Cradle Society

Education & engagement: the cradle hosts webinars, courses, and workshops to help families increase their understanding of the joys and challenges of adoption and parenting. In fy2024, the cradle received 11,071 enrollments for interactive, adoption-related courses and webinars. The cradle also provides outreach and adoption education to illinois-based clinic and hospital professionals who work with expectant parents. In fy2024, we awarded 102 ce/cu credits following 3 in-service and 3 virtual presentations. The cradle also conducted 4 non-ceu professional development trainings.

Nursery and special needs infant care: the cradle is the only adoption agency in the u.s. With an on-site nursery- a safe, neutral place for infants to stay while their parents take time to decide if adoption will be the plan for their child. This is available at no cost, regardless of the parents' decision. Staffed with experienced, licensed nurses and infant aides, the nursery provides quality care to all infants entrusted to the cradle and is licensed to care for up to 20 infants at a time. In fy2024, 19 infants received 541 nights of care in our nursery, and 16 infants were placed into their permanent adoptive homes.