Span rebranded SOS Children’s Villages Illinois as One Family Illinois to better reflect its mission of redefining foster care by keeping sibling together.

Around 350,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system annually with the average age being 8 years old. 1 in 3 children within the system face constant instability, having to move through 3–4 different homes year after year. This reality affects sibling groups the most, as they are often separated due to the limited resources within the system. One Family Illinois addresses these challenges by providing communities of single-family homes where siblings stay together under the care of a licensed foster parent. Each home is located within one of three Chicago-area villages together with a community center that provides dedicated therapy, education, and support services both for the children but also for the foster parents themselves.

Span partner John Pobojewski led a thorough naming exploration in close collaboration with the organization’s board and CEO Delphine Rankin. Together, they chose ”One Family Illinois” to embody unity, inclusivity, and comprehensive support for children, youth, and families.

Span’s new visual identity emphasizes both the siblings and the housing communities that One Family Illinois provides. A bold and wide-reaching color palette celebrates their diversity and inclusivity, expressed through a secondary pattern that is used to activate different materials. The typography is modern yet playful, a nod to the organization’s strong relationship with the Chicago architectural community including Studio Gang Architects and JGMA. In addition to the identity, Span created a detailed communication suite of stationery and social media assets to outfit them for the announcement of the rebrand.