DES PLAINES – Maryville Academy is pleased to learn that it has been awarded a Residential Capital Improvement Grant of $200,000 by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS).
Maryville will be using the money to expand its Casa Imani program in Bartlett to a new location in Berwyn at St. Mary of Celle where infrastructure work, specifically the installation of a fire alarm sprinkler system and other health and safety related items, will be supported.
“We are deeply grateful to the department for standing together with Maryville as we expand our Casa Imani program,” said Maryville Associate Executive Director Nina Aliprandi. “The result in benefits to young mothers in our care and their children will be great. The shared goals and vision between DCFS and Maryville will certainly create a brighter future for these young families.”
St. Mary of Celle is stage 2 of the Casa Imani program that addresses the special needs of pregnant and parenting young women who are at-risk, their children and families. It will prepare young women for transition to a temporary or independent living environment.
In addition to providing safe housing and vital assistance related to school, counseling, life skills training, health services and case management under the Casa Imani program, the expansion at St. Mary of Celle will provide additional resources around parenting and career development will be added with an emphasis on keeping these young families together in a comprehensive and holistic way.
Maryville, through its longstanding partnership with DCFS, continues to work with the department by enhancing existing program models and developing new programs that help the youth and their families. It has been Maryville and DCFS’s common goal to build a safe, nurturing and resilient families. Maryville provides facilities and residential programming that meet, if not exceed, the standards set by DCFS.
Maryville is one of six residential and group home service providers across the state that received the grant to increase bed capacity and improve physical facilities to support medically complex youth and youth with severe mental health issues.
The Residential Capital Improvement Grants were recently funded by Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly. Aside from increasing bed capacity in Illinois, the grants are designed to increase the capacity of youth with challenging health conditions to receive treatment and to help ensure programs continue to serve vulnerable youth. These grants do not cover the entire cost of the project but complement funds from the organizations and will allow projects to be started and completed quicker.
State Senator Julie A. Morrison issued a statement on Maryville receiving the said grant. Read more on her website –http://senatorjuliemorrison.com/state…/14-news/latest-news#
