EVANSTON, Ill. – The Cradle, a nonprofit adoption and child welfare agency headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, is commencing the new year with expanded services to support families for a lifetime. Proudly standing as the sole organization in Illinois trained to facilitate an empowerment program for adopted and foster children, The Cradle also offers adoption-competent therapy to all members of birth or adoptive families at any stage of life.
W.I.S.E. Up!® is a program designed to create a safe space for children to express their feelings about being adopted and give them the tools to handle intrusive questions and insensitive remarks from peers and others. The program teaches them that they have the power to decide if, when and how to share their stories.
“With W.I.S.E. Up!®, we aim to support children and help them navigate the unique aspects of adoption with confidence and resilience,” said Pam C. Tancredi, Vice President of Adoption and Family Support of The Cradle.
The first Cradle W.I.S.E. Up!® session will be open to families of 3rd and 4th-grade adopted children and will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 16. For more information about this program and to register, please visit cradle.org/wiseup. Spaces are limited. The Cradle will be facilitating other sessions throughout the year — age groups may vary.
For those seeking one-on-one support, our adoption-competent therapists assist individuals and families in addressing concerns with a focus on the adoption experience. They provide specific guidance to promote effective communication and improve interpersonal relationships.
The Cradle is dedicated to serving anyone touched by adoption, offering both in-person and telehealth sessions. To make an appointment, please call 847-475-5800. Counseling requests can also be submitted through our website.
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About The Cradle: Celebrating 100 years of building families through adoption, The Cradle has facilitated more than 16,000 domestic and international adoptions since its opening in 1923. The organization has been a pioneer in open adoption, African American infant adoption, and placements with LGBTQ+ families. The Cradle remains the only adoption agency in the country with an on-site nursery providing 24-hour care for infants. Learn more at cradle.org or call 847-475-5800. For 24-hour toll-free HELPLINE assistance, call 800-CRADLE4 (800-272-3534).
