BBF is a State-licensed child welfare agency and provides through its Family Services Program 24-hour crisis intervention, assessment and screening, case management, advocacy, counseling, and referral services to more than 600 at-risk youth (runways, homeless youth, wards of the State, system-involved youth, and those with emotional, behavioral, psychological or substance abuse problems) and their families each year.

The program is funded by the State of Illinois Department of Human Services’ Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services Program and serves a broad catchment area on the city’s west side. Program services are also available to all participants in BBF’s out-of-school time programs and their families.

For more information on the Family Services Program or to schedule an appointment for services, contact Eric Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, at 773-542-7330 or by email at eric.johnson@betterboys.org.

The Family Services Program is critical to helping youth and families deal with a variety of difficult issues, among them:

• Domestic Violence
• Sexual Abuse
• Family Reunification
• Mental Health Problems
• Learning Disabilities
• Behavioral Problems
• Juvenile Arrest
• Custody Concerns
• Alcohol/Drug Use
• Runaways
• Homelessness

 
Its suite of services includes:

• Crisis Intervention
• Individual and Family Assessment
• Youth Assessment and Screening Inventory (YASI)
• Individual Counseling (in office and in home)
• Family Therapy (in office and in home)
• Case Management
• Advocacy
• Core Life Skills Training
• Sex Education and Harm Reduction/Prevention
• Basic Supportive Services
• Comprehensive Community Referrals

 
For more information on the Family Services Program or to schedule an appointment for services, contact Eric Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, at 773-542-7330 or by email at eric.johnson@betterboys.org.
 

Stories from Family Services Program

Marie Beasley
Child Welfare Worker, Family Services Program

“The services we provide through the Family Services Program are critical to assisting youth and families dealing with many difficult issues—breakdowns in family structure, problems at schools with other community systems, homelessness and hopelessness. As a result of our work, we see a tremendous amount of individual resiliency and community revitalization. We help people normalize challenging situations, function as productive members of society and find their social place of significance.”

Corinthia
Family Services Program Client

“My son endured a tragedy last year when his father was killed, and the Family Services Program has helped us understand how to better deal with the situation. We learned how to lean on each other and to open up to each other. The program showed us how our emotions can affect our relationship, and deal with that. Mr. Johnson always made himself available to us. BBF helped us through this crisis, and we are very, very grateful. ”

Eric Johnson
Former Director, Family Services Program
Chief Operating Officer

“Corinthia’s story is definitely a success story. Her son was torn apart by the death of his father, and he was acting out at home and at school. We were able to intervene and provide the family with the counseling they needed to come together and to mourn. We were also able to advocate for the family within the school setting. We were here for this family, and we’re here for all families in the community. We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We’re here to help.”