An overview of some pandemic-specific issues around co-parenting to help some Illinois families who are unsure how to proceed to better understand how Cook County and surrounding counties are handling these issues by Advisory Board Chair, Beth F. McCormack, Family Law Partner with Beermann, LLP in Chicago.
Elizabeth came to Rainbows as an elementary schooler when her brother died. She visited to the Rainbows office in November 2018 to record a video testimonial, and shortly after, she and her two girls, lost her fiance, Michael and their family dog, Dutch, in a tragic car accident. Since that time, she has recorded and shared her journey on social media with her network and ultimately started a blog of her own (www.ElizabethEvansLong.com/blog). We met for breakfast in February and I asked if Rainbows could share some of her experiences. This was one of the first ones she suggested. At Rainbows, we love Elizabeth, her compassion, her authenticity, her spirit. We think you will, too.
This month, Chicago’s Christopher House has helped us further our goal by opening Rainbows sites in their Uptown and Stewart campuses.
Catherine Kent is a Loyola University Chicago student, and Rainbows for All Children Contributor. Read how Rainbows made an impact in her life: "When I was three years old my parents made the decision to get divorced. I didn’t understand and I was scared of how this would change things in my life. I found myself constantly asking questions like: Why did this happen? Is this my fault? I couldn’t find the answers to these questions and I felt as if I never would."
Childhood is an important time in life, and many people fondly remember learning and playing as a child. While this developmental period is often positive, over 83 percent of American children will experience loss in some capacity, be it divorce, parental incarceration or another traumatic event. One in seven of those children will experience the death of a parent or sibling. These traumatic events are important to navigate with care, as they can impact children even into their adult years.