Annual Reports

In 2022, the ICOY Board of Directors entered into another cycle of strategic planning, for the first time explicitly undertaking this periodic activity using a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion framework. The process engaged dozens of Board members, ICOY members and staff, and other key stakeholders that resulted in a clarification of our mission, vision, and core beliefs, as well as identification and definition of our organizational values. Together we described our Theory of Change and even came up with a brief impact statement that summarizes what Illinois Collaboration on Youth strives to do: In all of our work, we CONNECT, STRENGTHEN, and LEVERAGE the collective voice of Illinois’ child welfare and youth-serving organizations.

We also identified three strategic imperatives that we will focus on over the next three years:

1. System transformation with a prevention focus and intersectional lens
2. Facilitation of collaborative learning and growth among child and youth-serving organizations
3. Humble and transparent field leadership in equity

Throughout this report, you will see that we have translated those three imperatives into themes that characterize our work and accomplishments over the past year, and that will shape our efforts going forward. Some activities fit neatly under one label or another, while others could easily be categorized into two or three areas. And while frameworks like these are useful in organizing and communicating what we do, let us remember that, ultimately, what we are all united in working toward is a just and equitable Illinois that values and invests in ensuring that all children, youth, and families are healthy, thriving, and intergenerationally successful. Thanks for being our partners in this important work and getting us closer to making that vision become reality.