Inside everyone is an essential desire to create and live a life of fulfillment and happiness.
Smart Love Family Services recognizes this basic human desire and our mission is to help people increase their inner well-being and build healthy relationships. We do this through our counseling services, early childhood education, assessments and tutoring, and parent/community resources programs that are based on the well-established and recognized Smart Love™ principles.
Smart Love Family Services remains committed to helping create a truly just society where every person has a chance to live a long, safe, and fulfilling life. ​Creating a future that is free from racism and all kinds of hate begins with how we treat our children today. Children grow into open-minded, patient, caring, and loving adults through the relationship they experience with their parents and caregivers. When parents offer kindness, acceptance, and love even when children display mad, angry, or other unhappy behaviors, children will grow up to show that same kindness, acceptance and love towards others. Smart Love’s programs are designed to help create that future for the children of today and the children of tomorrow. In the same way, Smart Love’s services for adults are intended to help them reclaim and sustain their birthright to happiness.
What We Offer
Counseling Services
We offer a full range of services, including child, adolescent, and adult therapy, play therapy, couples and family therapy, parent coaching and counseling, psychological and neurological testing, treatment for autism spectrum disorder, and child and adolescent group therapy.
Early Childhood Education Programs
We offer toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs in addition to summer camp, all based on the Smart Love approach to early childhood education.
Assessments & Tutoring
We offer programs designed to support children and adolescents with learning challenges and their families. Our services include therapeutic tutoring, psychoeducational evaluations, teacher consultations, and parent guidance.
Parenting & Community Resources
We offer a range of support for parents and the community, including peer support groups, seminars, webinars, videos, hand-outs and publications.
Professional Development
We offer a range of programs for schools, organizations and students to advance their knowledge of the Smart Love philosophy and approach, including workshops, internships and training.
Publications
We offer a range of publications for those interested in learning more about how to apply the Smart Love principles in their own lives and families.
Smart Love Family Services offers a number of ways to help families access our programs and services that they cannot otherwise afford. We offer fee waivers and reductions, scholarship assistance and sliding fee scales based on need. Please contact us at 773.665.8052 ext. 4 or contact@smartlovefamily.org to learn more.
The Fund for Smart Love
Your financial investment in Smart Love directly funds our work to build healthier, happier families and ensure bright futures for their children.
Gifts, sponsorships, and grants from individuals, companies, and foundations enable Smart Love to provide our uniquely supportive care and guidance to every family that comes to us - particularly those experiencing financial hardship.
Through Your Child's Eyes
Smart Love's Blog: To learn more about Smart Love and our take on issues, trends and questions in child development and parenting, please visit our blog here.
News & Events
The Happiest Preschool Online
Enjoy a $10 savings when you enroll by January 31, 2025!
The nationally and internationally acclaimed book by Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper and Kelly Perez, The Happiest Preschool, is now an online course! Start your journey towards nurturing a classroom culture rooted in caring, cooperation, creativity, learning, and emotional well-being. Engaging questions throughout the guide further enhance your understanding and help bring this approach to life in your own classroom.
The Whale Dinner Fundraiser
2427 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars for an evening of delicious food, great company, and giving back! We're rolling out the red carpet for you at The Whale in Logan Square. This isn’t just dinner—it’s an opportunity to support Smart Love while savoring an incredible meal!
Join us at The Whale on Wednesday, February 5th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and 20% of all sales during this time will be donated to Smart Love. Whether you make a reservation or drop by, The Whale is ready to welcome you and your guests for a delicious and fun night.
It Takes A Village - Parent Group & Youth Group Â
Click here for full schedule.
Smart Love offers biweekly free-of-charge Parent and Youth Groups for families with children of color. Led by Smart Love therapists, the program provides a safe, confidential, and supportive space for participants to learn and share with one another. Click here to learn more and to register.
Smart Love Preschool Virtual Open House
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025
1:30 p.m.
Join Kelly Perez, Vice President Education Programs and Preschool Director of Smart Love Preschool, as she shares a slideshow filled with images of our preschool classroom and activities as she discusses the Smart Love approach to early childhood education.
The Happiest Preschool featured on NPR's Here & Now!
On March 21, 2024, Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper was interviewed by Deepa Fernandes of NPR's Here & Now to discuss toddler development, early childhood education, and The Happiest Preschool!
Chicago Parent articles featuring Smart Love Preschool
In an interview with Chicago Parent, Smart Love Preschool Teacher Maddy Perez shared insights on assisting young children with overwhelming emotions and provided practical tips for parents to implement at home! Read it here.
Understanding Children’s Play: Wisdom from a Preschool Teacher
Chicago Parent interviewed our Karen Hermach, Preschool Teacher, on how play can be a window into your child’s world and can help you decode what your preschooler may be thinking and feeling. Read it here.
More articles featuring Smart Love Preschool