Project Highlights
March 2022
We provide a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming environment for all members of our community.
For more information on these or any of our other programs, please email us at cpyd@kennethyoung.org.
Positive Youth Development
60 + Elk Grove High School students led and participated in Operation Snowball on Saturday, February 26.
The D211 Youth Advocates for Change (YAC) created a Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) toolkit for D211 Wellness Teams, Elk Grove and Prospect High Schools. They also gave input into a new Teen Resource Card and Guide aimed at sharing support services with area teens.
CPYD Combined YACs will introduce the 2022 Town Hall Meeting theme at the March 16, 2022 CPYD Coalition meeting. This youth created and led Town Hall coalition meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 11 at Trickster Cultural Center in the evening (time TBD).
Lake Park High School students have started attending D211 YAC meetings in hopes of creating a strong YAC in their school in the 2022-2023 school year.
Two new groups will be starting at Springwood Middle School this spring. (f)Empower will focus on topics that have to do with femininity and experience as a feminine person. The second group (name TBD) will be a group centering around masculinity and healthy ways of expressing masculinity for middle schoolers.
“Caught on Campus” is a new group at Hoffman Estates High School. The group meets on Friday mornings to discuss different life skills for making healthy choices. Topics include Social Identity, SMART Goals, Resilience, and Motivation/Purpose. The plan is to use a similar model with a class at the Elk Grove Specialized Schools on Fridays afternoons this spring.
Teen REACH is hiring! Contractual positions for Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope) Teaching Assistants are now available and paying $20/hour, 17.5 hours a week (M/T/TH/F 2:30 - 6:00 p.m. W 1:30 - 6:00 p.m.). Staff provide a balance of academic and enrichment activities to help 6th - 8th grade students develop and strengthen academic, physical, and social skills. We are in particular need of Teaching Assistants who are bilingual in English and Spanish. For more information or to apply, visit this link.
Teen REACH supports 10 students in D62 and 25 students in D59. We are interested in increasing this enrollment.
The LGBTQ+ Center is currently planning for our second annual Pridefest on Saturday, June 11 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Trickster Cultural Center. We are looking for collaborating partners and volunteers. Please reach out to lgbtqcenter@kennethyoung.org if you are interested in learning more.
Our Center continues to be a safe space for youth offering an LGBTQ+ Youth Advisory Council, LGBTQ+ SMART Recovery, a QTBIPOC Night, Community Hours and a Parent and Guardian Support Group.
The LGBTQ+ Center offers HIV, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Testing and Support, Recovery Support Services and Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness.
Drug Take Back, an annual event, will take place at both the Elk Grove and Palatine Police Departments on Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
We are in conversation with the Schaumburg Police Department about tabling there as well!
Drug Take Back works! In 2021, 792 tons of prescription medications were collected during the April and October National Drug Take-Back events, keeping these medications from being misused.
May 9-14 is National Prevention Week (NPW). Substance Use Prevention Staff will be working with the D211 Community and Elk Grove High School YACs on daily prevention activities. SAMHSA’s NPW is a national public education platform bringing together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.
As of February 6th, we are conducting SMART Recovery for Family and Friends. This new support service is in addition to our Teen, Adult, and LGBTQ+ SMART Recovery groups.
Public Health Services
HIV/STI Prevention: We are Hiring! The Peer Outreach Worker will oversee community outreach, education, and implementation of HIV/STI prevention evidence-based strategies. Staff will be trained in rapid HIV testing and protocols according to Illinois state law. “Peer” is defined as a person who is a part of a high-risk group – transgender and Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). For more information or to apply, visit this link.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and this will be the focus of our March 16, 2022 CPYD Coalition meeting.
Responsible Gaming: In commemoration of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, KYC staff were proud to represent the CPYD Coalition at two Northwestern Men's Basketball games with our #weknowthefeeling Responsible Gaming program. On February 15 and 22, 2022 we were able to distribute resources to 72 individuals, conduct a gambling health assessment with 24 individuals, and make valuable connections with Northwestern University.
