Transforming lives: LCFS honors foster families, seeks more to answer the call

For a child entering foster care, a caring family can mean everything. This May, during National Foster Care Month, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois honors the incredible foster parents across Illinois who open their homes — and their hearts — to children who need them most.

“Behind every statistic is a child with a story — and a dream for a better future,” said Mike Bertrand, President and CEO of LCFS. “Foster families don’t just provide shelter; they offer hope, healing, and a sense of belonging that can transform a child’s life forever.”

Today, more than 18,000 children are in Illinois’ foster care system. Yet far too many wait for the right family to say “yes.” The need is especially urgent for older youth, sibling groups, and children with complex emotional or medical needs. Without enough foster homes, many children are separated from their siblings or wait longer to be placed with a family where they can feel safe and supported.

“Every teenager deserves a home where they feel seen. Every sibling deserves to grow up with their brother or sister. Every child deserves to know they are valued,” Bertrand emphasized. “We need more people willing to step into these children’s lives and say, ‘I’m here for you.’”

Foster parents often describe the experience as life-changing for themselves as well. Through LCFS, new foster families receive extensive training, 24/7 support, and a community of experienced child welfare staff and other foster parents to walk alongside them.

One LCFS foster mom, Edna Franchini, recently shared: “Becoming a foster parent wasn’t always easy, but it’s the most meaningful journey I’ve ever taken. I’ve had the privilege of watching children find their smiles again and begin to believe in a future filled with hope.”

Individuals and families interested in learning more about foster care are encouraged to contact LCFS for more information. Staff are available to answer questions, explain the licensing process, and provide guidance on how to become a foster parent.

For more information, visit www.lcfs.org/foster or call (800) 363-5237.

“This month, we honor our foster families — and we ask others to consider if they, too, could be the turning point in a child’s life,” Bertrand said. “There is no greater gift you can give than the gift of family.”

Lutheran Children and Family Services of Illinois is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and strengthening children and families in need. After more than 150 years, it has grown into one of the largest community-based child welfare agencies in Illinois. It has regional sites in the Chicago area, Bourbonnais, Decatur, Joliet, Mt. Vernon, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, O’Fallon and Springfield. For more information, visit www.lcfs.org.