Chicago Youth Centers

Programs

Early Childhood Education

“My Mom and Dad are my heroes because

they brought me here to CYC!”

 

CYC provides high-quality full-day and half-day programs for children aged 3 – 5. The Early Childhood Education Program offers educational, social, health, nutrition, mental health and disabilities services delivered in a classroom setting with supportive services offered through social service staff and referrals to community providers. The Program meets all city and state licensing standards, follows all Head Start and Illinois Child Care rules and procedures and adheres to the highest standards as set out by both Head Start and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

 

                                                       CYC’s approach to early childhood

                                                       education emphasizes the development

                                                       of the whole child. We believe that

                                                       children learn by observing, exploring

                                                       and interacting with materials in their

                                                       environment and with other people.

                                                       We offer safe learning environments

                                                       that help children develop a sense of

                                                       trust and belonging so that they can

                                                       make choices and exercise autonomy.

 

 

We set age-appropriate expectations and let children know what is expected of them. This strategy tends to create success and minimize frustration. When children are encouraged to learn from their mistakes, explore and take risks, the development of physical, social, cognitive and language competencies can flourish.

 

CYC also encourages parents to be actively involved in the classroom and offers parent-child days, home visits, newsletters and workshops on parenting issues to build bridges between the Program and the home.

 

CYC has also developed partnerships with neighborhood health and mental health agencies citywide to which referrals can be made when a child’s health or developmental needs are identified. Caring for the whole child is the aim of CYC’s Early Childhood Education Program.

 

 

School-Age After-School Program

 

CYC’s After School Program provides activities to kids

aged 6 – 12, including full days of care on out-of-school

days. Children attend from 2:30 – 6:00 p.m. on school

days and from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on out-of-school

days. Not a drop-in program, After School provides a

safe environment for group activities framed within the

Positive Youth Development model with an emphasis on

academic success, making good choices, expanding one’s

horizons and confronting new experiences. Youth workers create curriculum activities and work intensively with a defined group of kids in regularly scheduled activities. CYC staff of youth workers builds in those supports that are otherwise lacking in the kids’ homes and communities, developing enduring relationships with them and giving them the opportunity to dream, to hope and to succeed.

 

 

Teen Leadership Development

 

 

                                

 

 

          

                                

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am forever grateful to CYC for giving me the initial encouragement to go to college and for making it financially possible.”

—Tiffani Shepard, Rebecca K. Crown Youth Center Member and “Yes I Can” scholar.

This Program offers teens ages 13 – 18 after school activities that are also framed within the Positive Youth Development curriculum model.  Teen Program members attend Monday through Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and on selected Saturdays, meeting in age-appropriate groups for regularly scheduled activities led by skilled youth workers. The goals and activities of the Teen Leadership Development Program are similar to those of the School Age Program with the addition of a strong leadership training component that encourages teens to be involved with elected center-based Teen Councils and the agency-wide Teen Senate. We also offer awards and recognition programs, support for higher education in the form of college visits and college scholarships and job readiness and career awareness.