CHILD DEVELOPMENT & YOUTH SERVICES

The Child Development Programs at GLC Wellness Clinic include Early Head Start services for children from birth to age 3, Head Start services for children aged 3 to 5, and partnerships with established child care programs throughout our communities. We provide comprehensive services to each child based on the specific needs and goals each family has identified.

Our Educational Services program supports urban middle and high school youth in their educational pursuits through student-centered services which includes, tutoring and mentoring, college placement, academic and career counseling, financial aid counseling, and scholarship resource assistance. We use innovative ways to recruit, retain and engage students. We do so by partnering with school administrators to exceed Chicago Public Schools mandated performance outcomes.

We serve children that are placed in substitute care for whom the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services have legal responsibility. These children require placement in licensed foster homes, or our emergency shelter due to abuse and neglect. All children and youth served by our Foster Care program must be referred by the Department of Children and Family Services.  

Our Tutoring and Mentoring program is specifically designed to improve academic performance by introducing a number of practical strategies that support the individual needs of each student. Collectively, the services offered include robust mentor and peer support to help students reach their education goals.

Our College Placement program increases college accessibility and affordability among minority students. Educational Specialist assists students and families in identifying college and universities that correspond with the academic, financial, social and career profile of the individual. Services include college test preparation resources, college application completion, financial aid counseling and preparation of forms, scholarship research and campus visits.

Program participants receive student-centered counseling that addresses individual academic and career goals. A comprehensive needs assessment is developed for each participant to inform the creation of an Individual Achievement Plan that outlines specific goals, lists available resources, and identifies the types of services needed to achieve the desired outcomes for each student.

Educational Specialists work with students and parents to provide insight into the financial language, resources and processes related to funding a college education. Services include assisting parents and students in applying for Federal Student Identifications, completing and submitting FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and analyzing student aid reports and award letters.

Educational Specialists assists participants in developing individual student profiles used to create on-line scholarship research accounts and identify various potential funding sources. Students receive personalized guidance and instruction on how to effectively research scholarship opportunities, comply with the requirements, write successful personal statements and essays, as well as strategies for interviewing.

We award Trunk Scholarships to our students annually through an application and essay competition. These off-to-college trunks are filled with the things first-year college students need to adjust and reach success in their new environment (desk supplies, bedding and linens, electronics, and other important items). The scholarships were founded by Revie Sorey, our former Director of Educational Services and Chicago Bear, and are made possible by annual sponsors and community partnerships to assist low income, first generation students in pursuing a post-secondary education.

Foster parents are at least 21 years of age, law abiding, mature adults who have their own living space with appropriate accommodations for youth in care. Our staff are on-site 24 hours per day to support the professional foster care parents and youth in the program. Services include intake, discharge planning, stabilization services, trauma remediation, and transitional services.

Orientation for new foster parents is conducted twice monthly. This orientation provides prospective foster parents with information on requirements for becoming a licensed foster parent. This initial meeting gives the prospective parent and the agency the opportunity to determine whether to proceed with the licensing process.

Our child welfare workers provide ongoing case management including location of parents, visitation planning, service planning, resource referral and linkage. The cases are continued with the agency until permanency is achieved (return to home, adoption, or guardianship).