Youth Outreach Services is able to help young people make positive changes in their lives by working with the courts, communities, counselors and law enforcement officials. Our highly structured programs provide a diversion from negative influences and offer alternatives to detention. Using intensive community follow-up, we ensure that youth and their communities live well together. Services include:

Evening Reporting Centers (ERC)

These centers are designed as an alternative to detention for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Youth referred to the ERC are provided transportation to and from the program daily. The program focuses on the concepts of balance and restorative justice. Youth learn to take responsibility for their actions and understand how their offenses affect the community or individuals.

Models for Change

Funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Youth Outreach Services has embarked on a collaborative effort with the Cook County Juvenile Court to reduce the unnecessary detainment of youth with mental health needs and to improve the success of such youth in the alternatives to detention programs. To this end, YOS is obtaining and evaluating mental health screening data on detained and diverted youth to determine if unmet mental health needs contribute to poor outcomes for these youth and what additional services can be provided to improve their success rate. More information.

Pre-Trial Services

Another alternative to detention, Pre-Trial Services are designed for high-risk youth early in their involvement with the juvenile justice system. Referred youth are at risk of missing their court date or have the potential of re-offending before their court date. Pre-Trial counselors provide these youth with 10 hours of direct service in the community to link them to necessary services, help them understand the impact of their offenses on the community or individuals and provide them with recreational alternatives.

Reclaiming Futures

A joint initiative with Juvenile Court, Reclaiming Futures ensure early access to substance abuse services for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. While in the program youth are engaged in substance abuse services and pro-social activities. Youth have the opportunity to participate in mentoring services and become members of a Youth Advisory Committee.