Teen REACH Training, Technical Assistance and Support TR-TTAS Grant

Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services: Division of Family & Community Services

The Teen REACH Training, Technical Assistance and Support (TR-TTAS) program, administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services, aims to empower at-risk youth aged 6-17 through structured out-of-school programming. This year-round initiative focuses on personal growth, skill development, and community service, ensuring quality support via training and resources for program providers. With an emphasis on safety, positive youth development, and best practices, TR-TTAS enhances provider capacity while fostering a nurturing environment for youth to thrive.

NOTE: Current Providers will receive a continuation application packet via email for FY 2026. Not open to new applicants.
Program Summary
The Division of Family and Community Services, Office of Community and Positive Youth Development (OCPYD), Bureau of Youth Intervention Services (BYIS) administers the Illinois Teen REACH program. Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope) is an out-of-school time program serving at-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 17. The purpose of the program is to expand the range of choices and opportunities that enable, empower and encourage youth to achieve positive growth and development, improve expectations and capabilities for future success and avoid and/or reduce risk-taking behavior. Specifically, this means providing youth with safe environments, caring adults, guiding them toward marketable skills, and opportunities to serve their communities. Teen REACH is not a drop-in program, rather it is intended to serve the same youth every day. The program is a year-round, 12-month program requiring services on average 3 hours per day, a minimum 240 days per year. Teen REACH requires programming in 7 CORE Service Areas.
Maintaining the quality-of-service delivery is a key role of BYIS. To ensure that Teen REACH programs are providing exceptional services to youth and their families in Illinois, training, technical assistance and support (TTAS) is provided to current and prospective Teen REACH program providers and staff in regard to Department approved quality program standards, best practice program models and standards, data collection systems, best practice models for out-of- school programming, youth assessments, youth screening, youth safety, youth employment, brain development, trauma, principles and practices of positive youth development and various other provider identified trainings and support activities. These services build upon provider capacity and capabilities and are delivered through a variety of venues and techniques including training conferences, meetings, workshops, video and Web trainings, etc. Additional TTAS functions include an online resource center, policy/legislative news center, networking activities etc., and the capacity to ensure provider input related to program development and improvement activities.