Illinois Collaboration on Youth: Statement of Purpose

The ILLINOIS COLLABORATION ON YOUTH (ICOY), founded in 1979, is a statewide membership organization that serves as a positive force and collective voice for young people, their families, and their communities. As a part of a membership organization, ICOY members have access to key decision makers, up-to-date legislative information, grant opportunities, representation on key committees, and more. Youth service organizations that join ICOY have a much larger voice and the resources necessary to advocate for an improved youth service system throughout the state of Illinois.

ICOY functions as a network on behalf of all local youth serving agencies, as an adjunct to provide support, which would otherwise not be available at the local level. ICOY works for positive changes in youth service systems which affect the quality of life for young people and their families by:

monitoring and influencing state and Federal policies that affect youth and their families
sharing breaking news with members so they can make informed decisions
testifying before the General Assembly on proposed legislation that impacts youth and the agencies that serve them
identifying and analyzing potential funding opportunities for youth service agencies
building a public-private partnership to keep dialogue between public officials and private providers open

ICOY's Policy Board makes important decisions in regards to legislative and other issues.

The mission of Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY) is to advocate for the development and enhancement of the quality of services available to young people and their families at the community level.

Guiding Principles

As a coalition of community-based youth service agencies committed to the improvement of the quality of life for young people, the ILLINOIS COLLABORATION ON YOUTH believes that young people are capable of making responsible decisions affecting their lives and will be supported their efforts to effectively participate in affecting those institutions and systems that influence their lives.

ICOY supports services to youth and families which are of high quality, equally accessible to all, non-stigmatizing, and community based.
ICOY supports services to youth provided in the least restrictive and least coercive manner possible.
ICOY supports youth and youth worker participation on all public and private youth services oversight, advisory, and decision making groups.
ICOY supports policies and programs for youth which are oriented toward prevention and youth development.
ICOY supports youth service policies and practices oriented toward affirmative action and are nondiscriminatory.
ICOY supports programs and services developed and operated by youth.
ICOY supports salary parity for youth workers comparable to that of other human services providers.
ICOY supports the development of a youth services standardization and accreditation process.

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No solicitations of contributions to the corporation are made and no gifts, bequest or devise to the corporation are accepted upon any condition or limitation which, in the opinion of the corporation, may cause the corporation to lose any exempt status which it may obtain from the payment of Federal income taxes.