The Baby Fold's Winter E-News
The Baby Fold
The Baby Fold is a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to the well-being of children and families since 1902.
Finding Refuge: Respite Care that Restores Families
"By the time we see them, they're in survival mode, desperate for help," says Ken Summers, supervisor of The Baby Fold’s Respite Care services. For adoptive families across 22 counties in Central Illinois who are facing intense daily challenges with their adopted children, Respite Care services provide a crucial lifeline, offering the break they need and enabling families to stay together.
Parents in the program are navigating extreme behaviors in their adopted children. "Parents are often confused, unable to understand why their child is struggling so much." Each child is individually assessed to determine their specific respite needs, and a personalized respite plan is developed to provide tailored support for the family. Summers shares, "The Baby Fold understands the lifelong challenges that adopted children face." Respite Care services are designed to facilitate healing and restore functioning.
Why do children adopted into loving homes experience these difficulties? The answer lies in trauma. When children endure neglect, abuse, or removal from their home, it significantly impacts their ability to form healthy relationships and regulate their emotions. These disruptions don't simply fade away. Summers explains, "Just like a phobia, you can't just will these strong feelings away, no matter how much you've learned about it." Many adopted children continue to live in a heightened state of alertness, constantly on guard for potential threats. Without interventions, these patterns persist, making it impossible to trust their new environment and bond with their families.
Since the mid 1990's The Baby Fold has provided Respite Care services at no cost to adopted children and families, giving them much needed break and a chance to regroup, reflect, and regain the strength they need to continue their family journey. Parents are relieved to know they are not alone. As Summers puts it, “Respite is a critical service that enables families to stay together.”
Right now, 79 children between the ages of 6 and 14 are receiving respite services at The Baby Fold, and about 40 of them attend camp regularly. Adoptive families have two respite options: respite reimbursement for offsetting costs to?access community-based providers, and The Baby Fold's Camp Take-a-Break at East Bay Camp in Bloomington. The overnight, weekend camp for adopted children takes place 16 times a year and is staffed by trained Baby Fold experts.
Camp Take-a-Break is one of the few places where adopted children truly feel seen and accepted. While they enjoy traditional camp activities like fishing, hiking, swimming, archery, and crafts, it’s the individualized therapeutic support that truly makes the difference.
Summers and his team help children learn they are valued, build emotional growth and essential life skills, such as how to express themselves, build trust, and form healthy relationships. In these moments, true healing begins. "We hold 'Nurture Groups' at every camp, giving them a chance to find their voice and practice giving and receiving care, which can be incredibly difficult for children who have experienced trauma," Summers shares.
The work of the Respite Care staff actually begins before the campers even arrive. During pre-camp meetings, the team—trained in trauma-informed practices—carefully reviews each camper's history, struggles, and treatment plan, discussing their experiences, triggers, and coping strategies. This work allows staff to tailor their clinical approach during camp, helping to build safety and trust with the children more quickly. With a camper-to-staff ratio of 15:5, every child receives the personalized care and attention they need to begin their healing transformation.
While breakthroughs may seem small to an outsider, they hold great significance for families in the program. "It's truly special when we witness campers starting to build connections and offering care to one another," shares Summers. He recalls one particular camp where a new girl arrived—excited but also anxious. The other campers quickly rallied around her, making her feel accepted and welcomed. "Two campers told her, 'We're so glad you're here,' while another said, 'Wow, you're beautiful!' It was just a beautiful moment of connection," says Summers.
Parents are often amazed to hear about their child’s positive behavior at camp, finding it hard to reconcile with the intense challenges they face at home. However, over time these shifts in behavior extend beyond camp, with the same capacity for connection and empathy eventually carrying over into the home, strengthening family bonds and creating more harmony in the household. One mother, for example, called Summers shortly after picking up her daughter to share that her once-quiet daughter spoke nonstop during the car ride home, eagerly recounting her experiences at camp and the fun she had. Summers shares, "I had one mother tell me recently, ‘I didn’t know it could be this good.’"
“The benefits of respite services are so great for adoptive families,” says Summers, reflecting on the transformative power the program has. In fact, just a month ago, Summers heard from a former camper—now an adult—who reached out to share the joyful news of his upcoming wedding.
Respite Care offers more than just relief, it becomes a lifeline for adoptive families on the brink of giving up. When families are overwhelmed by intense behaviors, respite allows families to regain their strength, empowering them to continue their journey with a renewed sense of possibility for their child’s future.
New Book Club for Caregivers: Support & Education
The Baby Fold's Adoption Support and Preservation team is excited to offer a free, virtual Book Club designed to support foster and adoptive parents navigating the challenges of raising children with difficult behaviors.
Caregivers often struggle with managing "big" behaviors that can feel overwhelming. Led by Baby Fold experts, the group will explore "Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors," by Robyn Gobbel, gaining insights into why children struggle and how caregivers can best support them.
What makes this group especially meaningful is its accessibility—it's open to foster and adoptive families, regardless of whether or not they receive services from The Baby Fold.
The Book Club runs for 12 weeks, meeting Mondays from noon - 1:00 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow alongside fellow foster and adoptive caregivers! To register or learn more, contact Melissa at [email protected].
Fostering Connection and Culture this February
In February, our staff embraced creativity and connection through potlucks, vision screenings, and hands-on activities like crafting salt dough hearts.
Our Intervention Services "Spirit Team" brought energy and joy to Intact Family Services and Foster Care employees with activities such as decorating Valentine’s Day boxes and exchanging valentines, celebrating Black History Month with historical reflections and knowledge-sharing trivia, Mardi Gras decorations, and sharing a delicious potluck meal together.
Meanwhile, Hammitt Schools staff engaged students in festive fun—crafting salt dough hearts, honoring Black History Month, and exploring the traditions behind Groundhog Day predictions!
Celebrating Dr. Jeanne Morris: One of The Baby Fold's First African American Board Members
With a heart for children and a vision for change, Dr. Jeanne Morris’ connection to The Baby Fold began in the 1980s when she became one of our first African American board members. However, her passion began decades before. Today we're pleased to highlight her dedication to education, civil rights, and community advocacy—leadership and compassion that echoes through every life she touched—both at The Baby Fold and beyond.
Growing up in South Carolina, Morris saw the disparities between children with resources and those without, "Where I came from, kids who lacked strong families or resources didn’t have much of a chance to succeed," Jeanne said.
Jeanne’s mother, being a teacher, was a driving force behind Morris' academic journey. "My mother inspired me to go to Spelman College," she shared. There, Morris studied music education, sharing, "I know that education is the key to helping others, and I wanted to pass that on."
While receiving her master's degree in education and later received her Ed. D, Morris continually fought against discrimination. Jeanne, along with her husband Charles, were instrumental in advancing racial equity in housing and education in Central Illinois. They actively participated in open housing campaigns and provided rental housing for African American students near Illinois State University, where Jeanne was a faculty member and her husband first served as faculty before becoming a vice president for administrative services. (McLean County Museum of History, 2017)
For over two decades at Illinois State University, Morris championed early childhood education, helping to develop the University’s bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education and bridged her roles as an educator and activist by fostering cultural understanding in challenging environments. Her commitment extended beyond the classroom through her leadership with community organizations, like The Baby Fold. "It just made sense to get involved with an organization like The Baby Fold. I had just moved here, and I wanted to find a way to give back," she explained. (Illinois State University, 2021)
Morris feels that her involvement with The Baby Fold allows her to directly address the challenges she observed growing up—where children without strong families or resources often struggled to succeed. By supporting The Baby Fold, she helps to provide the resources and stability that can make all the difference in a child's future. Morris shares, "What I loved about The Baby Fold is that it was a chance to change that story. The children at The Baby Fold faced great obstacles, but they are also given the chance to thrive."
Today, Jeanne continues her connection with The Baby Fold as a valued member of the Director Emeritus Group. Through her leadership in the boardroom and unwavering commitment to supporting children and families, Dr. Jeanne Morris established a lasting standard of service, inspiring others to create brighter futures for children and families in need and make a meaningful impact in the community.
To share your Baby Fold story, contact Joy Miller at (309) 451-7026 or [email protected].
Family Quick Tips from Baby Fold Therapists
Felt safety is the subjective experience of feeling safe. But being safe doesn’t always mean feeling safe.
Past experiences, both conscious and unconscious, shape how the brain interprets current situations. For instance, a child who was frightened by a loud dog in the past might react strongly to an excitable but friendly dog later, even if they are safe.
Felt safety can also be affected by inner states like hunger, sickness, sensory issues, and the environment.
How can we grow felt safety in children?
By prioritizing felt safety, we can help children shift from survival mode to learning, growing, and connecting!
Now on Venmo: Supporting The Baby Fold Just Got Easier!
We’re excited to announce that The Baby Fold is now on Venmo, making it easier and more convenient than ever to support local children and families in need!
Donating through Venmo is quick, secure, and hassle-free. Whether you're supporting our foster care, adoption services, or other vital programs, your generosity makes a direct impact on the lives of children in our community—and offers you tax-saving benefits!
Simply scan the QR code or visit The Baby Fold's Venmo profile to donate. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide brighter futures for the children and families we serve!