Cunningham Children's Home 125 Years

Building on the Past and Expanding Cunningham’s Community Services

Cunningham’s Independent Transitional Living (ITL) Program expanded in 2009 and again
in 2010 and continues to help males and females, ages 17 ½ - 20. CCH, in 2011, opened its
first co-ed house and the program was then referred to as Transitional Living (TL) Program.
On-site direct care staff and case managers provided guidance and support for the young
people with the ultimate goal of launching them to independence or transitioning them to an
independent living program. Throughout the years, Cunningham has continued to expand its
Transitional Living Program to meet increasing needs.
Independent Living Opportunities (ILO) Program is offered by Cunningham to young
adults ages 19 to 21 referred from DCFS, and provides next-step help to these young people
making the transition to independent adulthood. Case managers provide support for self-
sufficiency and independence while they live on their own in the community.
Participants in TL and ILO attend high school or have completed high school or earned a
GED. If they have met the high school requirements they must attend junior college or a
vocational training program and are employed either independently or through
Cunningham’s partnerships with community businesses. The programs include helping clients
to locate and maintain housing (CCH may include some financial assistance) and to access
community services such as employment, education, therapy, medical, dental and
recreational opportunities. Cunningham staff teaches
wide-ranging basic life skills: cooking, housekeeping,
laundry,hygiene, money management, social skills, sex
education, tenancy issues and basic legal skills.
Additional support is provided for single mothers
and their child(ren).
Anthony, a young adult in Cunningham’s ILO program,
didn’t allow his very neglectful and abusive past to
dictate his future. Case Manager TJ, who worked with
Anthony in the ILO program, celebrated with him as
he received the United Way 2018-2019 Worker of the
Year Award. He said, “Anthony just has that resiliency.
He often referenced his past and used that as
motivation for the future, and he has had an incredibly
traumatic past. He really considered all of the
knowledge, advice and experience of those around
him and took it to heart when he made decisions or
went to treatment. He has a work ethic like no other,
with his job and anything he puts his mind to.”
In 2015, Cunningham’s Project Parenthood Program
began. Referrals are by DCFS and provide services
to age 14 – 21 females who are pregnant and/or
parenting in a home education setting. Service area covers seven counties: Champaign,
Dewitt, Ford, Logan, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Piatt and Vermilion.

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Cunningham stands out as a behavioral health care provider because of its specialized
expertise in trauma-informed care, which recognizes the significant impact that early trauma
and stress have on brain development and emotional health. In October 2019, Cunningham
expanded its Community Services work further by adding more outreach programs, each
serving a specific age group and set of issues.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Services (RHY) Program is an effort of the community,
Champaign County, and Cunningham to reach an underserved population of runaway
and homeless individuals, ages 14 up to 24. There are three outreach programs
offered within RHY:

• Emergency Shelter provides stable
and temporary housing with 24-hour
professionally supervised shelter services
in a home-like environment, life skills
instruction, education advocacy, recreational
activities and case management services.
The therapeutic goal of RHY is to prevent
re-traumatization and “rewire” the brain by
creating a safe, comfortable and consistent
environment where youth and adults can
build on their strengths, learn positive coping and self-regulation skills, achieve realistic
academic goals and develop the life skills necessary for success in the larger community.

• Street Outreach serves Champaign County individuals ages 14 up to 24 who are
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, including individuals who are pregnant or
parenting. The program strives to ensure a safe, stable living arrangement. These services
focus on urgent needs such as shelter, food, education, benefits and support services.

• Intermediate Transitional Living services for ages 18 up to 24. This program focuses on
development and lifelong skills that produce sustainable housing, employment,
relationships and connections to community resources.

Cynthia came into the RHY Program when a social worker at Carle Hospital connected
her with Cunningham shortly before the birth of her baby boy. “The staff made me feel
welcome,” Cynthia said. “I was kind of a happy-nervous, but I realized these are good
people who want to help me.” Cunningham helped Cynthia find an apartment through the
Housing Authority of Champaign County, and the RHY Program provided household items
and furnishings. And they even gave her a baby shower! Cynthia worked hard on budgeting,
learned how to utilize community resources, developed her
independent living skills and obtained stable employment.
“I’ve learned how to be more independent,” said Cynthia.
“Before, I was quick to give up, but the staff at
Cunningham helped to push me. I feel like I’ve grown
a lot. I am so thankful.”

In 2020, Cunningham began its Family Stronger Together
(FST) Program that provides voluntary trauma-informed,

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culturally responsive, therapeutic services for
the entire family. This includes caregivers and
their youth, age 10 through 17 - who live in
Champaign County and who have entered, or
are at risk of entering the Juvenile Justice
System. Services in this program promote
resiliency to help families become able to
withstand or recover more quickly from difficult
conditions. The program helps youth and their
families understand the impact past experiences
of trauma had on their current level of functioning and/or behaviors that have brought them
to the attention of the Juvenile Justice System. The FST program also strengthens these
trauma-informed caregiving skills of family caregivers by providing individual and family
therapy services, psycho-education for youth and caregivers, intensive engagement services
and coordination with similar or related providers for aftercare services.
Overall, in Fiscal Year 2019, Cunningham experienced a 40 percent growth in youth, adults
and families served. With the opening of the Noel Education Center, more students than ever
before attended the CIRCLE Academy Education Program in Urbana while CIRCLE Academy
Vermilion experienced record enrollment as well. There was also an increase in referrals at
HopeSprings Counseling Services and Cunningham expanded its community-based services
by adding the two new aforementioned programs. In 2020, Cunningham brought hope and
healing to 777 youth, adults and families.

Life at Cunningham in the COVID-19 Era 2020

On March 20, 2020, in an effort to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, llinois Governor
J.B. Pritzker ordered state
residents to stay home except
for essential workers and trips
for supplies. So the first question
everyone asked Marlin was, “How
are things at Cunningham?”
He was honest in saying, “Things
were a little anxious, but our
team went into high gear as first
responders for our kids, youth,
adults and families immediately.
They never imagined working in
a pandemic; they are heroes. We
are taking care of the staff and
clients in all of our programs. Some staff can work from home and isolation units are
available in case someone tests positive. I am confident Cunningham is moving along, step
by step, and thankful to the United Methodist Women for making masks for everyone. I thank
everyone for their prayers, concerns and love and ask everyone to continue to pray for us.”

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Reverend Gay King Crede continued to provide spiritual life at Cunningham during the
pandemic. Chaplin Gay shared, ”When the COVID-19 cloud appeared on the horizon, it
was time to get creative with spiritual activities! Weekly chapel services, Sunday spiritual life
groups, and Vacation Bible School have all continued, with the main difference being
activities are done for individual units rather than being able to have larger, multi-unit
gatherings. So, instead of one chapel service a week, now there are five!”
After some time, chapel returned to the Spiritual Life Center and everyone wore a mask.
Chapel time was now a bit different; more like a church youth group. During the summer
months, youth gathered around an indoor campfire. There was a Bible message presented
with discussion time and prayer time, followed by a game or physical activity to get out some
energy. And a very important component of any campfire is, of course, s’more snacks!

“Although our youth have missed going on outings in the community, I have been amazed at
their resilience during this time,” Chaplain Gay said. “They have had a lot of fun in the new
gym. They are grateful for the swimming pool. They are enjoying two weeks of Vacation Bible
School this summer, meeting a new Biblical character each day, as a costumed person steps
out of a huge cardboard Bible.”
During the first several months of the pandemic, direct care and school staff created theme
weeks and donors helped provide for various activities each week, such as Jungles &
Rainforests, Back in Time and Earth Week. These kept the youth engaged as they explored
different parts of the world and experienced new customs, foods and games. Chaplain Gay
was also able to design spiritual activities to coordinate with some of the weekly themes.

“Most of all,” Chaplain Gay explained, “the
youth have not been stressed or over-worried
about their health and safety during the
pandemic. Cunningham remains a place that
protects and provides for youth in uncertain
times. And their faith in God during this time
has not wavered.”
Director of Advancement, Ginger Mills,
answered the question, “How are things at
Cunningham?” this way: “Let me start by
telling you there is nothing “ordinary”
about the people who work at Cunningham
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Children’s Home. These unique men and women are passionate, motivated and so very
unselfish as they work to make a difference in the lives of others who have experienced
unimaginable circumstances. Echoes of “Happy to help!” and “What else can I do?” have
been heard many times.”

A few day counselors in one of our residential units had to self-quarantine due to risk of
COVID-19 transmission. Naturally, when the team learned of the possible infection, anxiety
levels increased and fear spread about what would unfold in the days ahead. But that didn’t
affect the response. In fact, it was all hands on deck almost immediately. Night awake staff
and the case manager stepped up in a big way to fill the holes. One of Cunningham’s nurses
and additional direct care staff came in to work that Saturday. They chose a “facts not fear”
approach and talked with our residential youth and staff about COVID-19, the importance
of wearing a mask, keeping good hygiene, washing hands, having boundaries, avoiding
shaking hands and disinfecting the unit. Soon, staff and youth in all of our residential units
began wearing masks that were thankfully made and provided to us by our amazing donors,
particularly the United Methodist Women.

In our educational programs, hearts were
EVERYWHERE. Within days of Governor Pritzker’s
stay-at-home order, CIRCLE Academy Urbana’s
Mrs. Overman sent a message to her students
and others by displaying colorful hearts, smiley
faces and encouraging notes on the windows of
her classroom at the Noel Education Center.

At both CIRCLE Urbana and CIRCLE Vermilion,
teachers wrote personalized letters to the
students, made phone calls and delivered
breakfast, snack and lunch to the families. They
also provided coping mechanisms for students
by sending home sensory toys and fidget
manipulatives along with their student packets.

Three of our Gerber teachers and several
teaching assistants started doing relief work in
the residential programs. One teacher worked
diligently with Goodman and Jedi boys to help

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create a “school” routine and continued to assemble packets accompanied with creative
homework exercises. Because there is always a need for tight filters for internet access, two
other teachers created videos that provided dynamic instruction and engaging lessons. They
worked really hard to maintain a sense of connection with residential kids.
Our kitchen was cookin’ and our kitchen staff rocks! In a seven-day period, our kitchen staff
provided approximately 925 meals–breakfast, lunch, dinner–to our residential youth and staff.
But it didn’t stop there. They also assembled 2,350 meals that were delivered to CIRCLE
Academy students throughout the week.
And, of course, our community-based programs continued to meet the needs of youth,
adults and families in our community. The Families Stronger Together team helped a
struggling father feel supported as he met the social, emotional, education and safety needs
for his son during the stay-at-home order by purchasing items for a COVID-19 care package
for a 10-year-old boy. It was filled with sensory supplies and activities to help this young boy
use positive coping mechanisms.
Kyle Fleming, Special Therapies Specialist, found our residential youth to be inspiring

during such a challenging time. With his help, kids
designed 100 “hope cards” and posted them in
buildings all over campus where essential employees
were still coming into work. Kyle shared, “The kids
really seemed to enjoy making them and were excited
to know people all over campus are able to see their
creativity and positive messages. Hope cards have
been spotted in the nurses’ office, our chapel, the
kitchen in the Noel Education Center and also
throughout the Residential Treatment Center.”
Ginger shared,“One of our staff members recently told Chaplain Gay she is at peace amid
the threat of the
coronavirus because
of the opportunity
she has had to be
essential to youth
and their families
during this time. I am
so grateful to work
among a community
of people at
Cunningham who
reinforce everyday
that, no matter what,
hope begins here.”

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1895-2020

125 Years of Caring
and Giving Hope

From the day that Cunningham Children’s Home opened its doors in 1895 to today,
the United Methodist Women have kept the promise they made to Joseph and Mary
Cunningham: “that [their] home shall forever be kept as a Children’s Home, hoping
and praying that it shall in some degree turn attention to the pressing demands in our
midst, for the care and nurture of our own.”
The United Methodist Women—throughout the Great Depression, wars, town-state-
national growth and changes, past pandemics and the COVID-19 pandemic—have
faithfully been the stewards of Cunningham Children’s Home for over 125 years. They
are not only the stewards of the property but of the large trust to give hurting children,
youth, adults and families hope and a chance to have a healthy life and promising
future. Their prayers, service, love gifts, hope gifts and financial gifts from the units
and individual women of the IGRC-UMW sustain Cunningham’s mission and ministry.
Along with the UMW are Cunningham’s faithful supporters, donors, friends and staff
making a huge difference in so many lives today and in the future.

Cunningham is very grateful and blessed,
and will continue to assure that...

hope begins here!

hope begins

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Through the Years

Cemetery plots at Hope Cemetery located A visit to campus from the Urbana Fire Haircut day on campus in 1927
on the University of Illinois campus were Department. In 1921, Cunningham was
connected to Urbana City Water System.
donated to Cunningham by a local Urbana
family. First child was buried in 1897.

Early 1900’s Chickens on campus in the late 1940’s.
Cunningham had as many as 300
chickens in 1939.

Hospital Building, later known as the Illinois
Building, opened in 1921 in response to the
Diphtheria Epidemic. Vaccine licensed in 1923.

1918-1925

Inside the Cunningham Hospital
Building in 1923

Girls with can goods at the 1920’s Fall Fest
held on campus by the Methodist women.

Washington School, built by Urbana School Victor Joseph Rosetto became a resident
District, opened in 1925 which meant no in 1946 and was discharged in 1951 to
more school at the Home. Cunningham join the Marine Corps. He was killed in
elementary children walked across the action in the Korean War in 1953. A flag
field to the school. pole in his memory was dedicated on
campus at the 60th Anniversary
Homecoming celebration in 1955.

1920’s

High school girls in the 1920’s 1927 1940’s

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In 1957, a four-door garage was built
for storage of large equipment

1950’s Huge Baby Ruth candy bar Eating their evening meal in the 1960’s. Meal
donated by Kroger’s Store was served family style with table linens and
place settings and a staff was at each table.
This occurred from the start of Cunningham
and continued until 1970 when evening meals
were delivered and eaten in the cottages.

Supervised cooking in the cottage in 1958 Dish chores in Spalding Hall in the 1960’s

Gene Autry visited campus January 28,1952.

Planting a garden in 1959 under the In 1964, IGA Food Stores of Campaign
supervision of Pop Guard and Pop Crowell County purchased the Champion and 2nd
1954 WCIA-CBS TV program - Sheriff Sid Place hog at the Champaign County Fair
brought a TV for the first cottage, Inez Rose, and donated them to Cunningham Home
that opened a couple of days before.

1960’s

Cleaning up fallen trees in 1955 under Car Boating on Lake Mattoon in the late 1960’s.
the supervision of Pop Guard maintenance Cunningham purchased a cabin including a
speedboat in 1966. It was sold in 2015 with
in 1960 proceeds designated toward the Education

and Recreation Center building fund.

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Downhill water slide fun on campus in 1980’s Volunteers constructed a playground
on campus in 1992

With house parents Marquerite
and Ernest Hawn in 1967

A quilt made in 1896 and was the first quilt Cunningham Girl Scouts during late 1990s
donated to Cunningham

First boys to live in the community boys Horseback riding
group home in 1967
Cunningham “Pure Gold Singers” in 1989
led by staff member Kalip Kimmons

1970’s, staff and residents playing volleyball Go-cart racing at Action Park in Springfield
Track
meet
in 1983

Fixing their bikes

Snow-skiing in the 1980’s James Vliet, from Thomasboro, played
Santa at Cunningham from 1991 until his
health began failing in 2013. He passed

away in 2020.

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Snow sledding on campus with staff in 2000’s Canine Therapy
Rock climbing camp in Missouri

Fall fun in the 1990’s Beginning in Spring of 2003 and for four Mary Z. Walker has attended every
years, students in Mrs. Mathews’ class at Festival of Quilts since the first one in

Gerber Residential School collected Lincoln Square in 2005.
pop-tabs around campus each school year.
They were sent to Ronald McDonald House

in Chicago and converted into payment
for hours of dialysis. Over the four years,
approximately 460,856 tabs were packaged

and turned in with 2,000 in each bag.

Cooperation of moving together in 1990’s Dizzy bat game in 2000’s In 2013, Miniature Horse Therapy began with
The last barn on campus certified therapy horses through the Special
was torn down in 1999.
Therapies Department.

In 2004, Canine Therapy began on campus In the 1970’s, Will and Vicki Kirkpatrick
through the Special Therapies Department. began holding a fishing clinic each fall for
Cunningham youth. It became an annual
All canines were certified therapy dogs.
event in 2012. They are pictured
with Cunningham President/CEO

Marlin Livingston in 2018.

Cunningham Boy Scouts in the early 2000’s 57

HopeSprings 2018 Ribbon Cutting

Most popular activity at the 2001 Fun Day: Gerber elementary students and Ms. Deb, a
dunking staff in the dunk tank! teacher there and an avid quilter, created an
auction quilt for the 2018 Festival of Quilts.

The 2004 dental clinic held in Rachel Ann As part of our Spiritual Life program, our kids Our kids surprised the construction workers
Cottage for Cunningham residents. can attend Vacation Bible School (VBS) with with donuts and orange juice one morning.
Soccer clinic on campus in 2013 Chaplain Gay during the summer. Here, our
youth enacted how Joshua and the people of Residential’s annual talent show
Israel in the Battle of Jericho and saw a “wall”

tumble down before their eyes.
In 2017, CIRCLE-
Vermilion
ended the
school year with
a Color Run—a
fun and inclusive
event giving
students the
opportunity
to recognize
successes and
personal growth.

President/CEO Marlin Livingston and Current President/CEO Marlin Livingston with
students celebrating the the construction former CEOs Sam Banks and Ed Odom at the
of the Education and Recreation Center.
Noel Education Center’s ribbon cutting.
Music Therapy with Special Therapies’ Kyle

Chaplain Gay praying with staff Gerber was the smallest of 236 schools CIRCLE Academy’s 2019 Christmas
world-wide that participated in the Walk for party and visit from Santa
Water fundraiser, created to help build water

wells in South Sudan.

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In their own words...

Kathleen J. Small, former resident and Cunningham Board
Member (1989-1992)
“I guess my memory of Cunningham Home goes back to 1926
when my brother, sister and I lived there after our mother died. I
lost all contact with the home until I was invited to speak at the
former board members day. That fall, I was invited to be a
member at large on the board. I never ceased to be amazed at
the energy and excitement of each Board Meeting I attended!”

Jack Burns, former resident
Jack spent nine years in the 1930s with one of his sisters at
Cunningham. “We all had chores and I remember we had four
cows and we had a couple horses. We boys were responsible for
milking the cows, taking care of the barnyard and the barn,
cleaning out the barn. I really enjoyed those things, for some
reason or another. I also always thought Cunningham had their
own 3 R’s – respect, responsibility and proper religious training.
They really emphasized all of those things to us and drilled that
into us in many ways. To me that had a dramatic effect on my life
and my later years.”

FY17 Annual Report - Bobby Walker, Cunningham Board
Member (2006-20), UMW District Representative, donor,
volunteer
“It feels like a calling. Cunningham is in my heart.”

FY17 Annual Report - Shacairy Gibbs, Milieu Coordinator
“It feels so good when I’m able to break through the many walls
our kids have put up. It gives me hope that they’re learning
to trust.”

FY20 Impact Report - Shelley Overman, Teacher, CIRCLE
Academy Urbana
“I set the bar high because I have worked at public schools and
I want these kids to be prepared for what will be expected
academically and behaviorally once they return to public school.”

About the authors of this book:

Stephanie B. Lynge served on the Public Relations Committee of the
Cunningham Board, from 1984 through 1988. In 1993, she joined the
Cunningham staff as Associate Director of Advancement, a role she held until
2012. She remained active with the Agency for many years including running
the Patchwork Café at the annual Festival of Quilts.

Pam Mathews was a teacher for Cunningham’s Gerber Residential
Education Program from 1987 to 2014. Soon after her teaching days were
over, she was back at Cunningham volunteering weekly in the Advancement
Department where she organizes files and photos and helps with special

hope begins here.events. Pam has also become one of Cunningham’s historians.

hope begins
here.