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A voice for youth in the State of Illinois
Goal
The goal of the Statewide Youth Advisory Board is to advise the Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS) on programs and services the department
provides for youth in care of the state of Illinois, as well as to provide
information on issues that affect this care.
Overview
The Statewide Youth Advisory Board is composed of youth from across the state of
Illinois. These young leaders help to set policies and make decisions which
concern themselves as well as other wards. This group of twenty-four young
people, aged 14-21, provides a voice for youth-in-care of the State of
Illinois. It is made up of young adults from various cultural, ethnic and
economic backgrounds.
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The board meets bi-monthly and its standing committees hold conference calls on
off-months. The board represent the voice for youth in care of the state of
Illinois. It spends much of time identifying issues affecting youth in care.
These issues are identified through the use of surveys and the conducting of
focus groups. Board members keep in contact with each other and other youth by
attending state and national youth conferences. In addition, they convene focus
groups across the state.
Meetings consist of conducting board business, youth leadership workshops, and
interactive activities. At the end of each year, the board submits a Finding
Report to the Director of DCFS. The board then meets with the DCFS director in
order to review and discuss the Findings Report.
In addition to the Statewide board, there are regional boards, which also assist
with the enhancement of programs and services. Regional Youth Advisory Boards
identify specific issues and concerns for a local area. Regional boards are
established in six regions of the State of Illinois. They are Cook-North;
Cook-Central; Cook-South; Northern; Central and Southern.
History/Purpose
Since its beginning in 1992, the Statewide Advisory Board has provided a voice
to youth-in-care of the State of Illinois. Its basic goals are to advise the
Director of the Department of Children and Family Services on policy decisions,
which affect youth in care. Currently, the Board is made up of 19 youths of
various ethnicity and racial backgrounds.
Target Audience
Cap's Statewide Youth Advisory Board targets males and females between the ages
of 16 and 21 who are in care of the state of Illinois.
Recent Accomplishments
Last year, the Statewide Youth Advisory Board, completed two and one-half years
of focus group work, surveying youth in care all over the state. This detailed
report outlined specific issues and concerns of youth in care. As a result of
their input, the following projects were launched:
A Youth Hotline
A Newsletter focusing on youth issues
A Life-Skills/Care-Taker Manual
A Resource Manual/Directory for all regions in the State
How Recommendations are Made
Young people are recommended by a caseworker, caregivers, a Department of Family
Services (DCFS) staff person are self-referred. Recommendations are to be in
writing, stating why the referring person feels the youth would be the right
person to sit on the Board.
Recommendations are also made through regional Transition Services. An
application form as well as three letters of recommendation should be forwarded
to the designated regional staff.
Once regional staff has approved or not approved the recommendation, the youth
as well as the recommending person will be notified in writing.
Criteria for Statewide Youth Advisory Board members
- Person must be a ward of the State of Illinois.
- Person must be between the ages of 14 and 21.
- Individual must be able to make a one year commitment to serving on the Board.
- Individual must demonstrate leadership abilities and actively participate on
their regional boards.
- Individual must be able to demonstrate responsibility.
- Individual must show their motivation to affect changes within the Department.
- Individual must demonstrate their ability to compromise.
- Have three formal references from responsible adults
- Participate in an educational/skills program.
- Possess good verbal and communication skills.
- Ability to attend board meetings every other month.
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