A young person sits facing to the left in a grey chair, appearing to be in conversation with an adult woman on the right, who is attentively holding a clipboard.

Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS)

What is Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS)?

Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS) is designed to divert youth from juvenile justice and/or the child welfare systems. The program provides 24-hour crisis responses to homeless, runaway, and “locked out” youth who are between the ages of 11-17.

CCBYS is authorized by the Children and Family Services Act (20 ILCS 505/17 and 17a) and implements Article 3 of the Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/3 et seq.). This statewide 24/7 crisis intervention system is mandated to serve youth in crisis as defined in the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. These are youth who are away from home without parental consent and youth beyond the control of their parents in circumstances that constitute an immediate or substantial danger to the youth’s physical safety.

CCBYS also serves, in conjunction with DCFS, youth whose parents will not allow them to return home. Further, CCBYS may serve youth in high-risk situations and their families when appropriate, according to their needs and in keeping with the goal of family preservation, reunification and/or family stabilization, or independence. A continuum of services is available statewide and may be provided to youth at risk of involvement in the Child Welfare and/or Juvenile Justice systems.

Home-based counseling is offered to help reduce the home/community issues that have precipitated the crisis. In addition to crisis services, staff work closely with local schools and community agencies to maximize resources available to at-risk youth. Short-term outreach-based counseling is available to families in the community where the youth is at risk of out-of-home placement.

Services Offered

  • In-home family counseling.
  • Assessment of family’s strengths and needs.
  • Assistance in accessing community resources.
  • Coordination with school/community resources.
  • Around-the-clock emergency response. 

Who is Eligible?

  • Families with youth between the ages of 11 and 17.
  • Youth may not be wards of the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS).

Cost

There is no cost to families in the program.

Goals:

To increase family reunification/preserve and stabilize families and to divert or minimize involvement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems.

Outcome:

Youth will be safe and stable, diverted from the child welfare system and diverted from the juvenile justice system.

Target Population:

Any youth who are 11-17 years of age and at risk of involvement with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice system are eligible for CCBYS services.