National Youth Advocate Program in Illinois
For nearly three decades, the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) has partnered with Illinois communities to deliver vital services to individuals and families. NYAP provides accessible, locally rooted support from the greater Chicago metropolitan area to a number of other communities throughout the state.
Services We Provide in Illinois
We provide several unique programs designed to meet the needs of individuals and families within the communities we serve.
Foster Care - Provides safe and stable temporary homes for children and youth while supporting family reunification or permanency
Behavioral Health Services - Enhances the safety, stability, and overall well-being of individuals and families through comprehensive therapeutic services
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) - Promotes stability, rehabilitation, and independence for individuals with severe mental health needs, reducing inpatient hospitalizations and supporting recovery
Center for Family Engagement & Well-Being - Provides 24/7, year-round behavioral stabilization and crisis support in trauma-responsive, home-like settings for children and youth with complex mental health and behavioral needs who are awaiting kinship, foster care, or other appropriate living arrangements
Comprehensive Class Member Transition Program (CCMTP) - Supports individuals transitioning from Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities (SMHRF) to independent living within their communities
Emergency Reception Homes (ERH) - Provides temporary living arrangements for children and youth while they wait for a kinship home to be identified, reunification with their families, or another permanency plan
Family Advocacy (Illinois Center) - Strengthens families and enhances parental functioning through anger management services, parent education, and skill-building
Front Door Diversion Program - Delivers outpatient, community-held mental health services to adults transitioning from high-level institutional settings, such as hospitals or nursing homes, to support successful community reintegration
Housing Stabilization & Community Living Services (HSCL) - Assists individuals in securing safe, stable housing and links them to supportive community-held services
Juvenile Justice Case Management (JJCM) - Helps opportunity youth live respectfully and productively in the neighborhoods they call home through community-held care that combines group, individual, and family support
Mental Health Juvenile Justice Program (MHJJ) - Supports youth with significant mental health needs who are involved in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice system, helping them and their families reduce further system involvement and remain in their communities whenever possible
Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) - Delivers immediate, community-held crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use concerns, or trauma-related distress
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) - Provides housing assistance and supportive services for households with at least one member with a disability, helping them achieve and maintain long-term housing stability
Reimagine Violence Prevention Service (VPS) - Uses evidence-based strategies to engage individuals at the highest risk of firearm violence through street outreach, case management, and victim support services
Office Locations
Find Support Near You:
Center for Family Engagement & Well-Being
777 N. Green St.
Floors 2 & 3
Chicago, IL 60642
312-837-3937
Chicago-Baltimore
13101 S. Baltimore Ave,
Chicago, IL 60633
773-270-6733
Chicago (Chatham)
356 E. 79th St,
Chicago, IL 60619
Chicago Heights
139 Joe Orr Road,
Olympia Plaza,
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Olympia Fields
20280 Governors Highway,
Suite 303,
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
708-747-2859
Rockford
1111 S. Alpine Rd,
Suite 504,
Rockford, IL 61108
331-701-3520
Chicago Center for Children, Youth, & Families
2452 W. Division St,
Chicago, IL 60622
773-270-6626
Homewood
955 175th St,
Homewood, IL 60430
708-747-2655
Peoria
7620 N. University St,
Suite 109,
Peoria, IL 61614
309-839-8984
Sycamore
2435 Bethany Rd,
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-517-1585
Why Choose NYAP’s Services in Illinois?
Our commitment to Illinois communities means we understand the unique challenges facing families throughout the state. Our established relationships with local child welfare agencies, schools, and community organizations enable us to provide coordinated, responsive care that makes a real difference.
Our Illinois team consists of experienced, compassionate professionals who work in partnership with the individuals and families we serve.
Whether you're looking for services for your family or considering becoming a foster parent, our Illinois team offers the training, resources, and ongoing support you need.
Foster Care in Illinois
Foster care in Illinois is built on evidence-based, trauma-responsive practices that recognize every child and youth's need for safety, stability, and connection. NYAP actively engages primary and foster families as valued partners in the treatment process. Our approach addresses each child or youth's developmental, emotional, physical, and cultural needs through individualized service planning.
Foster parent development happens through comprehensive training and regular meetings with our Illinois team. NYAP prepares foster parents to navigate Illinois’ foster care requirements, understand trauma's impact on behavior, and support family connections whenever possible.
Behavioral Health Services in Illinois
Behavioral health services in Illinois provide therapeutic support designed to strengthen emotional wellness, build resilience, and create positive change for individuals and families. Through individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, and care coordination, our services help people develop healthier coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and improve overall well-being. Depending on our programming, we provide services in a variety of flexible ways, including virtual appointments, local office visits, in-home support, and community-held care.
