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SOCIAL IMPACT
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Gads Hill Center families face complex issues as they strive to build better lives. Our programs address some of the most pressing challenges facing working families throughout Chicago, including lack of resources and education. As a result:
Below are a few stories that demonstrate the impact that Gads Hill Center is having on Chicago's children, youth and families:
- More than 600 children who complete Gads Hill Center early childhood programs are ready to succeed in grade school.
- Of the youth that attended Gads Hill Center's Teen Connection Program last year, 100% graduated from high school.
- More than 15,000 children receive culturally and linguistically relevant education, resources and support services to help them and their families thrive.
Below are a few stories that demonstrate the impact that Gads Hill Center is having on Chicago's children, youth and families:
Angel's Speech: A Home Visiting Program Success Story
Ms. Calero often passed by Gads Hill Center in Brighton Park. It had never crossed her mind to come inside and look at the programs and services that could benefit her three-year-old son, Angel. As a first-time mother, Ms. Calero was unsure whether her son's speech development was progressing at a normal rate. "I used to feel very sad," she said. "He was not acting like other kids of the same age."
At the time of her first visit in the fall of 2013, Angel could only communicate through crying and other non-verbal means. He would hit his mother and pull at her clothing to get her attention. "Before the program I was very concerned in the way he used to act with me and my husband," said Ms. Calero. "Angel used to throw many tantrums during the day and I did not know how to deal with this situation."
After sharing her story with a Family Support Worker (FSW), Ms. Calero was assured that Gads Hill Center could help her address her concerns and support Angel's healthy development.
Once enrolled in the Home Visiting Program, Gads Hill Center paired the family with a Parent Educator to visit their home, spend time with Angel and assess his language development. Between the FSW and Parent Educator, Ms. Calero was provided with educational aids, guidance on developmental stages and positive parenting strategies.
Angel was given a comprehensive developmental screening which indicated he had a speech delay. To help him catch up with his peers, the family’s Parent Educator, Olga Hueramo, recommended that Angel be enrolled in speech therapy services. "My responsibility," said Ms. Hueramo, "is to guide clients to get the services available to them and use them to benefit their family."
Gads Hill Center's Home Visiting team provided a referral and made the appointment to have Angel assessed with the Illinois Early Intervention Program. The team supported the family through the entire process and helped coordinate services. From the comfort of his own home, Angel received speech intervention therapy and with the completion of his course he now communicates and interacts positively through verbal expression.
"He has been changing a lot since we started the program," said Ms. Calero. "He is more patient with others and I notice that he is able to control his anger when playing in a group." At home, Ms. Calero stated that, "Angel is now able to communicate with me and my husband."
By fostering safe, supportive and stimulating home environments, Gads Hill Center promotes the holistic well-being of families and encourages the development of children's critical skills to clear a path for school and life success. We partner with families to work toward our vision – that all individuals, regardless of where they start, will achieve their full potential.
Alicia and Jada: Working Toward a Brighter Future
When Jada and her mother, Alicia, enrolled in Gads Hill Center's Head Start Program in December 2012, the family was facing many challenges. Jada was experiencing language difficulties and had trouble socializing with other children. Years before, she had sustained a head injury that potentially could have impacted her development. Concerned about the possibility of developmental delays, Alicia felt her daughter could benefit from the specialized services offered by Gads Hill Center's Family Support Team.
Still, Alicia was facing struggles in other areas of her life. She needed to find employment, a safe place to live, and a support system. Lacking a high school education, Alicia found it difficult to locate stable jobs that would allow her to support her daughter.
Gads Hill Center worked with Alicia and Jada to develop a plan that would address their immediate needs while also setting long-term goals. The team referred Jada to Chicago Public Schools for a developmental assessment that would result in an individualized educational assessment plan (IEP) to support her learning. Alicia also received emergency services to secure housing and job placement. Once stabilized, Alicia was able to focus on a long-term goal: completing her general education degree (GED).
Today, Alicia reflects on her experiences with the team: "Gads Hill Center cares. They offer a different level of support that has really helped Jada and me work toward a better future." At GHC’s Child Development Center, Jada is thriving; she is now making rapid progress toward reaching her educational goals. Jada’s teachers are confident that she is on-track to enter school ready to learn. Alicia has grown as well — she is gainfully employed and working to complete her GED and pursue higher education.
Still, Alicia was facing struggles in other areas of her life. She needed to find employment, a safe place to live, and a support system. Lacking a high school education, Alicia found it difficult to locate stable jobs that would allow her to support her daughter.
Gads Hill Center worked with Alicia and Jada to develop a plan that would address their immediate needs while also setting long-term goals. The team referred Jada to Chicago Public Schools for a developmental assessment that would result in an individualized educational assessment plan (IEP) to support her learning. Alicia also received emergency services to secure housing and job placement. Once stabilized, Alicia was able to focus on a long-term goal: completing her general education degree (GED).
Today, Alicia reflects on her experiences with the team: "Gads Hill Center cares. They offer a different level of support that has really helped Jada and me work toward a better future." At GHC’s Child Development Center, Jada is thriving; she is now making rapid progress toward reaching her educational goals. Jada’s teachers are confident that she is on-track to enter school ready to learn. Alicia has grown as well — she is gainfully employed and working to complete her GED and pursue higher education.
Nora: Discovering Her Full Potential
Nora dreamed of being the first in her family to attend college. She came to Gads Hill Center because she had heard we could help her achieve her dream. She was placed in regular classes for her first year in high school, but she knew she needed to push herself to get ahead by taking honors courses and getting help with her homework in subjects such as science, in which she was struggling. She reached out to Teen Connection and discovered a bigger future than she had ever imagined.
The staff and volunteers at Teen Connection worked with Nora, providing academic support, helping her prepare for the ACT, and identifying opportunities for her to take on leadership positions. Noticing her potential, Gads Hill staff helped Nora obtain a $30,000 grant to lead a group of students on an environmental service trip to Costa Rica. By her senior year, Nora had blossomed into a dedicated student and leader, ready to move on to the next step in her education.
Before Teen Connection, Nora didn’t know she had the option of attending a top-tier university. In fact, she hadn’t even heard of many of the ten schools that accepted her. With the help of Teen Connection staff, she applied for and won one of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarships awarded to only 1,000 students nationwide. Graduating at the top of her class from Benito Juarez High School and a proud winner of a scholarship that will fund any unmet college costs, Nora has indeed achieved her dream.
As a first-generation college student, Nora attends an Ivy League powerhouse, Brown University. "Even though I grew up in a tough neighborhood," she said, "I learned a valuable lesson: to courageously confront every challenge that comes my way and make the most of every opportunity."
The staff and volunteers at Teen Connection worked with Nora, providing academic support, helping her prepare for the ACT, and identifying opportunities for her to take on leadership positions. Noticing her potential, Gads Hill staff helped Nora obtain a $30,000 grant to lead a group of students on an environmental service trip to Costa Rica. By her senior year, Nora had blossomed into a dedicated student and leader, ready to move on to the next step in her education.
Before Teen Connection, Nora didn’t know she had the option of attending a top-tier university. In fact, she hadn’t even heard of many of the ten schools that accepted her. With the help of Teen Connection staff, she applied for and won one of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarships awarded to only 1,000 students nationwide. Graduating at the top of her class from Benito Juarez High School and a proud winner of a scholarship that will fund any unmet college costs, Nora has indeed achieved her dream.
As a first-generation college student, Nora attends an Ivy League powerhouse, Brown University. "Even though I grew up in a tough neighborhood," she said, "I learned a valuable lesson: to courageously confront every challenge that comes my way and make the most of every opportunity."
