Diversion & Reentry Services
Youth Outreach Services (YOS) helps justice-involved youth successfully transition back into their communities while providing alternatives that keep young people out of the juvenile justice system whenever possible. Our reentry services support youth returning from detention or the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, while our diversion services connect eligible youth with community-based interventions that prevent deeper involvement with the court system.
R.I.S.E. (Restoring Individuals through Supportive Environments)
The R.I.S.E. program is a four-month diversion program for justice-involved youth ages 14–18, based at YOS’s Austin office. Through intensive mentoring, life skills development, civic engagement, and restorative justice practices, participants build the tools and confidence needed to make positive choices and strengthen their connections to family and community. The program is designed to improve outcomes for young men with multiple arrests and reduce future involvement in violent behavior.