WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The Night’s Shield Children’s Shelter in West Frankfort invites you to an open house for its new Family Advocacy Center Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the shelter located at 301 E. Garland St. in West Frankfort.

Lindsay Schroeder (Shray-der), family and youth services program director at The Night’s Shield, says they realized that there was a need for a Family Advocacy Center because there is not one anywhere near the Franklin, Williamson and Jackson County area. Schroeder says this center will aid people in their community in several ways. It will provide case management, client advocacy, parenting classes, life skills coaching, various classes, workshops, as well as a computer lab for those who do not have internet access and much more. Schroeder highlights what’s involved with case management.

Schroeder says they will also help kids who are about to age out of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services make the transition to adulthood, so they don’t have to go at it alone.

The Family Advocacy Center will focus on Franklin and Williamson County right now, but Schroeder says since this is a new program, they want to perfect everything and get more funding before expanding it into other areas in southern Illinois.

The Family Advocacy Center at The Night’s Shield will open to the public on Monday, July 13 at 8 a.m. For more information, call 932-6400 or visit thenightsshield.org.