Open Hands Child and Family Services (OHCFS) is a faith-based nonprofit organization founded in 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Guided by Christian values of compassion, dignity, and hope, our team is deeply committed to supporting youth and young adults as they transition out of foster care into adulthood.
Too often, young people leave foster care without the stability, resources, or support they need to succeed. At OHCFS, we step in during this critical time—offering more than just housing. We provide a safe space, wraparound services, and a sense of belonging to help young adults heal, grow, and build a brighter future.
Through life-skills coaching, advocacy, and strong community partnerships, we walk alongside youth as they navigate challenges and pursue their goals. With open hands and open hearts, we are working to ensure that no young person has to face this journey alone.
Mission
Vision
Our Core Values
Open Hands Child and Family Services is dedicated to providing safe housing and wraparound support that inspires independence, fuels personal growth, and helps each young adult discover their full potential.
OHCFS envisions a world where no young person exits foster care into homelessness, but instead steps into adulthood with the support, stability, and opportunity to thrive.
Compassion: We lead with empathy and love.
Faith: We trust in God’s power to heal and restore.
Empowerment: We help youth grow in strength and confidence.
Dignity: We honor every story and uphold each youth’s worth.
Hope: We believe in second chances and brighter futures.
At Open Hands Child and Family Services, we believe that every young person aging out of foster care deserves more than just a fresh start — they deserve a genuine opportunity to thrive.
Founded by Allyson Fox-Crump, a lifelong educator and advocate, Open Hands provides safe housing and wraparound support to help former foster youth find stability, build independence, and pursue their goals.
At Open Hands Child and Family Services (OHCFS), we believe that no young adult should age out of foster care into homelessness. We are on a mission to provide transitional housing and a circle of support to former foster youth as they take the courageous step into independence.
Our supportive housing in Chicago is more than a safe, stable home; it is a nurturing environment that promotes healing, fosters community, and sparks new opportunities for growth and connection. We are excited to welcome you.
Join us in building a future where every young person has a home—and hope.
Opening Doors to a Brighter Future
Opening Doors to a Brighter Future
The seeds of Open Hands Child and Family Services were planted back in 1993, when our founder, Allyson Fox-Crump, began her career as a special education teacher. Early on, she worked with many students who were navigating the foster care system—young people facing uncertainty, instability, and deep emotional challenges. Allyson naturally stepped into the role of mentor and advocate, walking alongside these students and ensuring they felt seen, heard, and supported.
As Allyson advanced in her career, her heart never left the youth in foster care. That calling only deepened over time. Today, she feels a renewed sense of purpose and is fully dedicated to engaging in this vital work.
Open Hands was born out of this deep, enduring passion to serve youth aging out of foster care. It is a return to purpose, a continuation of a lifelong calling, and a promise to stand in the gap for young people who deserve stability, guidance, and love as they transition into adulthood.
Our Story
Allyson Fox-Crump
Founder
Our Why
Each year in the United States, more than 20,000 young people age out of the foster care system—many without stable housing, financial resources, or supportive adult connections. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, 20% of youth become instantly homeless the day they exit care, and nearly 50% will experience homelessness by age 26.
Without permanent family support or adequate resources, many face devastating outcomes:
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Nearly 1 in 2 will experience homelessness
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25% will be incarcerated within two years
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Fewer than 3% earn a college degree
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Over 80% report significant mental health struggles
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Nearly 60% feel unprepared for adult life
At Open Hands Child and Family Services (OHCFS), we believe every young person deserves more. We were founded to help fill this critical gap—to ensure that youth leaving foster care are not left behind. Through transitional housing, life-skills coaching, and wraparound support, we help young adults heal from trauma, build stability, and move forward with confidence.
This is our why:
Because no young person should have to face the world alone. Because they deserve open doors, open arms, and a future filled with possibility.
We are here to listen.
We are here to uplift.
We are here to stay.
OHCFS Programs
OHCFS Programs
are committed to offering essential wraparound support that helps youth transition confidently into adulthood.
Counseling & Mentorship
Education & Career Support
Life Skills Training
Transitional Housing
Caring adults and licensed professionals who provide emotional support and guidance.
Help with enrolling in school, preparing for jobs, building résumés, and applying for financial aid.
Workshops and one-on-one coaching in budgeting, cooking, job readiness, and time management.
A safe, supportive place to live while building independent living skills.
Help Us Build a Home for Hope
At Open Hands Child and Family Services (OHCFS), we are working to secure a donated building in Chicago to become a home base for youth aging out of the foster care system. This space will be more than shelter—it will be a sanctuary for healing, life-skills development, and new beginnings. Our goal is to acquire this space by the summer of 2026, and we need the support of compassionate partners to get there.
We are seeking help in the form of:
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Donated properties or vacant buildings
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Renovation services and labor
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Building materials and furnishings
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Financial support for build-out and licensing
Together, we can turn brick and mortar into belonging and opportunity.