Starfish Family Homes: Provides hope, love and safety in a stable Christian community for children through physical, educational, social and spiritual care.

There are approximately 170 children within our County in foster care homes. National statistics indicates that three of four children in foster care are separated from their siblings and most of these children will live in six or more foster homes before they age out of the system. Once out of the foster care system, 84% of the girls have a child within 18 months, 46% never finish high school, 40% live on public assistance and 25% are homeless at some point in their adult life.

Program Services Offered by Starfish Family Homes

The goal of Starfish Family Homes is to keep children of abuse and neglect with their siblings in one home. At present, nobody in Kankakee County does this for these children! With community support, Starfish Family Homes will be able to provide long-term services for children to stay together and learn critical life skills from Christian foster parents.

Melissa Morehouse, is the new director of services. She will be coordinating training programs with Olivet Nazarene University. She will be organizing and developing these programs as needs arise. A database of service providers who can deliver training programs is being established and maintained by their director. Program services will be offered to service agencies recruiting foster families, offering family support services, reducing placement disruptions and to retain qualified families.

Program services for foster parents include advanced training, assistance in obtaining needed services, educational advocacy, support services and respite care. And, services to foster children will include help with educational needs, social needs, emotional needs, assist with maintaining family relationships with other siblings and transitional assistance to adulthood.

Melissa Morehouse, is available to meet with you to answer any questions you may have about their program. She will also have opportunities for you to help Starfish with their mission, either through financial contributions, volunteer efforts or donations in kind.

Kankakee OurCityRadio applauds the work of Starfish Family Homes!! Our hats off to you… for all you do for the children of our communities!!

Contact Starfish Family Homes today:

Starfish Family Homes
Attn: SueAnn O’Connor
6649 W. State Route 115
Herscher, IL
Telephone: 815-953-4655

You can also reach them on Facebook!