FY26 Renewal: Creating Independent Transitions for Youth (C.I.T.Y.)

The Department of Children and Family Services is seeking applications for the Creating Independent Transitions for Youth (C.I.T.Y.) program. The program aims to provide education, training, and support to Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteers in the Cook County area to enable them to better understand and communicate the needs of minors who have been abused or neglected to the court that has appointed them. The CITY program will offer various supports to eligible youth, including case management, accompaniment to court hearings, and activity modules on positive youth development. The program has a funding opportunity of $703,104.00, and the award type is non-competitive. • The program will provide 10-20 hours of case management monthly to support education, employment, stable housing, life skills, and financial literacy. • The program will accompany youth to court hearings and other legal meetings. • The program will facilitate activity modules on positive youth development, healthy relationships, life skills, education, workforce development, employment, pathways to success, higher education, housing, basic legal matters, and financial literacy. • The program will complete a needs assessment questionnaire to identify basic needs and other supports for a successful transition out of care. • The program will provide progress reporting to stakeholders.