The Family Room’s Board
Jenette Jurczyk-President
Jenny Morris-Vice President & Secretary
Mariana Maybell-Treasurer
Julie Arie
Cathy Feely
Jess Firmand
Laura Gerhold
Heidi Gulbrandson-Andrews
Vilma Howard
Kat Mathews
Rhonda Perry
Elizabeth Stubbers
The Family Room is a nonprofit organization in Champaign-Urbana serving families with foster children or children in transition.
The Family Room’s mission is to provide comfort and joy to children in transitional or temporary home situations by providing care packs, clean clothing, and other necessities. As foster parents and short-term guardians often have little to no notice that a child is being placed with them, The Family Room is a resource to empower them to be the best caregivers possible.
Currently, there are almost 500 children in care in Champaign County. When children are removed from their homes or their parents need additional services, oftentimes gaps in funding or services exist and families are left to figure out how to support the child’s needs. The Family Room is developing programming to help children and caregivers through their journey, regardless of the outcome. We also serve children in care who are currently placed in a biological parent’s home or in the home of a relative.
We currently working with DCFS to provide caseworkers packs of immediate needs for children and their families. These include a few days of clothing, hygiene products, a book about foster care, a comfort item, and other items to ensure a smooth transition into foster care.
The Family Room partners with community agencies such as the Department of Children and Family Services, the Center for Youth and Family Solutions, and Champaign County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
