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As a licensed child welfare agency, BBF provides crisis intervention and counseling services to troubled children and youth through its Family Services Program.
How It Works
BBF’s licensed child welfare workers, on call 24 hours a day/ seven days a week, work with youth and their families through short-term, on-site counseling programs and refer them for longer term support and services, as needed. Once immediate social welfare needs have been addressed, youth who are interested are transitioned into BBF out-of-school time programming.
Youth are referred to the Family Services Program by the Youth Network Hotline, Chicago Police Department, the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), area schools, community agencies, relatives or friends. Given BBF’s reputation in the community as a safe space where young people can find help without bias or judgment, many youth seek out the program’s services on their own.
Among the many issues addressed by the program’s professionally trained and licensed staff are:
- Sexual Abuse
- Domestic Violence
- Family Reunification
- Self-Esteem
- Learning Disabilities
- Behavioral Problems
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Juvenile Arrest
- Custody Concerns
- Bullying
- Homelessness
- Lock-Outs
- School Problems
- ADHD/ADD
- Mental Illness
- Alcohol/Drug Use
- Anxiety Disorders
- Conflict Resolution
- Gang Involvement
- Socialization
- Relationships
- Teen Parenthood
The program’s direct services include:
- Crisis Intervention
- Individual Assessment
- Youth Assessment and Screening Inventory (YASI)
- Individual Counseling
- Family Therapy
- Case Management
- Educational Guidance
- Core Life Skills Training
- Sex Education and Harm Reduction/Prevention
- Job Readiness/Youth Employment Programming
- Basic Supportive Services
- Group Recreational/Socialization Activities
- Comprehensive Community Referrals
For more information on the Family Services Program or to schedule an appointment for services, contact Eric Johnson, Director, Family Services Program, at 773-542-7330 or by email at eric.johnson@betterboys.org.