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Meet the Executive DirectorGrace Mitchell, MSWGrace moved to Urbana-Champaign in 1978 from Baltimore, Maryland, where she was raised in the McCulloh Homes housing projects with her grandmother. As a single parent and welfare recipient, Grace struggled to raise her daughter and survive the vicious circle of poverty. Grace was actively involved in working with the adolescents in the community, encouraging them to stay in school as a means of proving to themselves and others that they could do it and make something of themselves.
It was not until the social worker for the housing development told Grace that she really had the potential to one day become a social worker. Of course, Grace did not really think she could do college, since doing hair was, according to Grace, her claim to fame. Grace went on, with the assistance of Ms. Maude Parker, the housing authority social worker and enrolled at Morgan State University, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in social work. That journey was not easy, since Grace had graduated from high school 14 years earlier. However, with the grace of God and his guidance, she made it, graduating in the top 5% of the graduating class of 962 students. As a result of her accomplishments, Grace was awarded a fellowship to attend the University of Illinois and the work in Champaign County begins. |
Grace has been actively involved with many community groups and agencies. She has served on the Planned Parenthood Board; The Urban League Board; President of the Frances Nelson Health Center Board; the Youth Detention Center Advisory Board; served on the Champaign County Housing Authority Board as a commissioner and is currently the chair of the Civilian Police Review Board, the Personnel Committee Chair of the Champaign Schools Employee Credit Union, and President of the Champaign-Urbana Optimist Club.
Grace was employed for the Urbana School District for 34 years, where she worked as a school social worker at Urbana High School, Department chairperson for the special education department at the high school and director of alternative education at the high school. She also served as union president for 2 years and was on the Illinois Education Association Board of Directors. After being retired for 2 years, Grace began working as the Director of the Family Advocacy Center in Champaign County. She has been with FACC for 7 years and continues to help many families and youth in Champaign County.
When asked about why she is not relaxing during retirement, Grace stated that “because I have been blessed in so many ways, I feel my service to the community is my way of giving back. Working with families and youth in the community is my mission. It is important that we let those we serve know that there is someone there who cares and wants them to succeed. Our children are our future and we must support, encourage and guide them in every way we can. Not only in talking the talk, but having been in their shoes, I can truly say I’ve walked the walk. As I age I know I won’t be able to do the work I do and am so passionately committed to do forever. However, when my service to my community, families and youth is over, I would like to believe that the work that I’ve done, speaks for me.”
Grace was employed for the Urbana School District for 34 years, where she worked as a school social worker at Urbana High School, Department chairperson for the special education department at the high school and director of alternative education at the high school. She also served as union president for 2 years and was on the Illinois Education Association Board of Directors. After being retired for 2 years, Grace began working as the Director of the Family Advocacy Center in Champaign County. She has been with FACC for 7 years and continues to help many families and youth in Champaign County.
When asked about why she is not relaxing during retirement, Grace stated that “because I have been blessed in so many ways, I feel my service to the community is my way of giving back. Working with families and youth in the community is my mission. It is important that we let those we serve know that there is someone there who cares and wants them to succeed. Our children are our future and we must support, encourage and guide them in every way we can. Not only in talking the talk, but having been in their shoes, I can truly say I’ve walked the walk. As I age I know I won’t be able to do the work I do and am so passionately committed to do forever. However, when my service to my community, families and youth is over, I would like to believe that the work that I’ve done, speaks for me.”
Our Story
As a partner in the statewide Strengthening Families collaboration, Family Advocacy works to build family and community resilience and effective partnerships between parents and the systems that serve them and their children. Our commitment is to promote a strengths-based, family-centered approach to schools, public health, courts, child welfare and other agencies and organizations willing to partner in the interests of thriving youth and families. While our primary target is African American families due to racial disproportionality and disparity, we serve and have success with a diverse array of families. These families include, but are not limited to: Families that receive in home services (intact) with child welfare agencies in Champaign County. Families who are in crisis, but need encouragement while they change their lives.
Services Provided: Advocacy: informing and assisting you in advocating for yourself or speaking on your behalf. Providing support and assistance in maneuvering through the various systems you may be involved with. Mentoring: assisting with development of short and long term life goals. Mediation: to intervene as a neutral party on your behalf to work through conflicts that arise with service providers, Counseling: individual and family counseling Workshops: to host, sponsor, or co-sponsor workshops and groups that address parenting skills, life skills, working with child welfare and social service agencies in the community and domestic violence. Outreach: to provide services to families from the community and work in collaboration with other service providers. 3rd Party Visits: coordinate and supervise visits with clients whose children are in placement The Family Table Group Sessions: group sessions address parenting skills, domestic violence, relationships, life skills, budgeting, short and long term goals.
Services Provided: Advocacy: informing and assisting you in advocating for yourself or speaking on your behalf. Providing support and assistance in maneuvering through the various systems you may be involved with. Mentoring: assisting with development of short and long term life goals. Mediation: to intervene as a neutral party on your behalf to work through conflicts that arise with service providers, Counseling: individual and family counseling Workshops: to host, sponsor, or co-sponsor workshops and groups that address parenting skills, life skills, working with child welfare and social service agencies in the community and domestic violence. Outreach: to provide services to families from the community and work in collaboration with other service providers. 3rd Party Visits: coordinate and supervise visits with clients whose children are in placement The Family Table Group Sessions: group sessions address parenting skills, domestic violence, relationships, life skills, budgeting, short and long term goals.
General Information
At Family Advocacy, we embrace a commitment to social justice and trauma-informed practice. We highlight the importance of families having the most power in their lives and work with them to regain it. In the process, we explore their strengths and dreams for themselves and their children and advocate for and with them to remove personal and societal barriers to their vision.
Additionally, Family Advocacy serves as a family and community center providing meeting and program space and support to local organizations and collaborative with a shared vision for family strength and community revitalization.
We can’t do what we do without you. We respect your work and count on your partnership. Call us. Come visit. Use our space. Use us.
Additionally, Family Advocacy serves as a family and community center providing meeting and program space and support to local organizations and collaborative with a shared vision for family strength and community revitalization.
We can’t do what we do without you. We respect your work and count on your partnership. Call us. Come visit. Use our space. Use us.
Overview
Family Advocacy was established with funding from the State of Illinois, Department of Children and Family Services, as a part of the Permanency Enhancement Project, to assist families in navigating child welfare systems and building protective factors in the interest of security and permanence for their children
