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Youth Safety and Violence Prevention (YSVP)
Rauner Family YMCA
Services Offered
Violence Prevention • Youth Safety • Protective Factors • Atrisk Youth
Description
This program receives referrals from outside agencies, courts, and individuals to help young men and women seek productive and positive influences in their lives and avoid paths of violence in their communities. The programs generally follow an evidence-based curriculum that are 16 weeks in length and include the following:
- Urban Warriors: clients are paired with a US Veteran who is a mentor and involved in YSVP group activities that promote trust, friendship and teamwork.
- Story Squad (8 weeks): clients are encouraged to record their own personal stories in order to create periods for reflection and to be heard as well as to hear the other participants.
- Bridging the Divide: A partnership with Chicago Police Department and YSVP, this project offers opportunities for dialogue through cafés, peace circles, and the exchange of photos and stories.
- Street and School Intervention Program (SIP): Youth outreach program that has been in operation for more than twenty years. Working in both school and community settings, YSVP provides supportive mentorship services to more than two-hundred youth per year from South Chicago, Little Village, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square. We engage these youth through regular peace circles, sports events, and creative arts programs.
- Restoring Individual, Supporting Everyone (RISE): s a leadership development program for youth who have been arrested. The YSVP RISE outreach workers support small cohorts of youth to design and implement their own community leadership projects over a 6-month period.
Location
1608 W. 21st Pl, Chicago, IL 60608
41.8532266
-87.666772
Service Options
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Eligibility
- Youth at risk, i.e., ex-offenders, re-offenders, gang members, etc.
- Youth between the ages of 13-19 living in the areas that YSVP works with: Pilsen and Little Village (call 312-587-2241 to learn about other community areas that are involved with YSVP.).
- This service is free
Payment
- All genders welcome
Gender
- Teens accepted
Age
How to Apply
To receive services or for additional questions, call 312-587-2241, M-F 10:00am-8:00pm. Youth can walk in and sign up to participate in the YSVP program, but if under 18 they must have a parental consent form.