News

Know Your Maryville

MISSION:

Maryville is a child care organization rooted in Catholic social teaching and dedicated to the preservation of the dignity of children at every age. Our mission is to protect children and strengthen families while helping them reach their fullest potential by empowering their intellectual, spiritual, moral and emotional growth.

Maryville Academy, one of Chicagoland’s oldest social service organizations, began its 140th anniversary in July 2023. We are full of gratitude for all the Lord has accomplished for children, families and communities over the years through the dedication of countless clergy, religious, lay personnel and community partners. As an apostolate of the Archdiocese of Chicago, we share in the Church’s works of mercy and thank you for the privilege of carrying out our mission to protect and serve children and families in your name and with your help. We appreciate this opportunity to reacquaint you with or introduce you to “your” Maryville.

Saint Mary’s Training School was begun in 1883 by Chicago’s first Archbishop, Reverend Patrick A. Feehan, and was renamed Maryville Academy by the children’s vote in 1950. It has provided a home, education, career training and therapeutic care while upholding the dignity of each child. Over the years, as the needs and circumstances of youth changed, we responded with best-practice methods and programming. Yet we have held true to the essential mission, striving to make a positive difference.

Maryville is dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families through our comprehensive services in four key areas – Family Services, Residential Services, Healthcare Services, and Educational Services. These services are available in Bartlett, Berwyn, Chicago, Des Plaines, and Niles. Many of our programs are community-based and are designed to be of assistance to you, or those you know or serve:

• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO): 312-491-3534—provides a safe and positive environment for young athletes in Cook and Lake Counties through sports leagues/camps, open gyms and tournaments.
• Children’s Healthcare Center: 773-205-3606—is a welcoming, supportive facility that offers 24-hour nursing care for children who are medically fragile and technology dependent. The nursing staff gives parent/caregiver training to safely transition the children back to their homes.
• Crisis Nursery: 24-Hour Helpline – 773-205-3637—one of seven in IL and the only one serving Cook and Lake counties. It offers free child care services to parents with children under age 7 who are experiencing an emergency or crisis. It provides a safe, secure and loving environment for 4–72 hours in one stay and up to 30 days a year.
• Family Behavioral Health Clinic: 847-390-3004—has counseling services, DUI evaluations, risk education (English, Spanish, and Polish, in-person or telehealth appointments), smoking/vaping cessation services and play therapy. Medicaid and private insurance (not HMO) are accepted. NARCAN training for groups is available.
• Maryville Academy Mother’s Recovery Home Network (Saint Monica and Saint Josephine Bakhita Homes) – 312-491-3500 | 872-250-9720—is a recovery and unification program that helps moms become sober, self-sufficient and independent so they can care for their children and keep them safe. Moms 18-35 years of age, accompanied by children younger than 11, receive recovery, vocational and parenting coaching. Referral is via the Department of Children and Family Services’ INTACT unit or from an assessment by our Family Behavioral Health Clinic.
• Charles H. Walsh Sr. Academy & Career Tech High School: 847-390-3020—opened in November 2023 and continues Maryville Jen School’s founding vision of preparing diverse learners to enter high-demand trades or be college-ready for a successful future. Walsh Academy has an open enrollment policy and welcomes students 14-22 who are within a one-hour driving distance from the Academy. It is a leader in providing a comprehensive curriculum that offers academics, integrated social-emotional learning, and career-technical educational instruction for students.

Maryville also continues to provide residential programs: Casa Imani and St. Mary of Celle are therapeutic homes for parenting and pregnant adolescent girls who experienced childhood trauma and are currently in the care of DCFS. Casa Salama Home for girls, 13-20, in DCFS care, diagnosed with cognitive and mental challenges. St. Dominic Savio Home and St. Teresa of Calcutta Home offer clinical care and life skills education for youth aged 14-18 who are referred to Maryville by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. Casa Esperanza, St. Rose of Lima, San Francisco and San Juan Diego Homes are short-term homes for newcomer youth displaced by war, violence or trauma. St. Gabriel Home is a long-term group home for male newcomer youth 12-17.

Maryville Golf Academy, one of Maryville’s family services programs, teaches life lessons inherent in golf to Maryville children and youth in underserved Chicago neighborhoods and helps them develop as players, caddies and clubmakers.

Maryville is blessed with 500 employees. Our funding comes from government contracts, grants, donations and fundraising. We are proud and appreciative of our Maryville staff and grateful for the donors, volunteers, faith communities and organizations who support our work.

We invite you to partner with us by praying each day for Maryville’s children, families and staff; holding a drive or taking up a collection to benefit Maryville; supporting our fundraisers; becoming a “Maryville Ambassador” to connect us with your parish; joining our team (go to maryvilleacademy.org for job opportunities); volunteering for a few hours each week (please visit our website to apply); contacting DCFS for information to become foster or adoptive parents–some of our Maryville children need families; or inviting our outreach coordinator to speak to your faith community or parish ministry or group about Maryville.

Thank you for the privilege of serving with you to strengthen and help children and families so they are safe, healthy and supported in growing to their full potential. We look forward to furthering our relationship with you. For more information, please contact Dolores (Dee) Stanton, community/parish outreach coordinator at 847-294-1899 or stantond@maryvilleacademy.org.