Night's Shield looks to expand services

WEST FRANKFORT - Outreach and support services may soon be expanded at the Night's Shield shelter for children in West Frankfort despite a lack of state funding, says agency spokesman Brenda Toms.

The Night's Shield is a private, non-profit organization that provides 24-hour emergency shelter for abused, neglected and/or abandoned children from the entire state. As a child-care institution licensed by the state, the shelter provides a secure, nurturing and home-like setting for children. According to the agency's website, it is their hope "to help reduce the current trauma these children are experiencing by providing them with support and nurturing."

Toms said the state has made a significant and dynamic shift in its (funding for) programming, which has caused direct conflict with the goals, values, and mission of the shelter.

"The Night's Shield was established to assist the state, but the change in direction from them makes it impossible to continue our mission with state funding." said Sara Bond, agency president. "We established this safe haven for our children in crisis with hearts and hands of thousands of people willing to help. I'm calling on you now to help us help children in crisis, because we will shoulder the entire financial burden of the program. We need the help now more than ever."

It is hoped that significant contributions totaling thousands of dollars will be raised from region donors to make the establishment of a crisis nursery possible.

Night's Shield opened its doors to children in crisis across the state of Illinois on Aug. 12, 2009, and has served over 1,200 children and teenagers from 47 different counties in Illinois, from Chicago to Cairo with the majority being from the surrounding counties of Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Williamson.

A crisis nursery would meet the needs of families who experience short-term crisis, says the agency's executive director, Lindsey Bullman. The service would provide respite and short-term care for Illinois families, many of whom experience crisis due to lost employment, medical emergencies, violence, and family dysfunction. The goal of a crisis nursery program would be to reduce parental stress, enhance parenting skills, and reduce the risk of child maltreatment.

"We have come too far and helped too many children to stop now," Bond said. "We will continue our work by upholding our principles and the types of services to which our donors contributed. Thousands of people have made Night's Shield what it is today through their financial contributions, and many forms of volunteerism. We will not allow those noble efforts to go in vain and will continue to provide services."

The nursery would be a safe place for families to ask for help. To find out more about the vision of this program or ways to help, call Bullman at (618) 932-6400.</group><group id="0C3