Administrative Office
200 N Michigan Ave, Suite 400 | Chicago, IL 60601 | (312) 704-1257
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Virtual Resource Center
Youth Network Council supports community-based organizations serving youth and families throughout Illinois and on a national level by providing capacity building resources and opportunities. The Virtual Resource Center is designed to contain up-to-date information and alerts in the areas of funding, state and federal policy and legislation alerts, upcoming conferences and events and helpful links relevant to youth serving community-based organizations.
Job Opportunities
- Clinical Director/Shelter Manager
The Youth Advocate Program is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Clinical Director/Shelter Manager. The agency is a nonprofit corporation with an annual budget over $1,000,000 and a staff of 30. This position reports to the CEO/Executive Director and is responsible for administrative management of the program supervisors and management of the 6 bed homeless youth shelter. The candidate should demonstrate the following: team building and leadership skills, experience with managerial responsibilities, have analytical/planning/ organizational skills, background in Illinois child welfare/juvenile justice programs, ability to communicate effectively, and have community networking/fund-raising experience. Requires a Masters degree in Human Service field, current LCPC or LCSW distinction, and five years related experience. DCFS Licensure and CERAP certification highly recommended.
Please send resumes and salary requirements to: Michael Warner, CEO/Executive Director, 202 E. Eldorado Street, Suite A, Decatur, IL 62523 or Email to: warneryap@hotmail.com
The Youth Advocate Program is an equal opportunity employer, minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
Illinois State Policy and Legislative Alerts
View History of Illinois State Office Alerts 2008
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ILLNOIS STATE OFFICE ALERT - Release Date: December 12, 2008
A Sad Day in Illinois Politics
The Illinois General Assembly is coming into special session next Monday and Tuesday to pass legislation which would take away the Governor’s power to appoint someone to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. If passed, the Governor would have 60 days to act on the legislation or it would become law. No one really wants to wait that long, or even longer if there were a veto, to take this power away from the Governor. However, if the Governor would try to appoint someone right now, the person would have to be certified by the Secretary of State and he would probably refuse to do so under the current circumstances. But even if the Secretary of State did certify the person, it is highly likely that the U.S. Senate would refuse to seat him or her, which they have done in the past.
The State Board of Elections estimates that a special election to elect a U.S. Senator would cost between $40-$50 million.
This Governor’s Future
If the Governor does not resign in the very near future, the Illinois Attorney General, pursuant to an Illinois Supreme Court rule, is prepared to ask the Court to rule the Governor incompetent to carry out the duties of his Office and replace him with Lt. Governor Quinn. The legislature also could commence impeachment proceedings. That procedure would call for the House to present the particular charges and then the Senate would hold a trial.
- ILLNOIS STATE OFFICE ALERT - Release Date: November 14, 2008
On November 13, 2008, SB2275, which raises the Juvenile Court age from under 17 to under 18 passed in the Senate, so now it goes to the Governor for his action. This age change applies only to misdemeanors. SB2275 had already passed the House. The age portion of the bill would go into effect January 1, 2010. The portion which sets up a Task Force to study Juvenile Court jurisdiction to see whether it should apply to felonies goes into effect when the bill becomes law.
ICOY has supported this legislation since it was first introduced some years ago. This legislative was initiated by the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Our sincere congratulation to the Juvenile Justice Initiative for their tenacity in getting this legislation passed.
- ILLNOIS STATE OFFICE ALERT - Release Date: November 12, 2008
Governor Blagojevich has until December 6, 2008 to act on SB1103, which among other restorations, would restore the 2% cuts in the youth services programs. The Governor has already signed SB790, which was the fund sweeps bill to pay for the restorations made by SB1103. SB790 is written in such a way that the money can only be used for the programs in SB1103. The current downturn in the economy has nothing to do with SB790. That money is already there. If the Governor does not act on SB1103 by December 6, 2008, then the bill becomes law.
Please write and contact by phone Governor Blagojevich office's ASAP to urge him to sign SB1103. Explain the dire straights your agency and clients will be in if he does not sign that bill.
Federal Policy and Legislative Alerts
- JUVENILE JUSTICE & DELINQUENCY PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008
On July 31, 2008 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 3155 the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008. This act reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), which has provided states and localities with federal standards and supports for improving juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practices and contributed to safeguards for youth, families and communities for more than 30 years. Also passed with the bill are two noteworthy amendments.
Senator Cardin's amendment to strengthen the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO) was passed 11-7. The amendment phases out value ordered judgment exceptions for status offenders being put in juvenile detention. It gives states 3 years to get in compliance, with a one year extension if needed. States must come up with alternatives for status offenders to be in compliance with the law, as it was intended to do in its original passage in 1974.
Senator Feinstein's amendment to require mental health screening of young people before they enter detention was passed with only one nay from Senator Sessions. Young people requiring care need to be attended to by a psychiatrist and not placed in detention. Senator Coburn proposed allowing a substitution of a psychologist due to the lack of psychiatrists. They agreed to work out the specific language at a later date.
For more details, please visit THOMAS at the Library of Congress at: http://thomas.loc.gov, and use the bill number ‘S 3155’in Search Bill Text.
RFP Release Alerts- Illinois
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS); Division of Community Health & Prevention; Bureau of Youth Services and Delinquency Prevention
Funding Opportunity Title: Teen REACH
Funding Amount: Average grant award is anticipated to be $150,000
Due Date for Application: Friday, January 23, 2008 by 2:00 p.m.
The goal of the Teen REACH program is to expand the range of choices and opportunities that enable, empower, and encourage youth to achieve positive growth and development, improve expectations and capacities for future success, and avoid and/or reduce risk-taking behavior. The Teen REACH program provides youth with safe environments and caring adults, and guides them toward marketable skills and opportunities to serve their communities.
Optional Bidders Conferences will be held December 17th – 19th at the following locations and times.
This Bulletin contains all procurement announcements, including solicitations and awards, published to meet the requirements of the Illinois Procurement Code. [30 ILCS 500]. This includes procurements of supplies and services by executive branch agencies under the jurisdiction of the Department of Central Management Services as Chief Procurement Officer. You must register on the Bulletin in order to take full advantage of all of its features.
Illinois Department of Human Services Grant Alerts System (GAS)
A High Octane Site for Funding Opportunities in the Illinois Department of Human Services
RFP Release Alerts- National
- UnitedHealthcare and Youth Service America
Funding Opportunity: UnitedHealth HEROES Service-Learning Grants (applicants from selected states in the USA)
Funding Amount: Up to $1,000
Due Date for Application: January 15, 2008
UnitedHealthcare and Youth Service America are excited to offer the UnitedHealth HEROES service-learning grant program for youth-led community education projects in selected states: Illinois – Chicagoland and Peoria. These grants support teachers, service-learning coordinators and students in the health professions to implement service-learning projects around childhood obesity and engage children and youth ages 5 to 25 as volunteers. We encourage semester-long projects that launch in February, and celebrate Global Youth Service Day, April 24-26, 2009.
RFP Release Alerts- Federal
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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Funding Opportunity Title: Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R03)
Funding Amounts: Varies
Due Date for Applications: February 16, June 16, October 16 (Open until September 8, 2011)
This purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to encourage Research Project Small (R03) Grant applications from institutions/ organizations that propose to enhance our understanding of effective positive youth development programs and the mechanisms responsible for positive health and developmental outcomes. These studies may include the evaluation of particular components of new or existing youth development programs thought to be responsible for positive development; the examination of child and adolescent assets, behaviors, and development that influence positive youth trajectories; and the evaluation of family, community, or social assets and liabilities that contribute to or hamper youth development. Investigators and/or colleagues should have a strong knowledge of child development. The R03 grant mechanism supports a variety of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology. The R03 small grant mechanism is intended to support small scale research projects that can be carried out in two years or less with limited resources.
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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Funding Opportunity Title: Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R01)
Funding Amount: Varies
Due Date for Applications: February 5, June 5, October 5 (Open until September 8, 2011.)
This purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to encourage Research Project Grant (R01) applications from institutions/ organizations that propose to enhance our understanding of effective positive youth development programs and the mechanisms responsible for positive health and developmental outcomes. This will be accomplished through the development, implementation, and evaluation of new or improved positive youth development programs, the evaluation of existing successful programs, or the evaluation of effective, evidence-based, gender-inclusive programs that are adapted, translated, or disseminated for new populations of youth and adolescents.
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Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Administration for Native Americans (ANA)
Funding Opportunity Title: Family Preservation - Improving the Well-Being of Children Project Planning
Due Date for Applications: March 25, 2008
Funding Amounts: Average award $75,000 per project period
The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funds for projects that plan for approaches to improve child well-being by removing barriers associated with strengthening families (including fatherhood, parenting, foster parenting, grandparents raising grandchildren and absentee parent activities), forming and preserving healthy families, relationships and marriages (including Traditional Native American and Pacific Basin marriages) and sustaining healthy families, relationships and marriages in Native American and Pacific Basin communities. ANA's FY 2009 goals and program areas of interest are focused on strengthening children, families and communities through financial assistance to community-based organizations including faith-based organizations, Tribes and Village governments.
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Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Administration for Native Americans (ANA)
Funding Opportunity Title: Social and Economic Development Strategies - SEDS
Due Date for Application: March 25, 2008
Funding Amounts: Average award $250,000 per project period
The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funds for new community-based projects under the ANA Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) program. ANA's FY 2009 SEDS goals and program areas of interest are focused on strengthening children, families, and communities through community-based organizations, Tribes, and Village governments. The purpose of ANA is to promote the goal of economic and social self-sufficiency for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives, and other Native American Pacific Islanders, including American Samoa Natives.
This is a central storehouse for federal grant information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.
RFP Release Alerts- Capacity-Building Opportunities
- Taproot Foundation
Funding Opportunity Title: Service Grants
Funding Amount: Projects normally costing up to $30,000
Due Date for Applications: Quarterly; September 15th, December 1st, March 1st, June 1st
The Taproot Foundation makes grants of high-quality, professional consulting services. The Taproot Foundation provides nonprofit organizations with the tools and services necessary to maximize the impact of their critical work in the community. A team of professionals will deliver high-quality services, customized to meet the specific objectives of your organization.
Foundations- Illinois
Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations
A list of Community Foundations in Illinois. Community foundations are the fastest growing philanthropic organizations in America. They provide opportunities to pool individual gifts into permanent local endowment funds for the benefit of the community. They provide maximum tax benefits, flexibility and efficiency for donors. They also provide donors with unparalleled local understanding of needs and knowledgeable decisions on grant making based on established criteria.
Donors Forum is the premier resource for networking and education, information and knowledge, and leadership on behalf of philanthropy in Illinois. As a nonprofit membership association of grantmakers, individual donors, and advisors, Donors Forum advances philanthropy by serving its members and by promoting an effective and informed nonprofit sector.
Foundations- National
The Foundation Center is the most authoritative source of information on private philanthropy in the United States. It helps grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public better understand the field of philanthropy. The Foundation Center provides fundraisers and grantseekers with access to searchable online databases of grantmakers (private and corporate), grants, and 990s, as well as proposal writing resources, workshops and free webinars
Grant Opportunities with Ongoing Deadlines
Health, Education and Welfare of Children
The Office Depot Community Relations program provides funding and in-kind donations to programs that impact the health, education, and welfare of children offered by Office Depot.
Deadline: Ongoing
Hunger Prevention and Youth Activities
The Kroger Foundation funds a variety of youth programs including hunger prevention, youth activities and local education efforts.
Deadline: Ongoing
Mix It Up grants are $500 grants to support youth-directed programs and projects that address social boundaries in schools or communities. Youth must serve as decision-makers in the project, and create and implement them. Grants are sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Study Circles Resource Center.
Deadline: Ongoing
Sponsorships for Literary-Based Organization
Literary-based sponsorships and partners with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts are eligible for grants from the Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions Program.
Deadline: Ongoing
Upcoming Events - Illinois
4MOST Youth Symposium - January 9, 2009 from 8:00 am - 3:30pm - University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Illinois Department of Human Services and Teen REACH are partnering with MOST and Illinois Action for Children to bring this professional development training to Teen REACH and other youth services providers. Workshops will reflect training needs identified in the Teen REACH FY07 Training Needs Survey. The Symposium will take place at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60607.
Upcoming Events - National
National Network for Youth – Symposium 2009: January 25-28, 2009, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC.
Celebrating Youth. Inspiring Leadership. Creating Change.
The National Network's annual conference brings together youth workers, young people, decision makers and local, state, and national leaders from across the country. Symposium offers a forum for networking and information exchange as part of the continued development of youth workers.
National Conference on Volunteering and Service – June 22-24, 2009, San Francisco, CA
This conference is the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. Co-convened by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized "tracks," and more.
National Clearinghouse on Youth & Families – Calendar of Events
This calendar contains a variety of opportunities and events around the country ranging from trainings on fund development, techniques and models for working with young people, and national conferences.
What’s New!
Teens’ Latest Self-Injury Fad: Self-Embedding
At a recent medical conference in Chicago, a team of radiologists from Nationwide Children's Hospital presented intriguing X-ray evidence of a psychological phenomenon — what they believed was a new form of self-injury among teens and adolescents.
GIVEN HALF A CHANCE: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males
The 2008 edition, Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males, details the drastic range of outcomes for Black males, especially the tragic results in many of the nation’s biggest cities. Given Half a Chance also deliberately highlights the resource disparities that exist in schools attended by Black males and their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. The 2008 Schott report documents that states and most districts with large Black enrollments educate their White, non-Hispanic children, but do not similarly educate the majority of their Black male students.
Annual Events at the National Level
Global Youth Service Day (GSYD)- April 24-26, 2009
Global Youth Service Day is organized by Youth Service America with the Global Youth Action Network as its key partner and a consortium of international organizations and over 120 national coordinating committees in participating countries. GYSD is an annual global event that highlights and celebrates the contributions of youth to their communities through volunteer service.
Helpful Resource Links
BoardSource is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their boards of directors. Its highly acclaimed consulting, tools, resources, workshops and events mobilize boards so that organizations fulfill their missions, achieve their goals, increase their impact, and extend their influence.
The Free Management Library provides easy-to-access, comprehensive resources regarding the leadership and management of yourself, other individuals, groups, and organizations. There are approximately 650 topics in the Library, spanning 5,000 links. Topics include the most important practices to start, develop, operate, evaluate and resolve problems in for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
National Youth Development Information Center
National Youth Development Information Center is a one-stop website for youth workers with interest in any and all of the following areas: funding, programming, research, policy, job and training opportunities. NYDIC also provides current news to the youth development field and has one of the largest online libraries, providing practice-related information at low-cost or no cost. NYDIC provides constant opportunities for practitioners to share knowledge and experience, enabling them to build the best practice in the field of youth development. NYDIC is an initiative of the National Collaboration for Youth.
National Collaboration for Youth
The National Collaboration for Youth (NCY) is a coalition of the National Assembly member organizations that have a significant interest in youth development. Members of the National Collaboration for Youth include more than fifty national, non-profit, youth development organizations. The mission of NCY is to provide a united voice as advocates for youth to improve the conditions of young people in America, and to help young people reach their full potential.
At Do Something.org, they believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is their aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Their website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.
Safe Place is the first step to help for any youth in crisis or at risk. This community collaboration program, operated by youth shelters or youth serving agencies make it possible for any youth to access help at locations including fast food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, libraries and city buses which display the Safe Place sign. Youth can easily find help at Safe Place sites in their own neighborhood whenever they need it. Safe Place connects youth to immediate help and safety and offers supportive services to both youth and their families.
Runway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Centers (RHYTTAC)
Training and technical assistance services are directed at assisting Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees (Basic Center, Transitional Living, Maternity Group Homes, and Street Outreach) to engage in continuous quality improvement of their services and to build their capacity to effectively serve our nation's runaway and homeless youth.
Know of information that should be added? Email Shelley Milosevich at shelley@youthnetworkcouncil.org, subject line: Virtual Resource Center.
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