On today's episode, we talk about our organization's rebranding and what it means for how we think about problems facing Illinois families. Our guest today is Brightpoint CEO Mike Shaver, who talks about why the organization rebranded and what to expect going forward.

Episode Notes:

To learn more about our journey as Brightpoint, visit our website. You can also view our rebrand video there.

Mike was interviewed by WTMX in Chicago about the name change and his vision for Brightpoint. You can listen to that interview here.

ChildTrends has a lot of state-level data on the state of the foster care system and how neglect intersects with the foster care system. 

To learn more about Brightpoint, visit our website at http://www.brightpoint.org

On this episode, we revisit the issue of diaper need and discuss the latest data on its impact on infants, toddles, and their caregivers. Our guests include Jeannie Higdon, Program Manager at Brightpoint, and Lee Ann Porter, Executive Director of Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank in Galesburg. They discuss what a lack of diapers means for their communities.

Episode Notes:

For more information about Brightpoint’s Crisis Nurseries, visit our website.

For more information about Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, visit their website or follow them on social media. 

For more information on how diaper need impacts families, read the National Diaper Bank Network’s 2023 Diaper Check.

To contact your legislator to ask them to support our efforts, please visit our website and fill out the form on the bottom of the page. 

Brightpoint will be hosting a Diaper Drive in our Southern Region in recognition of Diaper Need Awareness Week. The donations will be used to support the families in our various programs. For more details, visit our Facebook page.

State Senator Lakesia Collins will be hosting her annual diaper drive on Monday, September 18th from 11 AM – 4 PM at Beelove Café (1111 S Homan Ave, Chicago IL). For more details, visit her Facebook page. 

To learn more about Brightpoint, visit our website at http://www.brightpoint.org

The latest episode of the Ahlquist Agenda focuses on a first of its kind program in Illinois, AKIN: Achieving Permanency through Kinship Placement Investing in Co-parenting with Natural Parents. The AKIN program partners parent mentors with lived experience and families navigating the child welfare system. Statewide Program Manager for Family Support Services Ashley Ackerman and Parent Partner Myles Camp-Lockett join host Eric Mayo to talk about why lived experience matters in child welfare and the positive impacts the program is having on families, children, and youth.

Episode Resources:

You can learn more about AKIN on our blog:

Learn more about building relationships between parents and caregivers and the importance of lived experience in programming

To learn more about Brightpoint, visit our website at http://www.brightpoint.org