The Chicago Area Project model of implementing its Teen Reach program is uniquely designed in its strategy for service delivery. Utilizing CAP’s philosophy and structure, it allows communities to help themselves by providing resources to address issues affecting the welfare of the community’s youth population.

The primary purpose of the Teen REACH Program is to provide delinquency prevention services to youth and their families, (specifically those receiving TANF assistance), by implementing the Six Core service components as outlined in the Teen REACH program plan. These components include Improving Educational Performance, Life Skills Education, Parental Involvement, Recreation, Sports, and Cultural/Artistic Activities, Positive Adult Mentors and Service Learning Projects. The program itself is structured to help formulate relationships with other neighborhood and community based agencies/institutions in developing structured activities. These linkage agreements include: faith-based institutions, local grammar, high schools, colleges and universities; local parks and other recreational facilities; police, mental and physical health care providers.
Under CAP’s model, these activities allow youth - at - risk and their family the opportunity to receive comprehensive services through collaborative community efforts that increase protective factors aimed at reducing delinquency
 

The program is designed to offer programming to participants in six core service areas, with a strong emphasis on academic enrichment activities. The six Core Services and it’s objectives are: Improving Educational Performance: (1) Participants will maintain or improve school attendance, (2) Participants will maintain or improve grades or progress reporting in school, (3) Participants will decrease premature or unscheduled exits from high school or continuation programs prior to graduation.

Life Skills Education: (1) Participants will increase knowledge of harmful effects of substance use and abuse, (2) Participants will increase knowledge of the harmful effects of early sexuality and pregnancy, (3) Participants will increase anger management and conflict resolution skills, (4) Participants will increase decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Parental Involvement: (1) Increase parental monitoring of academic
performance, (2) Increase parental understanding of child and adolescent developmental stages and appropriate expectations, (3) Increase positive opportunities for parents and their families to meet other parents; identify common interests and concerns; develop plans and activities to address those common concerns; (4) Increase positive and effective communication with children and teens regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

Recreation, Sports, and Cultural/Artistic Activities: (1) Teach the
Basic values associated with sports-team-building, trust, character building,
(2) Develop Media Communications Technology component of our Teen REACH Program.

Positive Adult Mentors: Through Positive Adult Mentors young people
will develop skills necessary for the world of work.

Service Learning: Participants determine and meet real, defined community needs through program offerings. Participants will learn beyond the classroom through active participation in service experiences. Participants will develop and use skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Participants will increase the amount of time spent to reflect by thinking, discussing and/or writing about service experiences. Youth will experience a sense of belonging to a community and have an awareness of their responsibility to that community.

Primary Referral Source:

Youth, families, schools and other community-based agencies/institutions are encouraged to refer youth and their families to either of the following locations:

Names of Site

St. Malachy School/Teen REACH
Site Coordinator: Renee Mandeldove
2220 W. Washington
Chicago, IL. 60612
(312) 491-2840

The ARK of St. Sabina
1210 W. 78th Place
Site Coordinator: Lenoard Langston
Chicago, IL. 60620
(773) 483-4333

Hours of Operation:
St. Malachy Site: program services are delivered Monday – Friday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. twelve months of the year. Weekend activities (when scheduled) are delivered between the hours of 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

The ARK of St. Sabina: program activity hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday; year-round. During summer months, services are from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.

Interested parties are encouraged to call the site of their choosing for a more complete schedule and time of activities.