Who We Are
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, founded over 30 years ago, is a non-profit organization that provides an individual licensed home in a supportive, community environment that marshals all the resources needed to help children in foster care heal and achieve their permanency goals.
The Village Model of Care prioritizes the following: 1) Children live together with their siblings; 2) Children receive care and support from a full-time, professionally trained and licensed Foster Parent; 3) Children thrive in a private, single-family home; 4) Children benefit from the support of the Village, designed as an intentional community of care; and 5) Families receive strengthening services to support their needs and keep them intact whenever possible.
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois unites brothers and sisters in foster care and provides a safe space to heal for at-risk youth. Currently, the organization operates four sites: three Villages providing sibling group foster care at an 17-home Village (opened in 1993) in Lockport, Illinois; a 17-home Village (opened in 2004) in the Auburn Gresham, Englewood neighborhood of Chicago; a 14-home Village (opened in 2014) in the Roosevelt Square Community of Chicago, as well as Casa Tepeyac (acquired in 2011), a facility that offers preventative and in-home services in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago.
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois celebrates a 90% high school graduation rate, compared to a national average of 56% for children in foster care. In 2023, SOS Illinois maintained Candid’s (formerly GuideStar) highest award, Platinum Seal of Transparency, and Charity Navigator’s Rating of Four-Stars.
Mission Statement
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois advances the safety and well-being of children by keeping siblings together in foster care, empowering youth, nurturing strong families, and partnering in the development of communities.
Vision
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois aspires to provide every child a bright future with a forever home that thrives in a strong connected community.
Values
At SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, we share the following values, and they define our work with each other, with children and families, and with the community:
Compassion – We are driven by our care for others and practice empathy by listening to all.
Inclusion – We take pride in creating equitable environments and providing access to resources for all.
Integrity – We honor our commitments in an ethical manner to build trust and credibility.
Adaptability – We are growing, innovating, and ready to adjust as new opportunities arise.
Our Programs
Sibling Foster Care
Our Sibling Foster Care program gives children and youth in foster care the opportunity to grow up with their siblings and remain together as a family, with the support of a live-in Professional Foster Parent, in-house case management teams, as well as clinical therapy and other on-site services. This program prioritizes reunifying youth with their families whenever possible. When that is not possible, permanent guardianship or adoption are among the continuing efforts to provide long-term stability.
In-Home Family Services
Our In-Home Family Services help families build on their strengths, tackle tough problems, and stabilize to help youth deal with issues related to delinquency, academics, and relationships. This program helps parents gain effective parenting skills, attain support services, resolve conflict and crisis, and improve social, life, coping, and academic skills.
Health & Nutrition Education
Our Health & Nutrition Education Program offers Cooking & Nutrition Programs to the community of Illinois. We work with a team of workforce specialists who help secure great jobs for all training participants. Participants receive Culinary Training, Job Placement Support, and additional Support Services.
Our History
For over 30 years, SOS Illinois has provided the highest quality of care for Illinois’ underserved youth and families. It is the first self-funded SOS Children’s Villages organization in the United States and has operated as its own 501(c)3 since 1993.
Since our beginning, we strive to provide children and youth in care with the highest level of support and resources. Today, we continue to do so by recognizing the importance of families and communities working together to reach the common goal of reuniting healthy families.
Our Villages
The unique strength of our Villages lies in the collective power of dedicated Professional Foster Parents, Child Welfare staff, Clinical Therapy programs, and many more on-site services working together to help underserved children and families.
Click here to see a gallery of photos of our Villages and sites.
Lockport Village
17545 Village Lane
Lockport, IL 60441
P: 815-740-7280
F: 815-740-7282
Lockport Village
Opened in 1993, located on 20 acres near Joliet, IL. The Village is comprised of 17 single-family homes, a community and learning center, a playground, and an administrative building.
Chicago Village
7600 S. Parnell
Chicago, IL 60620
P: 773-783-0500
F: 773-783-0600
Chicago Village
Opened in 2004, located on 7.5 acres in the South Side of Chicago. The Village is comprised of 17 single-family homes, a community and learning center within an administrative building, a community garden and green area.
Roosevelt Square Village
1133 W. 13th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
P: 312-243-1901
F: 312-243-3086
Roosevelt Square Village
Opened in 2014, the Roosevelt Square Village is comprised of 14 single-family homes near the medical district and UIC campus. The Tim McCormick Community Center opened in 2021 with a state-of-the-art learning kitchen and offers programming for the children and families we serve as well as for the broader community.
Casa Tepeyac
4538 S. Hermitage
Chicago, IL 60609
P: 773-247-7725
F: 773-247-7794
Casa Tepeyac
Acquired by SOS Illinois in 2011, Casa Tepeyac provides In-Home Family Services, Prevention Programs, and Resources to the Back of the Yards neighborhood and beyond.
Administrative Office
216 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite #925
Chicago, IL 60606
P: 312-372-8200
F: 312-372-8202
Administrative Office
The Administrative Office is located in the southwest Loop of Downtown Chicago. It serves as the centralized hub for operations in the Advancement, Communications, Finance, and Human Resources Departments.
1949
SOS Children’s Villages is founded in Austria by Hermann Gmeiner to provide aid to children orphaned or abandoned during World War II.
1990
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is Incorporated as an Organization.
1993
In 1993, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is funded and becomes the first self-funded SOS Children’s Villages in the United States, operating as its own 501(c)3.
This year the Lockport Village opened its doors, offering 10 single-family homes, an administrative building, and a playground to the Lockport, IL community.
2004
In 2004, the Chicago Village is founded through a partnership with the City of Chicago. Mayor Richard M. Daley joined SOS Illinois for the opening ceremony of the Chicago Village, which offers 16 single-family homes, an administrative building, and a green area.
2007
In 2007, the Lavezzorio Community Center opened at the Chicago Village. This community center serves as home to educational, recreational, therapeutic, and childcare services offered by SOS Illinois and its community partners at the Chicago Village.
This year, YMCA also opened a daycare center inside the Lavezzorio Community Center, providing the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood with access to much needed childcare services.
2011
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois acquires Casa Tepeyac to provide comprehensive youth and family services to at-risk youth in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
2012
April 2012: SOS Children’s Villages Illinois purchases an additional home at the Chicago Village, bringing the total to 17 homes.
December 2012: SOS Children’s Villages Illinois secures funds from the City of Chicago, obtains land from the Chicago Housing Authority, and approves the development of a Village in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood of Chicago, IL.
2014
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois opens the Roosevelt Square Village, providing 14 single-family homes designed to provide stable housing and critical supportive services to the youth and families we serve.
2015
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois celebrates our 25th Anniversary and honors the legacy of our founders, donors, supporters, staff, and youth who have enriched our community for over two decades.
2019
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois receives the Council of Accreditation for the fourth year in a row. The Council of Accreditation means that SOS Illinois’ programs, services, administration, and management have been rigorously evaluated and meet best practice standards on our continued mission to provide the best care and support to the children and families we serve.
2020
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois celebrates 30 Years of service to the underserved families and communities in Illinois! Watch our 30th Anniversary Video here!
2021
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois opens its doors to a new Community Center for the Roosevelt Square Village designed by internationally recognized architect Juan Moreno and construction led by Lendlease.
This community center serves as home to educational, recreational, therapeutic, and childcare services offered by SOS Illinois and its community partners.
2022
The Roosevelt Square Community Center is renamed the Tim McCormick Community Center, in honor of previous Chief Executive Officer, Tim McCormick. Tim dedicated over 18 years of service to SOS Illinois and worked diligently to ensure our youth and families receive the best care and resources available for them.
Today
SOS Children’s Villages Illinois welcomes Delphine F. Rankin, Ed.D, as new Chief Executive Officer!
Awards, Accreditations & Honors
In 2023, the Tim McCormick Community Center was awarded the Chicago Building Congress Merit Award in the Commercial Construction Under $50 million category at the CBC Merit Awards. The CBC Merit Awards celebrates the building industry by highlighting Chicagoland projects built during the three previous years.
In 2015, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois was named Top 20 Charities in Chicago by Chicago Magazine.
In 2012, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois was recognized by Chicago Magazine as one of the 15 charities in Chicago to be awarded the “Gold Standard”
In 2009, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois was awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Award for both Architectural Excellence in Community Design and Outstanding Non-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project for the Lavezzorio Community Center at Chicago Village.
