Family Shelter Service has announced that Judie Caribeaux has been selected as the agency’s new Executive Director, replacing Karen Hurley Kuchar who will be stepping down after 16 years with the 37-year-old agency that offers shelter, counseling and assistance with Orders of Protection for individuals affected by domestic abuse.

Caribeaux brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management to the position and most recently served as Director of Career Development at Aurora University, Aurora. Prior to that, Caribeaux held the position of Executive Director for Sharing Connections, Downers Grove, a charity that provides furniture and other household items to low-income families.
“I’m pleased that I’m going to be working for such a solid, well-run organization,” Caribeaux said. “It’s such an honor to be part of the continuing momentum that has been created by the work of so many wonderful people to make Family Shelter Service the organization that it is today.”
Caribeaux, who holds a master’s degree in social work from Aurora University, also discussed the importance of breaking the silence around domestic violence.
“The time is right to be an advocate for victims of domestic violence,” she said. “There is a lot of empowerment when you can help people find their voice about their experience and we really need to talk about it as a society.”
Caribeaux will be taking on the new position effective November 4, 2013.
With one emergency shelter and two intermediate shelters, Family Shelter Service provides clients with the opportunity to bring themselves and their children to safety, connect with community resources and begin to address the impact that the violence has had on themselves and their children.
For more information, visit www.familyshelterservice.org.
Did you know? Family Shelter Service is supported, in part, by Second Chance Resale Shops, located in Naperville and Westmont.
The Annual Family Shelter Service 10K-5K Run / Walk is slated for Sun., Oct. 27, 2013. Check-in: 6:30AM Walk begins: 8:30AM. INFO & Register for the Walk/Run.