Family Counseling Center, Inc. opens transitional living home for homeless youth in Rosiclare, Illinois
Rosiclare, Illinois, January 1, 2015 — Family Counseling Center, Inc., opened a renovated facility on January 1st seeking to serve the homeless youth population within the southern 7 counties of Illinois. Located in Rosiclare, Illinois, Mahoney Transitional Living will provide housing for up 6 youth between the ages of 16 to 24 who are currently homeless, without permanent housing or at risk of losing permanent housing. The program was developed as part of a grant awarded to Family Counseling Center, Inc. in July 2014 by the Illinois Department of Human Services and aims to increase the safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of homeless youth in the area. Services will strive to meet immediate survival needs of the youth and assist them in gaining necessary educational, vocational, and life skills that will allow them to transition to independent living and self-sufficiency. Family Counseling Center, Inc. will work in collaboration with local schools and other community agencies to identify youth eligible for enrollment.
Mahoney Transitional Living is named after school teacher and lifetime resident of Hardin County, Morjorie “Sue” Shockley Mahoney. Born in 1935 to Loy Shockley and Martha Adeline Chancey Shockley, Sue attended Rosiclare High School and upon graduation obtained a scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University. She began her teaching career in 1955 when she was just 19 years old, while attending night classes at SIUC. Sue completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1961. Throughout her years in Hardin County, Sue enriched the lives of many children through her work in the school system and at her local church.
Sue and her husband Danny Mahoney, also took several needy children into their home to raise them as their own. The educational and personal success of children continues to be an important value for Sue as she remains involved in the Hardin County community.
Family Counseling Center, Inc. Executive Director Sherrie Crabb fondly remembers Sue Mahoney as a mentor during her own time at Hardin County Elementary School and is excited to honor her dedication to the children of the community with Mahoney Transitional Living.
Family Counseling Center Inc., along with their Tri-County Board of Directors, hosted a community wide open house on January 26, 2015, to view the home and provide further information about the services. Refreshments and light snacks were provided.
About Family Counseling Center, Inc.
Family Counseling Center, Inc. has been providing behavioral health services to Johnson, Hardin, and Pope counties since 1974, and has since then expanded to include 15 operating sites within Johnson, Hardin, Pope, and Pulaski counties as well as extending services to Alexander, Massac, Saline, and Union counties. Family Counseling Center, Inc. provides services to over 800 clients within their Behavioral Health, Developmental Services, and Supportive Living divisions.