Children of the Heart

Children of the Heart was established in September 2000 to provide diverse, low-income families in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood with access to early childhood education and parental development programs.

Focusing on mothers with children from birth through age 3, Children of the Heart currently provides low cost bilingual workshops in areas of early education, pediatric health and effective parenting, as well as shared time for mothers, for their personal growth and support.

Visit Children of the Heart on the campus of Sacred Heart Schools at 6250 North Sheridan Road. We are located on the 6th floor of the Rosemont Building (there is an elevator for your convenience).

About the Program

• Meets four times weekly to provide low cost, bilingual workshops in areas of early education, pediatric health and effective parenting.
• Relies on 75-80 volunteers per year, donating an average of 1,300 hours annually. This includes Sheridan Road parents, program alumnae, Sacred Heart Schools Middle School and second grade students and adult professionals, including Master's level students from Loyola's School of Community and Mental Health Nursing and the DePaul University's School of Nursing, as well as parent professionals from the Sacred Heart Community and neighborhood agencies.

A Window into Children of the Heart
Typically Children of the Heart families are low income; 'new' Americans, with English as a second language; living in the area and walking or using CTA to attend Children of the Heart; referred by word of mouth from a friend or program volunteer; struggling with feelings of loss and alienation in a new country, and limited in their awareness and access to neighborhood resources.

Referral Partners

• Care for Real
• Child and Family Connections
• Children's Memorial Hospital
• Community Alternatives
• Families First
• Howard Area Community Center
• Ismaili Center
• The Women's Project at Centro Romero

Funding Partners
Children of the Heart has been well supported by a variety of private and family foundations and solicits its own funds for continued program operation. Sacred Heart Schools has generously provided in-kind donations of space and services since our founding.

• Anonymous Family Foundation
• The Buckeye Foundation
• The Chaddick Family Foundation
• Christopher and M. Susan Gust Foundation
• The Dentzler Family Trust
• Hurvis Charitable Foundation
• Jacqueline K. Shay Charitable Foundation
• Prince Charitable Trust
• Sacred Heart Schools (In Kind Support)
• Society of the Sacred Heart

Contact Information

Mary Burke-Peterson, Director
(773) 681-8496