Belleville, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Caritas Family Solutions is proud to announce the opening of its Community Youth Shelter, a groundbreaking program providing short-term stabilization and support for youth in Southern Illinois. Funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), this is the first program of its kind in the region, offering a new approach to helping families in crisis and keeping children safe in their communities.
The shelter serves youth ages 11 to 17 who are not in foster care and remain under the guardianship of their parents, including runaways, youth involved with law enforcement, or those experiencing significant conflict at home. It offers short-term, 24-hour care, with case managers, nurses, and counselors on hand to ensure children are safe and cared for while families work toward solutions.
“At Caritas, so much of our work centers around healing trauma and finding resolutions for children and families, so this new shelter is a perfect extension of our mission work,” said Hope Carbonaro, Chief Program Officer at Caritas Family Solutions. “It allows children who are having issues with their family to be in a safe, stable and loving place where they have that sense of belonging and peace while they work to resolve the conflict. By surrounding youth with support while keeping parents actively involved, we can address trauma, meet the child’s immediate needs while helping families find a path forward.”
Displaced youth who are not wards of the state are served through state-based programs such as Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS), which provides case management to help resolve family conflict. However, Carbonaro said in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to locate short-term host homes for children with higher needs, causing case managers to spend more time securing immediate placements than focusing on helping families address the crisis.
The new shelter includes nine beds and is structured as a 21-day intervention, though placements may vary based on individual circumstances. During that time, children remain under their parents’ guardianship while staff provide guidance without assuming parental responsibilities.
“This truly is a family-centered program, with the ultimate goal of keeping families together,” Carbonaro said. “Parents will still be the guardians and we will work closely with them to honor and respect their role while offering services to help stabilize the family. This program is truly designed as a preventative approach to give that care and support before a crisis becomes a separation.”
Caritas is one of the first two agencies in the state approved to implement this innovative model under DHS contracts, with plans to expand similar programs across Illinois. The nonprofit hired 15 new staff members to support the launch of the new program. The Community Youth Shelter officially opened on February 2, 2026.
About Caritas Family Solutions:
Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a nonprofit social service agency whose mission is to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of individuals and families in order to create healthy relationships, loving homes, and strong communities. Services include adoption, foster care, pregnancy care, Intact Family Services, residential treatment for children healing from abuse and/or neglect as well as a youth emergency shelter. Caritas also offers behavioral health services including substance use treatment, professional counseling, independent living and employment services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health housing and supportive services.
Caritas serves more than 6,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Waterloo, Olney, Glen Carbon, Alton, and Effingham, as well as satellite locations in Highland and Sparta. For additional information, visit caritasfamilysolutions.org.
Comments