Youth Guidance

Programs: Social and emotional learning helps youth traverse difficult terrain. We teach young men and women to make positive choices, and help them deal with their unique social and emotional struggles while staying engaged in school. We give youth the tools to succeed through life-enhancing, trauma-informed programs and character-development experiences. Our staff work within schools to identify youth in need of counseling services and support. We then team with students, teachers, principals and parents to create actionable plans that result in a brighter and more certain future.

community and after school integrates the comer philosophy of systemic change into year-round, school-based opportunities for student engagement, achievement and enrichment. Program offerings are available to pre-k through secondary school students in more than 20 chicago schools, serving 4,000+ students, families and caregivers each year. Our programs are strategically designed to create safe, integrated, school-centered supports that promote academic and social-emotional development. Youth are taught to utilize their own internal and external strengths to overcome social-emotional barriers to school and life success

youth workforce - when every young person has access to the guidance and tools they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally, we help secure a brighter and healthier future for chicago. More youth will graduate from high school, go to college, get good jobs, develop healthy relationships and stay out of the justice system. We encourage youth to say "no" to negative influences and wasted potential; we help them say "yes" to the future by arming them with tangible tools for gainful employment and success in adulthood. Youth guidance's workforce development programs offer career awareness and development supports; job readiness training; job placement assistance; high school graduation support; college preparatory assistance; and post-secondary support.