2019 Excelsior finalist: Shelter Care Ministries offers service without barriers

Dec. 4--The Excelsior Award has been given each year since 1979 to an organization that exemplifies community service and excellence, and that works to make a difference in the Rock River Valley. Shelter Care Ministries is an Excelsior finalist.

Organization: Shelter Care Ministries

Address: 218 Seventh St., Rockford

Phone: 815-964-5520

Website: shelter-care.org

Year founded: 1981

Executive director: Sarah Parker-Scanlon

Total staff: 14

Annual budget: $1 million

Mission Statement: "It is the mission of Shelter Care Ministries to provide shelter, awaken hope and honor dignity in every person who seeks comfort, support or assistance through our programs. Our focus is on individuals with a chronic mental illness and families that are homeless in the Winnebago/Boone county area.

"We live out our mission through our direct service programs, volunteer efforts and community education. When possible, we participate in lobbying for resources for our members and residents, legislate for laws to protect marginalized people and inform policies that affect funding and regulations for programs serving very poor people."

What the nominators said:

"My first encounter with Shelter Care was not when I was hired to be a Housing Case Manager in 2002.

"Our first encounter was in 1990 when life brought me along with two young children to their office seeking assistance. At the time they had a 90-day housing program and at that time it was what we needed to regroup and move on to stable housing. I went to work for Shelter Care hoping that my experience could awaken hope for another family.

"Clearly, there's much more to the story -- the hows and whys aren't as important as the when -- they were there WHEN we needed them. They are still there when a mother needs to leave her child at MAYA'S House. They are there when someone who struggles with the debilitating symptoms of mental illness needs community and understanding. And, they are there to provide housing and case management to 20-plus families." -- Carol West

"Shelter Care is dedicated to meeting families where they are; there are no barriers to receiving services. The overarching philosophy is that the transition from homelessness to independent living can be arduous, with many hurdles to be overcome. The staff is empowered to make decisions and provide assistance that is unique to a particular family." -- Carol Jambor-Smith, Shelter Care Ministries board member

Following responses from Sarah Parker-Scanlon, Shelter Care Ministries executive director. Answers were edited for length.

Tell me something about Shelter Care Ministries that may not be widely known? Many people know about Jubilee Center, MAYA'S House, or supportive housing programs, but don't know that these programs or ministries are operated by Shelter Care. People also might not recognize that investing in housing for homeless families is an investment in our community. Helping stabilize families helps keep children in school. Collectively we want an educated population, and this is an investment to achieve that goal.

What can be done to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness? I believe for the most part we're moving in the right direction in regards to destigmatizing mental illness and recognizing that mental health is as important as physical health. In recent years I've noticed that people are braver about discussing their struggles with living with mental illness, often on a large platform. With nearly 1 in 5 adults living with a mental illness, ALL of us know someone who has (a mental illness), whether we know it or not. Just recognizing the prevalence of mental illness is a step in the right direction and hopefully makes people less afraid to speak up about their experience or to seek treatment in the first place.

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