Meet the Rising. Elevating. And. Leading. (R.E.A.L.) Youth Initiative
Background of the R.E.A.L. Youth Initiative Rising. Elevating. And. Leading. Youth Initiative (R.E.A.L.) is an unassociated group facilitated by previously incarcerated young people. It…
Black History Month
7 Ways to Honor Black History Month – ICOY Assistant Executive Director Sarah Daniels While it has been proven time and time again of the…
Continuing the Conversation: LGBTQIA+ Youth Homelessness
Recently, ICOY’s blog posts have detailed the importance of addressing LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness. This issue is a pervasive one, with LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing disproportionate…
Meaningful Strategies to Address DCFS/ POS Worker Safety
In the wake of two murders of child welfare workers while on the job, keeping frontline staff and families safe is our top priority….
Strengthening Practices for LGTBQIA+ Homeless Youth through Trauma-Informed Care
ICOY’s November blog post recognized Youth Homelessness Awareness Month. The post highlighted several demographics of youth which face disproportionate incidences of homelessness. One of…
Relearning Thanksgiving
During this Thanksgiving holiday week, we recognize that many may be celebrating with friends and family. Perhaps they are gathering in-person for the first time in…
Homeless & Runaway Youth
Every year, the rate of American families becoming homeless increases. This includes more than 1.6 million children. Furthermore, homeless children are four times more…
Child Welfare Workforce Crisis & the Pat McGuire Child Welfare Education Fellowship Program
Child Welfare Workforce Crisis In recent years, the child welfare system has experienced high rates of employee turnover. The workforce is struggling to retain…
Suicide Prevention Month
Authored by: ICOY Trauma Specialist Heshima Mance and ICOY Trauma Intern Emily Waskowitz As September comes to a close, the ICOY Trauma Team reflected…
COVID-19 Resources & Updates
With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and recent Executive Orders issued by Governor JB Pritzker’s office, our organization is working to consolidate information and resources…