With our mission at the forefront, FSG hosts an annual celebration to raise funds for the critical programs and services that care for those in our village who are struggling with emotional and psychological challenges such as addiction, depression, and bullying.

Nicole Hayek, Benefit Co-Chair, notes “FSG has served as a lifeline to individuals and families for more than 100 years. As a parent of Glencoe children, I view FSG as one of the most important resources that helps protect and strengthen our children and our neighbors. While our village is affluent, currently 60% of FSG’s clients qualify, based on income, to receive counseling services at a reduced rate. ”

Celebrate with us at Glencoe Under the Stars: Fiesta on Saturday, May 20, 6pm at Skokie Country Club. Tickets are on sale now. Fill a table with friends or treat your spouse to a night out. It will be an evening of inspiration, awareness, and fiesta fun.

Benefit Co-Chair, Amy Maher, explains “This event brings families together. Glencoe is a small town addressing big city issues and FSG impacts the lives in our community in a very real and meaningful way.”

Special thanks to our benefit sponsors for standing with those who face mental health challenges. For additional event information, please visit www.glencoeunderthestars.org or call the FSG office at 847-835-5111.

Am Shalom, District 35, Family Service of Glencoe (FSG), Glencoe PTO, Glencoe Clergy Association, and the Village of Glencoe are welcoming Dr. Wendy Mogel back to Glencoe on Tuesday, March 14 at 7pm for an important community discussion. Dr. Mogel is a clinical psychologist, parenting expert, New York Times best-selling author, and international keynote speaker. Her mission is the protection and promotion of self-reliance, resilience, accountability and exuberance in children.

Her most recent visit to Glencoe was in the fall of 2011. Nearly six year later, Dr. Mogel is returning to empower parents with new wisdom gleaned from her research and clinical practice. She will lead a conversation about the new choreography of conversation with and about children at each age and stage of their lives.

With more than 35 years of counseling parents and children, she has also spoken to hundreds of children, teenagers, parents, teachers, administrators, school counselors, school nurses, and pediatricians. “Figuring this out—childhood, in this particular time and place—is my calling and obsession,” said Mogel in a release. “I take my discoveries back to my practice, and I try to distill what I’ve learned into advice parents can use.”

“As the facilitator of several parent discussion groups for FSG, I hear about the concerns and struggles of families in our community,” noted FSG Clinical Director Al Ross, LCSW, RDDP. “During Wendy’s first visit to Glencoe, she passed along many valuable tools and connected with parents at that time. We have invited her back to share her insights with today’s parents.”

Community members are also invited to a follow-up discussion on Thursday, March 16 at 9:30am. This deeper dive will be led by community leaders Dr. Catherine Wang, District 35 Superintendent, Rabbi Steven Lowenstein, and FSG Clinical Director Al Ross, LCSW, RDDP.

Both programs are free and open to the public. Events will be held at Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe.

Family Service of Glencoe (FSG) is pleased to announce our annual benefit, Glencoe Under the Stars, being held Saturday, May 20, 6:00 p.m. at Skokie Country Club.

Benefit Co-Chair, Amy Maher, explains “This event brings families together. Glencoe is a small town addressing big city issues and FSG impacts the lives in our community in a very real and meaningful way.”

FSG provides confidential, high-quality therapy and crisis care to all who live or work in Glencoe, regardless of their ability to pay. Additionally, parent discussion groups and community education talks encourage positive dialogue about mental health and family-related issues.

Nicole Hayek, Benefit Co-Chair, adds “FSG has served as a lifeline to individuals and families for more than 100 years. As a parent of Glencoe children, I view FSG as one of the most important resources that helps protect and strengthen our children and our neighbors. While our village is affluent, currently 60% of FSG’s clients qualify, based on income, to receive counseling services at a reduced rate. ”

Benefit proceeds will allow FSG to continue to offer critical services to those in need. Our clinical team currently supports individuals and families who are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, bullying, and other emotional and psychological challenges.

“With this year’s theme, Fiesta,” Maher continues, “we encourage our guests to dress in cocktail attire with a hint of fiesta such as embroidery, lace or bright colors. It will be a fun evening, filled with exciting items to bid on in our live and silent auctions, a delicious Mexican-inspired dinner, and dancing with Charizma Entertainment.”

Underwriting opportunities are available for individuals and businesses. Tickets are $250 per person, and will be available for purchase online in March. Visit www.glencoeunderthestars.org, or call our office at 847-835-5111 for more details.

Family Service of Glencoe (FSG) invites Glencoe residents and employees to participate in our second annual community #KindnessChallenge February 12-18, 2017 in conjunction with Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week. This initiative is about connecting with others through acts of kindness. There are many ways to reach out to those in our homes, jobs, and communities at little or no cost such as holding a door for someone, giving away your seat on the train, saying hello to a stranger, or thanking someone for a job well done.

Similar to last year, we are asking community members to be on the lookout for kindness. When you “catch” someone being kind, honor them with a blue heart sticker. Stickers will be available through FSG, our challenge partners (see below), and participating local businesses.

New this year, there will be kindness activities held throughout RAK Week to give Glencoe children and adults the opportunity to give and receive kindness in meaningful ways. (See activity listing below.)

The Glencoe community is invited to share their stories on social media using #KindnessChallenge.

The results of FSG’s 2014 needs assessment guide the #KindnessChallenge. The survey revealed that 30% of Glencoe respondents feel they lack an adequate social support network and 36% noted that they feel lonely or isolated. “Social interactions help us grow as individuals and develop a supportive social network to help us in life’s challenges,” said Lisa Cardonick, Communications Chair on the FSG Board of Directors. “The kindness challenge is one step in acknowledging, affirming and supporting those around us.”

We are pleased to announce several partners in our kindness challenge: BlackSheep General Store, Glencoe School District 35, Glencoe Park District, Glencoe Junior Kindergarten, Glencoe Junior High Project, Glencoe Youth Services, Glencoe Public Library, KIND Snacks, Signature of Art, Sweet Buddha, Welcome to Glencoe Group, The Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe, and The Wild Child. Blue heart stickers may be picked up at one of these locations or at participating local businesses with a kindness challenge sign posted.

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RAK Week Kindness Activities

Sunday, February 12

Glencoe Roast Coffee
700 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe

Stop by the Roast and write a thank you note to Glencoe Public Safety and place it in our fishbowl. FSG will make the delivery for you.

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Monday, February 13
10-10:45am
Sweet Buddha
660 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe

Offering a free Stomp and Shout Class for children ages 9 months – 4 years. Open to the first 15 children. To sign up, please email LCardonick@comcast.net.

At the center of a Stomp and Shout class is music! Music helps develop language skills, self-esteem, listening and math skills, and gives us an amazing foundation to explore using our big beautiful imaginations. We’ll go on adventures, move our bodies in cool kid ways, imagine ourselves as different people, make stories sing, and jam-out on our instruments.  If they’re lucky, we’ll let the grownups come along for the ride! Class runs 45 minutes. Adults participate too.

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Tuesday, February 14
7:30-8am
Glencoe Metra Train Station

FSG volunteers are offering a KIND Snacks breakfast and morning cheer to commuters.

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Wednesday, February 15
BlackSheep General Store
346 Park Avenue, Glencoe

Showing kindness to customers through free coffee/cider at the store.

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Thursday, February 16
Glencoe Park District
999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe

Write an encouraging note to a home-bound Glencoe senior and place it in our fishbowl. FSG will make the delivery for you. Park District preschoolers will participate in a kindness parade on this day.

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Thursday, February 16
10:30-11:15am
Glencoe Public Library Hammond Room
320 Park Avenue, Glencoe

Hosting a kindness-themed Tales for Tots story hour for all ages with parent or caregiver. Read, sing, talk, and play to build early literacy skills! Join us for stories, songs and more, followed by time for socialization and play.

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Saturday February 18
2:30-4pm
Signature of Art Gallery of Fine Art & Custom Framing
715 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe

Kindly hosting a free ARTogether Class for children ages 5 and older. Available for up to 15 children. To sign up, please email LCardonick@comcast.net.

Families are invited to sign up to complete a collaborative, creative project that they will bring home at the end of the 90-minute session.

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Also Happening This Week

• Glencoe District 35, Glencoe Junior Kindergarten, and the Park District Preschool are including special kindness curriculum this week at school.
• The Glencoe Public Library will have a display of kindness books out all week.
• The Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe is sending welcome cards to new-to-Glencoe residents inviting them to attend upcoming lunch program at no charge.

Through the kindness of our community, FSG is able to care for friends and neighbors in crisis. This list represents 162 families who are bringing hope to those who are courageously seeking social-emotional support. Thank you, Glencoe, for making our work possible. Because of you, we are meeting needs in our own backyard.

There is still time to give. Make your donation online or call our office at 835-5111.

This year’s annual appeal donors (as of December 20, 2016):