Become a Heart Gallery Photographer to Support Illinois Foster Care Adoption with Let It Be Us

Latest News
July 21, 2025

Recruitment and placement in adoption and foster care play significant roles in the prevention of human trafficking and in 2025 Let It Be Us will expand into Specialized Recruitment to serve this underserved population.

Latest News
July 21, 2025

Latest News
July 17, 2025

Press
July 10, 2025

Today, CBS Chicago spotlighted Let It Be Us following its recent $750,000 contract with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Founded 11 years ago by Dr. Susan McConnell […]

Latest News
June 2, 2025

Press
June 2, 2025

During this live interview, Dr. Susan A. McConnell, Founder & Executive Director of Let It Be Us, discussed Let It Be Us, foster care and adoption, the Adoption Listing Service […]

Latest News
May 14, 2025

Press
April 3, 2025

During this live interview, Dr. Susan A. McConnell, Founder & Executive Director of Let It Be Us, discussed Let It Be Us, foster care and adoption, the Be Mine Gala, […]

Latest News
April 2, 2025

Press
April 2, 2025

During this live interview, Dr. Susan A. McConnell, Founder & Executive Director of Let It Be Us, and Kaycee Coles, Board Member, discussed Let It Be Us, foster care and […]

Latest News
April 1, 2025

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March 28, 2025

Latest News
March 28, 2025

Press
March 25, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
March 12, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
March 12, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
March 12, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
March 12, 2025

As we celebrate National Social Work Month, we highlight women focusing on education and innovation. In honor of National Social Work Month, Let It Be Us celebrates three trailblazing women whose advanced education and innovative approaches are redefining the field of social work.

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
March 12, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
February 3, 2025

Adoption , Foster Parent Recruitment , Latest News
January 18, 2025

Press
December 12, 2024

Carolyne Osterhues’ kids, like all siblings, have their moments. “They have fights over ‘Who ate my Flaming Hot Cheetos?’” the Tower Lakes mom said. “They are the best of friends […]

Press
December 2, 2024

As thousands of children in Illinois await adoption, one Barrington nonprofit is doing its part to find them permanent homes. Let It Be Us operates out of a small office […]

Latest News
November 8, 2024

Carolyne and Mark Osterhues always planned to build a family through adoption. They considered using a domestic or international agency, but found there were challenges associated with these approaches, such […]

Latest News
November 5, 2024

When a child’s home life is determined to be unsafe, they are placed with a relative or licensed foster family. While foster care is designed to be temporary, reunification between […]

Latest News
September 30, 2024

Let It Be Us Announces Partnership with The Bridge Youth & Family Services for Host Home Recruitment Let It Be Us enters the new frontier of child welfare by announcing […]

Press
July 29, 2024

Barrington resident Susan McConnell worked on a project for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for more than 10 years, recruiting foster families to adopt children. “I saw […]

Latest News
July 19, 2024

Let It Be Us has secured a grant from the Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation to host a series of Virtual Job Fairs through our Springboard to Adulthood Program. The first […]

Latest News
July 18, 2024

Let It Be Us, a leading nonprofit dedicated to providing innovative solutions for foster care and adoption in Illinois, proudly recognized two of its inaugural board members, Elizabeth Felice and […]

Press
July 2, 2024

Thousands of children enter foster care in Illinois every year. In this week’s Difference Maker, WBBM’s Lisa Fielding introduces us to a Barrington woman who’s using her own personal experience […]

Latest News
June 13, 2024

Let It Be Us is thrilled to share some groundbreaking news about a new Leadership Council that will shape the future of our collective journey. With a commitment to collaboration, […]

Press
June 2, 2024

Let It Be Us hosted an unforgettable evening celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Be Mine Gala on Friday, May 10. Emceed by Dave McKinney of WBEZ-FM, who is a […]

Latest News
May 21, 2024

Left to Right, Susan McConnell, Elizabeth Felice, Robin Kelleher, Matt Hower, Vince Foglia, Jessica Canning, Doug Locke, Kaycee Coles – Missing are Carolyne Osterhues, Vinnie Foglia Let It Be Us […]

Press
May 16, 2024

I discovered something a few years ago that is both interesting and sad. I’m a professional photographer who for 10 years for the State of Illinois photographed children awaiting adoption. […]

Press
May 3, 2024

Each year– thousands of children enter foster care in Illinois. And one local organization is on a mission to connect them with a stable, loving home. Let It Be Us […]

Press
May 1, 2024

Join child welfare agency Let It Be Us for an unforgettable evening celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Be Mine Gala on Friday, May 10, 2024. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. […]

Press
April 30, 2024

During this live, in-studio interview, Susan McConnell discussed Let It Be Us, foster care and adoption, the Be Mine Gala, and more. WCPT 820 · Driving It Home With Patti […]

Latest News
April 29, 2024

Robin Kelleher is an accomplished transactional attorney and business owner with nearly two decades of experience. She serves as general counsel to corporations, their owners, and managers, with experience in […]

Latest News
April 25, 2024

The Barrington Area Community Foundation has announced the recipients of their annual grants and Let It Be Us has been chosen to receive funding to establish a Corporate Sponsorship Program. […]

Foster Care
February 27, 2024

The Let It Be Us Diligent Recruitment Data Report on Foster Home Recruitment for the month of January, 2024 is out and our team is pleased that our marketing is […]

Foster Care
January 22, 2024

Kendra Wright, Program Coordinator of Springboard to Adulthood and Special Families Programs, collaborated with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine on a research artciel titled “Understanding the needs of foster […]

Foster Care
December 13, 2023

Let It Be Us, together with staff, volunteers, and sponsors, welcomed families through foster care and adoption to a family-friendly holiday event of decorating gingerbread houses with lunch. For those […]

Foster Care
October 30, 2023

November is a special month on the calendar for many reasons, and one of them is National Adoption Month. This annual observance is a time to celebrate the countless stories […]

Foster Care
October 13, 2023

Let It Be Us and Shelter, Inc. invite you to be a part of an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in need. Event Details: […]

Foster Care
October 12, 2023

Let It Be Us is ensuring accessibility for all and strengthening our commitment to ADA Compliance. We are thrilled to announce that our website is now fully ADA-compliant, embracing a […]

Foster Care
September 20, 2023

Let It Be Us is happy to announce that the organization has become an official member of the Aging Out Institute Community. This affiliation will open up numerous avenues for […]

Foster Care
July 31, 2023

Let It Be Us welcomes Bryana Hopkins, MPPA, to the role of Director of Operations and Finance. Bryana has a BS Degree in Social Policy from Northwestern University’s School of […]

Foster Care
July 31, 2023

Let It Be Us announces the promotion of Vanessa Baie, MSW, LCSW, to the position of Director of Child Welfare Services. Vanessa has a BS Degree in Sociology from Benedictine […]

Foster Care
July 13, 2023

Leadership Will Continue to Build Organization’s Legacy in Foster Care and Adoption and Activate Program for Children with Special Healthcare Needs Let It Be Us is proud to announce today […]

Foster Care
May 30, 2023

At Let It Be Us we work with experts in foster care, adoption, recruitment, education, and overall, social work. As a Illinois licensed child welfare agency we have access to […]

Foster Care
February 11, 2023

Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) includes children and young people in foster care that are in extreme risk. While poorly defined legally, the impact upon this population is immense. Two […]

Foster Care
February 11, 2023

Human trafficking is a version of modern-day slavery. It is a crime where someone is forced or coerced into being entirely controlled by another person (someone that is referred to […]

Foster Care
February 3, 2023

Celebrate Black History Month with events both in-person and virtual In honor of Black History Month, we’ve put together a list of activities that celebrate the history, arts, and culture […]

Foster Care , Foster Parent Education
January 30, 2023

A Blog Post for National Mentoring Month The month of January is National Mentoring Month. It was founded by the Harvard School of Public Health in 2002. According to Harvard […]

Press
January 3, 2023

CHICAGO (CBS) — All kids in the foster care system are in need of a loving home, whether on a temporary or permanent basis. Statistics show teens are more likely to […]

Foster Care , Foster Parent Education
December 7, 2022

Let It Be Us is partnering with Shelter Inc to recruit homes for the Emergency Foster Care program Children in foster care face many challenges. One of the biggest challenges […]

Press
December 6, 2022

Let It Be Us welcomes individuals and businesses to celebrate this holiday season of giving by participating in its third annual Toy Drive to benefit children in foster care in […]

Foster Care , Foster Parent Education
November 28, 2022

Celebrating National Adoption Month My personal and professional life have been focused on adoption and, primarily, open adoption. I am the mother now of four unique free range young adults, […]

Foster Care , Foster Parent Education
November 28, 2022

Closing Out 2022 National Adoption Month with a Look Back at Humans of Adoption Series Our vision at Let It Be Us is permanency for every child. Permanency is a […]

Foster Care , Foster Parent Education
November 17, 2022

In honor of National Adoption Month, Let It Be Us’ Deputy Director Alex Montgomery explores the importance of the biological family. “The question to ask is not ‘Who does this […]

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