Goldie B. Floberg Center

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

1918                   Illinois Cottage opened on Kent Street in Rockford and provided care and protection for                           unwed mothers and young women following Camp Grant soldiers during World War 1.

1927                   Children’s Convalescent Home, as Illinois Cottage was now called, was incorporated and                           provided services to convalescing children and adults.

1940-60            Program for neglected, dependent and abused children was expanded to meet                                           community need.

1970                   Moved to Rockton and renamed Goldie B. Floberg Center for Children after Winnebago                              County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer.  Intervention for abused and neglected                                       children, infant to 13 years, was the focus of services.  Crisis Intervention Program                                   phased out due to change in DCFS and Juvenile Probation Department placement                                      policies.  We began to meet unmet statewide needs, providing services to children and                             youth having developmental disabilities.

1981                   Center awarded the Rockford Register Star’s Excelsior Award in recognition of                                           outstanding contributions to the community.

1985                   Ten thousand square feet were added to the building and extensive remodeling was                                  completed in order to comply with State licensing standards and to provide adequate                               space for our 55 clients who reside at the Center.

1987                   WIFR TV’s “23 Action Award” for September, recognizing the staff’s care and education                           of children with developmental disabilities.

1989                   Began serving adults in the Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) Program.                              Employment and vocational training opportunities are provided to 24 adults who live in                           supervised community placements.

1995                   JC Penney Golden Rule Award to Center Boy Scout Troop 643

2001                   Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities “On the Right Path” Award to the Center’s                                      Recreational Specialist; American Association of Mental Retardation’s “Direct Support                               Professional” Award to two staff.

2002                   Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities “On the Right Path” Award to Center’s Children’s                           Services Administrator; American Association of Mental Retardation “Direct Support                                  Professional Award” to one staff.  Licensed as a three year CARF accredited agency, the                           longest term possible, for Community Services and Community Living Services.  Adult                                Program re-licensed for three years, the longest term possible and with the highest score                           ever given.  Home-Based Support Program started to prevent need for out of home                                   placement.

2004                   President/CEO receives Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities “Lifetime Achievement in                           Human Services” Award.            

Present              Employing over 150 staff from several state line area communities, we serve 33 counties                           located in the Northern Half of Illinois.  We are unique because we are the only agency                             in the nine Northwestern counties of Illinois to provide our special type of services to                               both ambulatory and non-ambulatory children and adults who have developmental                                   disabilities.  Adult Program re-licensed again for longest term possible, three years.                                 Licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a Child Care                                   Institution and Child Welfare Agency and as a Preferred Provider of Community                                          Integrated Living Arrangements by the Department of Human Services.  We are one of                              only two agencies in the Rockford area with “Preferred Provided” status.  We are the                               only residential agency in our area providing in-home services to prevent out of home                               placement.  Recertified by CARF for three year accreditation for Community Housing                                Services provided to children, adolescents and adults.