2022 Nominations Open!
Nominate a child advocate now!
2022 UVC Child Advocate Award Nominations are NOW being accepted through July 31 involving both local church advocates as well as community-wide persons who advocate for children and youth in remarkable ways. For more information, contact Deaconess Catherine Inserra, at cinserra@kidsaboveall.org All award recipients will be honored and speak on behalf of their ministries and services […]
Illinois invests $250 million to address gun violence
Gun-related crimes in Illinois have been on the rise over the last few decades. In many cases, youth have been involved as the victims or perpetrators of these crimes, leading to a sense of urgency to get illegal guns and other weaponry off the streets and out of the hands of children and youth. Thankfully, […]
Support the new Illinois Child Welfare Task Force
submitted by Beverly Dukes, UVC Policy Coordinator For several decades, advocates, constituents and parents have demanded strategic changes in the Illinois child welfare system. Of note: the number of African American children and youth in state care is exponentially more than any other group—these numbers also surpass the national average: “Black children and youth are […]
Blog
Addressing Violence in Schools
Exposure to any kind of violence can have a devastating and long-lasting negative effect on children and youth if adequate professional help is not available. Once seen as a “safe haven,” America’s school systems have experienced an unprecedented increase of violence. This ongoing exposure to violence in the school setting has created spaces where some […]
Reflection from a Board Member
I came to the UVC board representing United Methodist Women, whose connection to the support of children, youth and women is as old as the organization itself. On a personal level, I was in education for 30 years, working with students in reading from kindergarten to graduate school. I connected with many children who were […]
Beautiful cars made — and given — in love
UVC board member Deaconess Catherine Inserra recently interviewed Lisa Williams about her late husband’s Toy Car Ministry. Inspired by a similar ministry in Florida, Rev. Doug Williams brought the idea of making and distributing toy wooden cars to his congregation 10 years ago as a new ministry to children. A woodworker hobbyist, it was Doug’s […]
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