Newsroom

It is an honor to once again find ourselves writing a message of thanks to all of our supporters of Youth Outreach Services. We are proud of the creativity and innovation YOS has shown throughout the day to day programs at our various community sites, in the youth activities that we plan around our great […]

Here are the latest updates for you – our friends and supporters – to stay connected with YOS. In this newsletter edition we share about our response to COVID-19, our programs’ national reach, and how we are continuously striving for new and better ways to offer youth and family services. Thanks for reading!

As we celebrate a historic 60 years of youth services, it is humbling to reflect on the lessons learned from our past and from the individuals who shaped it, in order to appropriately and uniquely adapt to the critical needs of our youth, families, and Chicagoland communities. As we push ourselves into the next sixty

During the 2018 fiscal year, we took a deep dive into what it means to collaborate to provide comprehensive services. The success of our work is built on the foundation of strong partnerships, not only with our clients and their families, but with our funders and community stakeholders.

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

Tyson’s life began to unravel at 12, feeling out of place and eventually succumbing to the challenges of substance abuse, homelessness, and theft, which led to multiple incarcerations. His turning point came during one of his stints in juvenile detention, where he decided to pursue his GED and aim for a better life. Upon release,