Program areas at UCAN
UCAN's Therapeutic Youth Home provides a structured, stable and therapeutic living arrangement for youth in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The home works primarily with children and young adults ages 7-18 who have histories of severe trauma, abuse and neglect. Because of their past experience, the clients are in need of a highly structured, 24-hour-a-day treatment facility to address the behavioral and emotional difficulties that surround their previous exposure to trauma and abuse. Clients in the Diermeier Therapeutic Youth Home are offered a wide variety of individualized and group treatment services to aid them in healing and gaining the social and coping skills to graduate from treatment and move to a less restrictive setting.
UCAN Academy, comprised of two campuses across Chicago, is an innovative 1st through 12th grade year-round therapeutic day school. A special education curriculum is used by experienced staff to help students who have experienced difficulties in previous school settings and who benefit from a smaller, more individualized classroom setting. As the largest and one of the most recognized therapeutic day schools in the area, each child enrolled in UCAN Academy comes to us with a unique set of needs. We use a staff-intense environment for more one-on-one attention. Our students, while coming from diverse and distinct backgrounds, have all experienced difficulties in public or private school settings. Many have become discouraged about learning. We help them to see schooling in a positive light and to reach their highest potential.
Youth Development Prevention/Other includes multiple Violence Prevention programs in and around North Lawndale, Riverdale, and Roseland as well as Safe Passage programs to ensure safety for school aged children walking to school. This area also includes Workforce Development programs that range from summer jobs programs, internship programs, and job skills training.
UCAN's Foster Parenting Program primary goal of foster care is to restore children safely to their families and foster parents play an essential function in helping the child and parents maintain their family bond during the period of separation. If a child cannot return home, foster parents may provide a permanent home. When this happens, the foster parents eventually assume legal responsibility for the child as the guardian or through adoption.Total Clients Placed in Foster Homes and Adoptive Families: 132
Independent living/transitional living - Provide youth, young adults and teen parents with the skills necessary to live self-sufficiently, and provide a safe environment for the pregnant and/or parenting clients and their children.
Teen Parenting Services Network
Clinical Counseling Services
Volunteer Program
Family Based Services