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Youth Committee
The Youth Committee offers services at two (2) locations. Thornton Township Hall, 333 East 162nd Street in South Holland; and at 14323 Halsted Street in Riverdale.
The Thornton Township Youth Committee is a community based social service organization dedicated to the youth and families of Thornton Township. The primary focus is to provide youth and families with the interventions, opportunities and skills necessary to expand their possibilities through Counseling
and Youth Development services.
Principles of Integrity and Respect are held as fundamental values assuring that:
● People will be treated with a firm belief and regard for their potential.
● People will be provided assistance and tools to support their becoming healthy, capable and confident adults.
● People will be offered meaningful and relevant information, freedom to make personal choices and empowered to assume related responsibilities and accountability.
● Services will be provided by trained, competent, ethical and supervised personnel.
The Youth Committee is part of the network of professional, mental health and community services available to township residents. A myriad of services are available to township residents at no charge, including TTRAPP, which links all facets of the community. For information, please call
708-596-6046.
The Application Process:
This process is designed to give careful and timely attention to the requests of each caller, to assess their needs, to determine the most appropriate service response and to provide the referral/link to Youth Committee services or to other providers, as indicated.
● Call – request and information. When a call is received, either from residents or from a referring entity, one of our staff will address the request and gather basic information.
● Application Meeting – a confidential meeting is scheduled for applicants to attend and complete required documents, show proof of residency and receive information about services and process.
● Staffing – a weekly staff meeting is focused on applications in order to screen, refer into programs and link to service provider.
● Internal Program Links – once involved in a Youth Committee service, participants will be considered for referral and link to other relevant programs. Note: Friends In Deed mentoring requires participation and referral from a Youth Committee program.
● Follow up – contact as indicated.
Counseling
● Counseling and related services are provided through the Youth Committee at no fee for residents of the township. Services include: short term family counseling for children, adolescents and their families; short term individual counseling for adults and youth; short term marriage and couple counseling; therapeutic groups; and evaluation and referral when appropriate.
Crisis
● Crisis Intervention Services are provided to runaway, lockout youth as well as youth with behavior problems at home and school. The Youth Committee has been identified by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to be the provider for these specialized services within the township. Crisis intervention staff respond to calls from the seventeen Juvenile Divisions and schools within the township on a 24 hour a day basis. When such calls are received, crisis workers respond immediately to meet with family members at the police department or school. The interventions are focused on the resolution of the immediate problem and the reunification of the family.
● Foster Homes through collaborative agreements with other foster care agents can provide short-term housing for runaway or lockout youth when needed. Foster homes are paid a set fee for each day of child care. Foster parents provide a caring and safe environment for youth during times of crisis.
Education and Issue-Focused Groups
● Presentations and workshops are provided by the Youth Committee including such topics as substance abuse, teen suicide and other issue-focused subjects. Support groups, teen discussion groups, as well as self-help groups, are offered and are open to all township residents. Parent Educations classes are scheduled regularly, including: STEP, STEPTEEN and Effective Black Parenting.
● Information and Referral Services are regularly provided to link residents with appropriate services and providers. The Youth Committee strives to maintain a resource data base and files in order that such information can be readily accessed.
● Crisis Response Team (CRT) is a volunteer group of professional, trained crisis intervention specialists who respond to the emotional needs of those directly or indirectly involved in community disasters, violence or traumas. The types of crisis CRT responds to are: School and Community Violence, School and Community Trauma, Dealing with AIDS in the School System, Suicides, Natural and Man-made Disasters, Police and Fire Professional Debriefing, Accidental Death or Injury, Workplace Violence and Witness of Violence or Trauma.
● After School Programs
Thornton Township Youth Committee collaborating with each school district to provide comprehensive after school programs which include:
• Tutoring/Homework Assistance Programs
• Technology Education Programs
• Wellness Awareness Programs
• Individual Education Plan Assistance Programs
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