Fourteen years ago, an abandoned air force base was transformed into a vibrant intergenerational community, Hope Meadows, to help move children from foster care to adoption and turn seniors into active givers of supports and services. Now, as sites across the country replicate their approach, Hope Meadows is adapting to the new challenges that come with long-term success.

With the numbers of kids suffering from asthma on the rise, more and more cities are taking steps to help some of its most common victims: kids who live in and around urban areas. Here, Connect for Kids' Rob Capriccioso highlights several urban asthma mobiles across the U.S. that have been set up to not only treat the symptoms of asthma, but also to educate parents and children on how to effectively manage the chronic condition.

By bringing artworks and artists into elementary schools, the Chicago-based group Art Encounter teaches kids to respond to visual art in a lively way that encourages their own creativity. Victor M. Cassidy takes a close look at how it works.

Ten baby bass, looking for a good home. That's the starting point for a hands-on science program centered on the Du Page River in Illinois. Victor M. Cassidy reports that the lessons learned are far-reaching.

New Moms serves homeless and near-homeless teen moms (ages 13 to 21) and their children with transitional living shelter and a broad array of services that can foster self-sufficiency and family stabi

We are focused on building a brighter tomorrow for the youth of today through character building, interventional counseling when needed and family involvement.

Voices for Illinois Children champions the full development of every child in Illinois to assure the future well-being of the people of the state. We work with families, communities and policymakers to ensure that all children grow up healthy, nurtured, safe and well-educated.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed new legislation offering children's health coverage on a sliding scale -- a move that has put the state on the map for making children's health insurance affordable for the broadest population.

Mathematica gives good marks in its report to Congress on the State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPs) that offer health care coverage to children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and beyond. In almost all areas examined—outreach, enrollment and access to services—the programs are succeeding. In the 10 states studied, programs were put in place quickly, and overall, families were satisfied with the ease of enrolling children, many of whom remained enrolled for 12 months, depending on the state.

High-quality early childhood programs can produce broad, long-term societal benefits -- including increased employment and associated tax revenue, reduced crime, and reduced dependency on social welfare systems. Many states are moving toward providing universal pre-K to all children. This RAND report describes eight states' efforts to create statewide systems of high-quality pre-K.

Illinois may be leading the pack in health care. The state's Governor Blagojevich unveiled his "All Kids" program, which sets monthly premiums and co-payments based on family income. A family of four earning $40,000, for example, would pay a $40 monthly premium per child and a $10 co-pay for doctor visits. Voices for Illinois Children says the plan could provide health insurance to all 253,000 Illinois children who are currently uninsured because their parents make too much for public insurance, but too little to afford private premiums.

Foster care/child welfare services and policy
Welfare and welfare reform
Transition to adulthood

Recruiting, engaging and retaining out of school youth
Youth leadership development
Community Service and Youth Development
Strategic Planning

Volunteer mobilization
Availability and distribution of programs
Collaboration for Capacity Building
Internet strategies
Total Quality Mentoring (TQM)

The Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation's grantmaking is designed to close the gap between children who have access to care and those who are underserved, focusing in the areas of oral health, mental health, and developmental screening for young children.