global average of 20%.

Poverty puts additional strains on already vulnerable families, leaving children at increased risk.

Challenges for Separated Children: Foster Care in the United States

The U.S. child welfare system is in crisis, with a shortage of foster homes and a widespread inability to place siblings together. A lack of effective transition programs makes the move from youth to adulthood very difficult. Less than 50% of children in foster care graduate from high school, and only 3% complete a bachelor’s degree.

Without a high school education and ongoing support to develop professional skills, foster youth can face serious challenges. In fact, 33% of homeless young adults were previously in foster care, and one quarter of foster care alumni will become involved with the criminal justice system within two years of leaving care.

A Family-Centered Approach: Our Work in the United States

In the U.S., SOS Children’s Villages focuses on improving the lives of children who are part of the child welfare system or at risk of entering the child welfare system.  We currently have a presence in two states – Florida and Illinois.

The SOS model works: 100% of SOS youth in the U.S. graduate from high school, and SOS alumni are six times more likely to graduate from college than youth in traditional foster care.

Our Work in Illinois: Joliet and Chicago

SOS Children’s Villages Illinois’s three villages (Lockport Village, near Joliet; Chicago Village, in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood; and Roosevelt Square Village, in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name) unite brothers and sisters in foster care, surround them with a community of hope, and help them grow into caring and productive adults.

The Lavezzorio Community Center, at the Chicago Village, offers educational, recreational and daycare programs to village residents and local community members and connects community members to valuable resources.

SOS Illinois also runs a short-term shelter to assist at-risk youth (ages 11 to 17) and works with families to build on their strengths, tackle tough problems, and stabilize aid to youth dealing with issues related to gang involvement.

Family Strengthening Program: Building a Bright Future for Vulnerable Families

The family strengthening program in the Chicago area helps young pregnant women and young mothers. The program is designed to prepare these women and their kids for the future and to ensure that the children have a stable, loving childhood.

The Family First Prevention Services Act: Following SOS Illinois’s Model of Care

In February 2018, the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law, changing the future of foster care in the United States and shining a light on the incredibly positive effects that organizations like SOS Illinois are having on children in foster care.

FFPSA emphasizes family foster care and expands options for children eligible for foster care, putting more resources toward prevention. This mirrors SOS Illinois’s approach of providing both alternative care and family strengthening services.

Under FFPSA, approved providers like SOS Illinois are able to use federal funds for important preventative services such as in-home parent skills programs, mental health services, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services that allow children eligible for foster care to stay with their parents or relatives.

2017 Results

In 2017, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois provided programs and services to 453 children and youth. The Sibling Foster Care program has saved 64 sibling groups from unnecessary separation, giving them the opportunity to grow up together until they reach an age where they are willing and able to live on their own.