Safe Kids Strong Families Campaign

We are honored to recognize Denise Derdeyn as the 2026 Connie Reyes Award of Excellence recipient.
For more than 40 years, Denise has served Kenosha Human Development Services with steadfast dedication and compassion, consistently advocating for those in need. Her unwavering support of the many programs she has been a part of will have a ripple effect for years to come. As a fierce advocate for those who need it most, her leadership and commitment have made a lasting and meaningful difference in our community.
Congratulations, Denise, on this well-deserved recognition!

What a great partnership! 

Congratulations to one of our Strong Family Award recipients — the Akulinichev/Akulinicheva Family! 💙
Their nominator shared: I am honored to nominate the Akulinichev/Akulinicheva family (Oksana, Oleh, Maria “Masha,” and Artem) for recognition as a Strong Family. I have known this family since shortly after their arrival to America and have had the pleasure of having both Masha and Artem in my classroom.
After relocating from Ukraine due to the war, they have shown incredible resilience, determination, and commitment to building a safe and thriving life for their children. Since arriving in our community a few years ago, they have fully embraced every opportunity to grow and connect. They have actively participated in English learner classes through the Kenosha Literacy Council, demonstrating a strong commitment to learning and adapting in order to better support their family and engage with their new community.
They are hardworking—consistently employed or in school—and deeply involved in their children’s lives. Both children have participated in Head Start, where the family has remained actively engaged, building strong relationships with staff and supporting their children’s development every step of the way.
The Akulinichev/Akulinicheva family truly exemplifies the Five Protective Factors. Their journey reflects strong parental resilience as they navigate significant life changes with courage and perseverance. Their dedication to learning highlights their knowledge of parenting and child development, while their involvement in school and the community demonstrates meaningful social connections. They foster a nurturing environment that supports their children’s social and emotional development and have effectively utilized concrete supports like educational programs to strengthen their family’s success.
This family is a true example of strength, hope, and perseverance. Their story is not only inspiring but also a reminder of the power of community, connection, and unwavering love for one’s children.
We are so incredibly proud of your family—keep up the amazing work! 💙
https://fiveforfamilies.org/

Congratulations to one of our Strong Family Award recipients — the Rogers Family! 💙

Their nominator shared:
This family has experienced a lot of hardships recently, and they have come out the other side stronger together, showing incredible resilience. Through these challenges, they have strengthened their family relationships, leaned on one another, and continue to support each other with empathy. Jonathon has shown an impressive ability to meet his children where they’re at while working to improve communication within the family. He holds reasonable expectations, encouraging effort and progress over perfection.

His son, who is my client, has also demonstrated remarkable resilience—stepping up to help his dad around the house and care for the baby in the absence of his mother. The family knows who they can turn to for help and actively leans on those supports when needed.

We are so incredibly proud of your family—keep up the amazing work! 💙
https://fiveforfamilies.org/

🌟👟 What an AMAZING day! 👟🌟

Our annual Family Fun Run/Walk at the Kenosha County Center was a huge success, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout! 💙

We are always excited to team up with the Families Branching Out Expo Fair—bringing families, resources, and our community together all in one place!

A BIG shoutout to:
✨ Our incredible volunteers
✨ The Exchange Club for the pinwheel garden
And of course…
THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, walked, ran, and made the day so special!

We loved seeing so many smiling faces—see you next year! 🎉

We’re excited to see everyone this weekend at our annual Safe Kids Strong Families Fun/Run Walk at the Kenosha County Center!
PLEASE remember to wear your shirt from previous years—we didn’t order new ones this year as we’re planning to refresh the style for next year.
After the 5K, don’t go anywhere—the fun continues with the Families Branching Out Expo Fair! Be sure to also check out the beautiful pinwheel gardens created by the Exchange Club of Kenosha—they serve as a powerful symbol of hope and prevention. 💙
P.S. You can still register!
Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaqqx7-aNlsJ_UuB5uKlI0rdauFnPVXy9BfsxSGB1eeKLVLQ/viewform

Congratulations to one of our Strong Family Award recipients — the Trapp Family! 💙
Their nominator shared: Katie’s son is a survivor of child abuse from his birth father. Katie took every step necessary to protect her child — obtaining a protective order, relocating, and navigating the challenges of securing housing as a single mother, all while continuing to provide a safe and stable home.
Her son lives with brain trauma and resulting disabilities due to the abuse. Katie has worked tirelessly to secure multiple supports for both herself and her children. Both of her children have autism; she obtained ABA therapy for one child and has taken it upon herself to learn and apply ABA strategies with her other child when services were not available.
Katie consistently researches every physical and emotional challenge that arises and actively seeks out resources to support her family. She has built a strong network of support and has even been invited to speak within one of her groups because of her knowledge and dedication to helping others.
With encouragement, she is also learning to take time for herself — strengthening her own resiliency as she continues caring for her two children with exceptional needs.
We are so incredibly proud of your family. Keep up the amazing work! 💙
https://fiveforfamilies.org/

'When a child calls, we ride': Kenosha biker group stands beside abused children in court Guardians of the Children — Belle City is a local nonprofit serving abused and neglected children. They pack courtrooms with up to 60 bikers, so abused kids never face their abusers alone.

Congratulations to Ron Rogers for receiving the well-deserved Connie Reyes Award for Excellence in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention. Ron, a man who treated everyone with dignity and celebrated life's joys both big and small. Ron's leadership, commitment, and passion ensured that children, youth, and families received the assistance they needed to succeed.

Congratulations to one of our Strong Family Award recipients- Trimble Family! Their nominator had this to say: Rebecca and her family went through a life changing DV incident that had left emotional, physical, and psychological trauma. Rebecca has shown great resilience in her battle to heal both physical and emotional scars. She has become empowered and uses family and formal supports to persevere. Now as a single mom she provides seeks positive and empowering opportunities for her son and three daughters. She recognizes the struggle her children face and helps them process their feelings from their past life experiences. We are so proud of your family, keep up the great work!