Success Stories

When Christopher S. entered the child welfare system, he had already faced more adversity than most people experience in a lifetime. After losing his father and being separated from his mother due to incarceration, Chris moved through several placements—first an adoptive family, then to a relative’s home, and finally a group home. His journey eventually […]

Before his involvement with YOS, Levi struggled with making constructive life choices. He had left school, was not listening to his mother, and got involved in drug dealing. This path led to his arrest and time in a juvenile detention center. At YOS, Levi found the support and motivation he needed to change his trajectory.

At 14, Jamal faced challenges with behavior, often finding himself in conflicts and altercations at school. His difficulties in managing his emotions and actions, particularly in relation to problem sexual behavior (PSB) incidents, were escalating. Recognizing the need for intervention, Jamal was directed to the YOS MST-PSB counseling services. Over an eight-month period, Jamal, alongside

Joseph, a former child welfare DCFS client, transitioned to our DHS homeless youth program after emancipation. His counselor, Mario, was concerned about Joseph’s readiness to live independently due to his struggles with depression and alcoholism. Understanding the risks of incarceration or homelessness, we decided to keep Joseph in the YOS programming and the Transitional Living

Life could have very easily turned out quite different for Carlos. At 12, Carlos faced a pivotal moment when his father passed away, leading to declining grades and a loss of interest in life. His school suggested he engage with YOS, but initially, Carlos was reluctant. This changed when he met Xavier, his mentor, who

In discussing the challenges of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods, Christi, YOS Program Manager of Prevention Services, pointed out the scarcity of resources and support for local youth, saying, “There are not as many resources and not too many people that will come in and work with the youth in the area.” Christi has seen the significant

Peer pressure played a positive role in Dajah’s life when her friends encouraged her to join the YOS Teen Reach Prevention Program in Austin, a safe haven for youth after school. Initially reserved, Dajah gradually became more engaged, thanks to Brison, the YOS Teen Reach Coordinator, who involved her in group discussions, cooking lessons, and

Referred to YOS for counseling after his girlfriend was involved in a shooting, Armando initially found it difficult to express his emotions, explaining, “Where I grew up, you can’t open up to people because you can’t trust everybody.” As a former gang member, he was familiar with the dangers of street life, including being shot