Educational Mentoring Program Grant

The Educational Mentoring Program by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services aims to empower youth by fostering their academic and vocational skills through dedicated mentoring. This initiative focuses on breaking down barriers to education and employment while enhancing social support networks. By engaging with Education Coaches, youth receive personalized guidance tailored to their unique challenges, ultimately promoting their self-sufficiency and well-being. The program aspires to create pathways for educational achievement and positive youth development.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) promotes the well-being of children, youth, and families by responding to reports of potential abuse and neglect and, when needed providing family-centered care and connection to resources.
Short Description
The Educational Mentoring Program is to assist youth in gaining the skills and confidence to reach their full academic and developmental potential through a meaningful and supportive mentoring relationship. This relationship inspires youth in care’s educational and employment success and thereby facilitates positive youth development. Services include:
Educational Services – Educational achievement for participating youth will be supported through Education Coaches’ advocacy and increased knowledge of the various educational programs available for youth. In addition to coaches being well-versed on CPS and DCFS education policies and resources to support and eliminate and educational barriers for participating youth, coaches will build relationships with CPS, ASN, and other educational institutions to promote educational knowledge, options to promote youth’s educational achievement. Coaches will provide 1:1 support to youth in learning proper skills such as study habits, understanding academic expectations, and how to effectively advocate for academic needs. Education Coaches will provide ongoing monitoring and advocacy with multidisciplinary teams to promote, support and pursue youth’s educational objectives. Education Coaches will also encourage and emphasize the pursuit of higher education. Vocational/Employment Services – Coaches will also take into account that many youths will face barriers that limit their opportunities to obtain a high school diploma/GED or go into higher education. These barriers include: dislike of school setting, financial limitations, school anxiety, parenting stressors, academic performance, placement status, mental health issues, and/or trauma history. Social Supports – Expanding youth’s positive long term social supports has been correlated to improved self-sufficiency. Education Coach and youth will discuss the need and benefits of having positive social supports and identify current persons who fulfill this role in the youth’s life during the engagement process and reassess each support quarterly and upon case closure. Barrier Reduction –Education Coaches will identify potential barriers for youth to enroll or participate in educational, vocational and employment programs that require immediate financial assistance. The program will ensure that these barriers are addressed in a timely manner to ensure steady progress is made in the youth’s defined goals.
Objective
Services are to promote permanency by maintaining, strengthening and safeguarding the functioning of families to (1) prevent substitute care placement (2) promote family reunification, (3) facilitate youth development, and (4) ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children.

Eligibility

Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Small Businesses