INTRODUCTION

Pathways Independent Living Services is committed to the provision of supportive services which render the following outcomes with 16 to 21 year old youth who are wards of the State of Illinois:

• Permanent, stable, safe and affordable community housing


• Pursuit and completion of educational goals


• Competitive employment and financial self-sufficiency.

Keeping with the values and service principles of Adapt and the Youth Network Council Client Choice is the core value exercised by having youth choose the location (within Cook County) and apartment in which they will reside.

Pathways targets youth requiring "step down" who are in:

• Institutional Group Homes,


• Residential Treatment Centers,


• Psychiatric Hospitals and


• Out-of-state Programs.

REFERRAL PROCESS

Referrals are made by phoning Susan Mcgovern, the Clinical Director of PATHWAYS at Adapt of Illinois.

1. social assessments,
2. psychological evaluations,
3. psychiatric evaluations,
4. current DCFS Service Plan and
5. an IEP if the youth has one

North Region
Peggy Bosell
4055 N. Western Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 866-5707

Central Region
Harold Dixon
3518 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60651
(773)292-7718

South Region
Adrienne Taylor
1921 S. Indiana, 9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60616 (312) 328-2378

Evonne Sales
6201 S. Emerald
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 371-6237
(773) 371-6236 - secretary

Darryl Johnson
15325 S. Page
Harvey, IL 60426
(708) 210-3008

Once approved, the packet is sent to attention of:

Susan McGovern
Adapt of Illinois
105 West Madison St.
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60602

The client is then screened for eligibility and chooses the general location where she/he desires to live.

Adapt, the Clinical Managing Agent assigns the client to one of the six Core Service Agencies:

1. Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center
2. Beatrice Caffrey Youth Services
3. Westside Association for Community Action
4. Universal Family Connection
5. Youth Outreach Services
6. Youth Service Project

• Financial support for rent, startup supplies, utilities and other expenses while the youth becomes financially self-sufficient
  
  
• Educational services such as tutoring and advocacy
  
  
• Vocational services such as assessment of interests, skills and aptitude, job readiness and job search skills training and job coaching
  


• Skills Training
  
  
• Case Management and Substance abuse/chemical dependence Relapse Prevention
  


• 24-hour On-call Crisis services.
  

Operational Staff to Client Ratio

In order to provide services and supports at the needed intensity and frequency, our operational staff to client ratio is one to four. Pathways is capable of working with youth on a daily basis if the need arises.

Collaborative Structure

Youth Network Council is the Contractor with administrative/fiscal responsibilities for Pathways. Youth Network Council is the recipient of funding from DCFS.

Pathways at Adapt of Illinois, Inc. provides screening and assessment to all referred youth, and Adapt Team Leaders coordinate the service provision via a subcontract with the Youth Network Council. Additionally, Pathways at Adapt provides training, quality assurance and utilization review functions.

Youth Network Council subcontracts with the Core Service Agencies to assign Community Support Workers to the Pathways teams and to provide direct supports and services. Core Service Agencies are leaders in their respective Child and Adolescent Local Area Networks so as to maximize resources

• Youth participants are of paramount importance.
  
• The kind, intensity and frequency of services are flexible dependent upon the individual needs of youth based upon their strengths.
  
• The State of Illinois, DCFS, Youth Network Council, Adapt and Core Service Agencies ensure that ample resources exist to effect service and support implementation and continuance and that resources are utilized efficiently and effectively.
  
• Services are delivered in the community where clients live, learn, work, socialize and recreate.
  

• Youth Network Council 200 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 704-1257        (312) 704-1265   Fax