Not everyone is called to foster.
Everyone is called to care.
We mobilize churches and individuals to actively care for children and families in foster care.
Care packages on placement day, a monthly support night, trauma-informed therapy, and friends who keep showing up.
Just welcomed a child into your home?
If you live in DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, or Will County, tell us within the first week and we'll bring a care package and a hot meal to your door.
Pick the one that fits your season.
Foster & Adoptive Moms' Support Night
Snacks, honest conversation, and real training for moms of foster and adoptive kids. Childcare is on site so you can be fully present.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Hope & healing
Counseling for any child, teen, or adult touched by foster care or adoption, with licensed clinical social workers who know this road firsthand.
Charity Dinner & Auction
Saturday, March 13, 2027
Whitetail Ridge Golf Club · Yorkville
Stand with kids
Host a lemonade stand, raise money for foster kids and families, and deposit it online. We'll send everything you need.
“Our job isn't to be their savior; it's simply to love these kids as our Savior has loved us.”Jason Johnson
Bringing hope to your inbox.
You said yes.
We're here for what's next.
Care packages, monthly support, trauma-informed therapy, and camp scholarships for the families of foster care and adoption.
Your first week, in three steps
Request a care package
For placements in the last week or less. Tell us about your new arrival and we'll take it from there.
RequestJoin the foster parent email
Trainings, events, and resources sent just to foster and adoptive families.
JoinCome to support night
Meet moms who understand, the first Thursday of every month, with childcare on site.
DetailsFoster & Adoptive Moms' Support Night
A safe, supportive space where moms of foster and adoptive children connect, share experiences, and gain insight. We enjoy snacks together, talk openly, share updates, and work through hard questions. Many nights include training with practical tools for the unique challenges of fostering.
On-site childcare is provided. Registration is required for adults and children, so please register early.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
6:30 PM · 1111 W South St, Plano, IL 60545
Therapy for your family
Licensed clinical social workers who specialize in foster care and adoption. We accept insurance.
Explore therapyCamp scholarships
Help with the cost of camps that offer spiritual, emotional, social, and personal growth.
ApplyCounseling for families shaped by foster care & adoption
Our licensed clinical social workers serve any child, teen, or adult who has been touched by foster care or adoption in any way.
You request
Fill out the therapy request and insurance verification form.
We verify
Our team checks your benefits and matches you with a therapist.
We call you
Our scheduling team reaches out to book your first session.
Experienced, local, and at home in foster care
Megan Gunier, MSW, LCSW
Megan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with close to 20 years of experience as a school social worker, specializing in supporting youth in care. She has dedicated her career to helping vulnerable children secure essential resources and understand their rights, and she is passionate about advocating for those in need and creating opportunities for growth and stability.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys time with her family and cheering on her children at their sporting events. She serves as Assistant Sunday School Director at her church.
Kari Frantzen, MSW, LCSW
Kari brings over 20 years of experience as a school social worker in public education. She is passionate about helping children and families discover new perspectives and build practical skills to overcome life's challenges. Much of her career has focused on suicide education and grief support, and her compassionate approach creates a safe space for clients to work through obstacles and heal.
Shari Chapman, MSW, LCSW
Shari enjoys walking alongside people on the challenging roads of life. She specializes in helping individuals gain the skills and insight to experience joy amid pain and struggle. Her own experience as a biological, foster, and adoptive parent gives her a unique approach with people affected by foster care and adoption.
Do you only see children in foster care?
No. Our services are open to any child, teen, or adult who has been impacted by foster care or adoption in any way.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. Use the request form and we'll verify your benefits.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Start the request here, and our scheduling team will contact you.
Where is your office?
At our Called to Care location, 1111 W South St, Plano, IL 60545.
Do you offer telehealth?
Telehealth is an option for clients over age 18.
Is there a waiting area during my child's session?
We don't have a waiting area. Several restaurants are nearby, and Walmart is about a mile away.
“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11There's a place for you in this work.
Volunteers carry most of what we do, from packing care bags to running the supply room. We add to the team all year long.
Apply to join the volunteer team
We serve the counties around our home office in Plano, and we'd be glad to have you. Once you apply, a team member will reach out to walk you through the next steps.
Stock the closet. Deliver the bags.
When a child arrives in a new home, often with very little, a Called to Care bag shows up at the door with clothes, essentials, and a hot meal. Care Closet volunteers sort donations, pack bags, and deliver them to families.
Here's what's coming up.
Most events take place at our office, 1111 W South St, Plano, IL.
Charity Dinner & Auction
Saturday, March 13, 2027
Whitetail Ridge Golf Club · 7671 Clubhouse Drive, Yorkville
An evening of dinner, an auction, and stories from the families you help us serve.
Join us for dinner.
Come for the night, or fill a table with your friends, small group, or coworkers.
Regular tickets go on sale December 15, 2026.
- Dinner, auction, and program for one guest
- Reserved table for 10 guests
Buy tickets early by becoming a monthly partner.
Regular tickets to the Charity Dinner go on sale December 15, 2026. Monthly partners get first access.
Become a Monthly PartnerBe part of our sixth year.
Every sponsor, at every level, is listed by name in the program book.
- Company or individual featured on all printed materials
- Premier table seating for 10 guests
- Recognition as a Legacy sponsor on large signage at the event
- Full-page color ad in the program book
- Two complimentary Golden Tickets
- Company or individual featured on all printed materials
- Premier table seating for 10 guests
- Recognition as a Gold sponsor on large signage at the event
- Full-page color ad in the program book
- One complimentary Golden Ticket
- Company or individual featured on all printed materials
- Premier table seating for 4 guests
- Recognition as a Platinum sponsor on signage at the event
- Half-page color ad in the program book
- Company or individual featured on all printed materials
- Two tickets to the dinner
- Recognition as a Diamond sponsor on signage at the event
- Quarter-page color ad in the program book
- Company or individual featured on all printed materials
- Recognition as a Sapphire sponsor on signage at the event
- Recognition in the program book
- Shout-out at the Charity Dinner
- Recognition in the program book
- Shout-out at the Charity Dinner
- Your name in the program book
Appetizers, desserts & flowers
- Recognized at the appetizer table
- Recognized at the dessert table
- Recognized on signage at the event
Give monthly, get first dibs.
Give $50 or more a month for 6 months or longer and get early access to buy Charity Dinner tickets before they go on sale to everyone.
Called to Care
15450 State Route 47
Newark, IL 60541
Make checks payable to We Are Called to Care, NFP.
Contact our Executive Director, Shari Chapman, at shari@wearecalledtocare.com.
Download Sponsor PacketThank you for your generosity.
Called to Care runs on volunteers and gifts. Our work is impossible without your partnership.
Become someone's steady.
Monthly gifts let us say yes the same day a child is placed. Partners giving $50 or more a month for six months get early access to Charity Dinner tickets.
Already give monthly through Donorbox? Nothing changes for you.
Partner with Called to Care
Businesses and churches make our year-round programs possible. Sponsor the charity dinner or give as a partner organization.
Prefer to give by check? Mail it to Called to Care, 15450 State Route 47, Newark, IL 60541, payable to We Are Called to Care, NFP.
We Are Called to Care, NFP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN 86-2900453. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Stand with kids
Organize a lemonade stand and help Called to Care raise money for foster kids and families. When you're done, deposit what you collected online.
Everything for a great stand
Every child deserves a summer of joy.
We help offset the cost of camps that offer spiritual, emotional, social, and personal growth for youth connected to foster care, adoption, or guardianship.
Youth ages 5–18 connected to foster care, adoption, or guardianship who are also involved in some part of Called to Care's support or services.
Funds are limited, so a scholarship committee considers impact, need, and available funding. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Most families hear back within 14 business days. If approved, we pay the camp directly or reimburse you, depending on the arrangement.
Let's get them to camp.
Tell us about the youth, your family's connection to our programs, and the camp you're interested in. It takes about 15 minutes. Most families hear back within 14 business days.
Thank you!
Your camp scholarship application is in. Our scholarship committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and most families hear back within 14 business days.
Back to homeSave your seat. Come as you are.
An evening of encouragement and connection with other foster and adoptive parents. Registration helps us plan food and childcare.
Your RSVP
Loading your registration…
How was camp?
We'd love to hear about it! Share a favorite memory and a few photos. Your story helps our donors see what their gifts make possible and helps us send more kids to camp next year.
We loved hearing about camp.
Thank you for sharing. Stories like yours are why we do this.
Back to Camp ScholarshipsWelcome. We've got you.
For placements in the last week or less. Tell us about your new arrival and we'll put together a care package for each child. We'll call or text within one business day.
We've got you.
We'll call or text within one business day to set a pickup or delivery time.
Back to Foster ParentsThanks for taking time to care.
Tell us a little about yourself and where you'd like to serve. A team member will reach out to walk you through the next steps.
Thank you!
A team member will reach out soon to walk you through the next steps.
Back to Get InvolvedLet's make Christmas merry for every kid.
Please take a moment to share details for all of your children (including biological children), so we can tailor Santa's gifts just for them!
Warm regards, We Are Called to Care
Work for Called to Care.
Explore deeper engagement in the Kingdom work of caring for vulnerable children and the families who support them.
Therapist
Join a professional, collaborative, and supportive team of therapists in a growing practice. We offer a modern, furnished office, monthly staff consultation, and responsive management. We accept private insurance and are contracted with Medicare and Medicaid, and we handle administration and billing so you can focus on your clients.
Our mission is to mobilize churches and individuals to actively care for children and families in the foster care system.
A message from our founder
Hey there, I'm Shari.
I'm a small-town gal who grew up in Millbrook, IL, and still call Kendall County home today. I haven't always been involved in foster care and knew very little about child welfare until several years ago, when we accepted our first placement, a 5th-grade student of my husband's. My eyes were opened to a whole new world. I had honestly never given much thought to foster care. That “yes” we gave to bring Jose into our home changed the trajectory of our lives in the best way possible.
I'm a “mom” to eleven humans through biology, international adoption, and foster care. My favorite title is Mimi, and a date night with Phil will always be my favorite. He's always been my biggest fan and my absolute favorite person on the planet.
Starting a nonprofit was never on my list of life goals, but here we are. Even in my wildest dreams, I couldn't have imagined this. I'm so proud of how we have made kids and families feel seen. I'm humbled by the caliber and servanthood of the volunteers who have embraced our mission and given themselves tirelessly, and grateful for our donors who champion our mission by sharing their treasure so the ministry can happen.
I've learned so much and have so much to learn. Even though I feel ill-equipped at times to do what the Lord has called me to do, there is a peace that comes with following Him, even when it's scary and uncomfortable. This quote from John Piper resonates deep within my soul: “Few things make me tremble more than the possibility of taking this one and only life and wasting it.”
Thanks for stopping by our little corner of the internet.
Until all kids have a family,
Shari ChapmanThe people you'll meet
Jen Hall
As a foster mom, Jen attended the very first support group Called to Care ever held and has been an integral part of it ever since. Her degree in Human Services and Psychology, her 20 years as a mental health professional at Linden Oaks Hospital, and her experience as a foster and adoptive parent make her uniquely qualified to walk alongside families through hard seasons.
Jen is a CASA Kendall County advocate and is active at Harvest New Beginnings in Oswego, where Awana and Vacation Bible School have meant a lot to her family. Her favorite roles are wife and mom to five children, and you can catch her walking her dog most mornings, rain or shine.
Our therapists are on the therapy page →
From the first night of a placement to the birthdays and graduations years later, we come alongside foster and adoptive families.
Let's connect.
We'd love to hear from you. Use the form so your message reaches the right person.
815-200-9086