We  invest in youth in underserved Chicago neighborhoods to help them discover and realize their full potential--from early childhood education to and through college.

HERE'S WHY ... Young people are most at risk for delinquent behaviors during the after-school hours of 2:00 to 6:00 pm.  This is compounded in neighborhoods where poverty, drugs, violence, and under-performing schools are the norm. The good news is that these underserved children experience the greatest gains in academic performance and social and life skills development when they participate in after-school programs that are fully implemented and they attend regularly. That's why we're here--and have been for more than half a century.

HERE'S HOW ... CYC welcomes at-risk, low-income youth ages 3-18 into eight neighborhood-based centers and a residential camp where they receive one-on-one and small group guidance from well-trained, caring adults. Our centers and unique camp are oases of encouragement and support for these children.

Three core programs reinforce their strengths, support academic success, and help them envision a positive future:

• Head Start and Early Childhood Development, ages 3 to 5
• Out of School Time, ages 5 to 12
• Teen Leadership Development, ages 13 to 19 

CYC also offers College and Career Readiness, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, Environmenal Education, Educational Support for Wards of the State, and Crisis Intervention.

EMPHASIZING THE POSITIVE ... Five content areas are reinforced through a Positive Youth Development model:

Academic Achievement  -- College and Career Readiness

 Life Skills -- Health and Wellness -- Arts and Culture