Cornerstones of Care

This #WayToHelpWednesday, we're gathering scientific calculators, reusable water bottles, and wired earbuds—essential supplies for the children in our care as they prepare for the new school year in August. To arrange a drop-off, please email lea.loudon@cornerstonesofcare.org. Your donations will help ensure every child has what they need to succeed!

Join our team at Cornerstones of Care! We’re hiring a Teacher I/II in our Education Department. Starting salary: $40,000-$60,000 (based on education and experience). Responsibilities include providing direct instruction to special education students, developing IEPs, and maintaining a trauma-informed classroom. Bachelor's required for Teacher I, Master's for Teacher II, with 1-3 years of experience preferred. Competitive benefits package included. Read the entire job description and apply to teach in one of our day treatment schools today at https://lnkd.in/gYmZKEG. #MOJobs #AllInCARE

📚🎒 We're collecting new school supplies and backpacks for our Grab & Go Backpack Bonanza, and we need your support! Our annual backpack giveaway ensures every child in our programs has the essentials they need before the school year starts. This includes those in our foster care programs, students attending our day treatment schools, and children living at our Ozanam Campus. Let's make sure these kiddos start their year off excited and prepared! Donations can be made until July 26 by contacting lea.loudon@cornerstonesofcare.org. #BackpackBonanza #AllInCARE

Happy Fourth of July from Cornerstones of Care! 🇺🇸 Wishing everyone a safe and joyous day celebrating freedom! Our main offices are closed in observance of the holiday, with limited services available.

Like many who work at Cornerstones of Care, Jessica Hall, M.A. Ed., SPED is aware that people often misunderstand her work as a middle school teacher at the Gillis Campus Day Treatment School. Skepticism about whether kids who have experienced significant trauma are truly capable of change isn’t uncommon. However, Jessica knows otherwise. “I already have three success stories within the time I’ve been here,” said Jessica, now in her sixth year in the classroom. One student arrived at the Gillis Campus after the COVID-19 pandemic as a sixth-grader with a third-grade reading level. Two years later, he’s reading at the ninth-grade level and meeting all the standards in core subjects. He’s on track to graduate and transition to Northeast High, where he plans to pursue football and participate in the ROTC program. Another student recently received a scholarship with KC Scholars and is the top student in his class. In this inspiring blog, Jessica shares how she fosters growth and confidence in her students by role-modeling appropriate behaviors, maintaining high expectations, and collaborating with team members: https://bit.ly/4eIRfoH. There are several teacher and paraprofessional positions open at our Gillis and Ozanam Day Treatment Schools. Apply today for the 2024-25 school year at https://bit.ly/3umaIcA. #AllInCARE #MOJobs

At Cornerstones of Care, we know that youth in foster care need mentorship, resources, and robust wrap-around-services to support them as they graduate from our programs and transition to adulthood. Upon graduating from Build Trybe’s Building Trades program, ‘Big Mike’ became a member of the Flourish Program, which invites successful youth to return as ambassadors to assist with paid work opportunities. When Build Trybe’s Transition Services team pitched Big Mike the opportunity of working with Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity and their Team Up Project, he jumped on it. Every Thursday for six weeks, Big Mike and four Build Trybe youth joined a team of mostly-retired volunteers to renovate a home for a disabled veteran. The experience was life-changing for Big Mike, who learned valuable construction skills and quickly developed a close bond with 69-year-old volunteer Tom. The story of this unlikely friendship is featured on Habitat for Humanity’s website: https://lnkd.in/gQ9qT9ZZ. Following the renovation, Big Mike was “hooked” and applied and was accepted into Habitat for Humanity’s AmeriCorps program. With help from the Transition Services team, he earned both his GED and his driver’s license, both required for his new position. Thanks to powerful partnerships like the one between Cornerstones of Care’s Build Trybe program and Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity, Build Trybe graduates like Big Mike can launch from foster care with marketable skills, job experience, and caring friendships that will guide them to a successful future.

In our recently published 2023 Foundation Impact Report, we spoke with foundation donor Jerry Cooke, whose family has been a multi-generation donor. Inspired by his mother Thelma's legacy, Jerry shares insights on his philanthropic endeavors and advice for supporting youth: https://bit.ly/4bi5hL3. Whether a monthly donation, a planned future gift, or an act of volunteerism, your generous gifts make it possible for us to serve children and families as we provide youth and family support, foster care and adoption services, and education and training. View our 2023 foundation report or make a planned gift at https://bit.ly/4evIkH7. #AllInCARE

Jonathan Graham's life took a transformative turn when he found a foster care agency business card while cleaning his house. Motivated by a desire to invest energy into working with kids, Jonathan became a treatment foster parent and a Training Specialist at Cornerstones of Care. Together with his partner Patrick, he provides a nurturing environment for youth who have experienced trauma. Discover how Jonathan and Patrick balance patience, self-care, and a dedication to personal growth to transform the life of a youth in Treatment Foster Care at https://lnkd.in/gen3-a-K or email tfcwest@cornerstonesofcare.org to learn more about TFC. #AllInCARE #FosterCare #SelfCare

Happy Juneteenth! Today, we honor and celebrate #Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Our main offices are closed in observance of the holiday, with limited services available.