The Baby Fold - Bloomington-Normal

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The Baby Fold opened up in 1902 due to a women donating her home. It began as a faith based orphanage but over time, grew into an organization with multiple different services to help the community. What's included with The Baby Fold are services for people with autism, behaviroral difficulties, and just the general improvements of lives. They currently have 285 part time and full time employees.

History of The Baby Fold

The Baby Fold didn't actually open as "The Baby Fold". Nancy Mason, a church going woman, donated her house to the Methodist Episcopal Deaconess Society in 1899. The house generally houses retired and active deaconesses, who used to be nurses, social workers, and evangelists. From 1902 to 1905, the house mainly catered to the elderly but occasionally cared for the children, though often they would be referred to the McLean County court. In 1904, the house changed it name to N. A. Mason Deaconess Home and School, but by this time, it was referred to as the "baby fold", a biblical reference. The Baby Fold didn't get there actual name until 1941 when it became recognized as "The Baby Fold." In 1961, they started to care and house children with mental disabilities and in 1966, opened its doors to children with emotional difficulties. Today, there is a residential treatment facility that caters to the children from the age of 3 to the age of 12. Adoption is another service they provide and in 2001, they started offering international adoptions.

http://www.thebabyfold.org/History.html

Funding

The Baby Fold is a non-profit organization who recieves funding through different organizations. That includes DCFS, Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, United Way, Medicaid, local communities, different private sources, and corporate and foundation grants. Another way The Baby Fold raises money for their services is holding events, such as The Festival Of Trees. Funding for the Baby Fold is not immune to the economy, as less grants over time have been granted and certain programs have been cut. In 2008, MCCA (Mid Central Community Action), provided classes for The Baby Fold after funding got cut.

Employment/Volunteer Opportunities

The Baby Fold is always accepting applications, whether to volunteer or to work there as an employee. You can access these applications on their website. Some of the employment positions they are in need of include: Autism Individual Student Aide, Family Therapist, Residential Case Manager, Residential Nurse, Residential Therapist, and Residential Treatment Specialist. These positions are a variety of full-time and part-time.

www.thebabyfold.us/

Festival Of Trees

The Festival of Trees is an event where people from the community come together and have a silent action on Christmas Trees that others have decorated. These people may include your neighbor, companies like State Farm, or local churches. There are different sponsors that contribute money and they are categorized into different levels; Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. With each different level that you donate, you can get certain perks like with the Platinum level, you can get 80 general admission tickets and 2 tickets to the Festival Of Trees breakfast as well as your name/company name on the banner. The money raised goes to The Baby Fold to help fund the services they provide. The festival started in 1993 and has raised over $2 Million.

https://localwiki.org/bloomington-normal/Festival_of_Trees

http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/12206111.html

Family Services

The Baby fold has a variety of family services for anyone in need. They have services including special education, adoption, foster care, and community services. As a special education service they have Hammit Elementary School and Hammit Junior-Senior High School. These are schools for kids who have been suspended or expelled from their original school or have had violence at school in their past. Hammit School is a place where they can get help with their behavioral issues and get their education as well.

Mission Statement

One of their statements they have had since day one is "We never give up on a child." Some other statements that describe their organization can be found on their employment page

OUR MISSION: The Baby Fold embodies Christian principles to help families and children develop the hope, courage, and love they need to become whole and healthy.

OUR VISION: Transforming children’s lives through strong family and community partnerships.

http://thebabyfold.us/

Contact Information

The Baby Fold Administration

108 E. Willow St.

Normal, IL 61761

Phone (309) 451-7202

Fax (309) 452-0115

Family Center and and Residential Treatment Center

612 Oglesby Avenue

Normal, IL 61761

(309) 454-1770