Lepenseur Youth & Family Services INC ILO Program
The independent (ILO) program is an extension to our existing Transitional Living program (TLP) and our Teen Parenting Program. The supervised ILO program is designed as a community- based model designed to assist youth ages 16-21 with learning and implementing daily life skills. This concept also focus on assisting teens with the understanding the responsibilities towards living with the responsibility of a child, on their own and leaning their strengths and weaknesses. The scattered site apartments are, located through out Chicago approved and monitored by child welfare staff. An intensive training program is provided for all young residents and their children preparing for ILO. Youth are provides with case manager, parenting, mentoring, tutoring and on going life skills.
Teen Parenting Program (TPP)
The overall goal of the LePenseur Youth& Family Services Teen Parenting Program is to assist teen mothers ages 16-21 in becoming self- sufficient, independent residents of the community. This permanency goal is reached by providing the teen with assistance in:
- Parenting skills training.
- Educational and vocational preparation.
- Finalizing alternative housing plan i.e. section 8, household management training, ECT.
- Community awareness and linkage to appropriate community services as needed i.e. Domestic violence, mental health counseling, CEDA food pantries, WIC and link, ECT.
- Money management skills as related to subsidize funds and/or work wages.
- Early childhood Development
- Case Management
- Clearly identify family and community support systems.
These young mothers are preparing to transition into independent living via an Independent Living Option Program, or emancipation. These teens demonstrate the ability to function in an independent living setting with limited support and supervision. This program serves pregnant and parenting teens, who have completed high school/GED, or need assistance to complete high school or a GED program; teens that are working or amenable to participate in job placement training; and teens who demonstrate the capacity for parenting, and/or a willingness to learn basic parenting skills. This determination is base on observation, and through comprehensive assessment, which includes the Ansel Casey, etc.
Transitional Living Program ( TLP)
LePenseur Youth & Family Services INC Transitional l in the living program (TLP) is designed to assist families that are DCFS wards ages 16-21 in the South Suburban area achieve self sufficiency. We provide life skills, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, shelter, full case management.
TLP will assist homeless females without children, ages 16-21 in the Chicago
metropolitan area achieve self-sufficiency through a program that will provide shelter, skills training and support services. These youth will receive a stable living environment at Le Penseur's Dolton, Illinois location for no more than 18 months before obtaining permanent housing.
Working toward self-sufficiency will help the youth avoid long-term dependency on social services through empowerment education designed to provide housing counseling skills,substance abuse, medical, mental health, employment, educational, and parenting skills.
This project will greatly increase the availability of services to the homeless youth in Southeast Chicago and in South Suburban Cook County. Youth will have access to services designed to make them fully independent and productive citizens. The project will enhance the organizations ability to provide services by closing a gap in services in service delivery - housing.
It is anticipated that the program will change the lives of the homeless youth served. They will change their attitudes towards drugs, alcohol, school, and employment. They will have access to regular mental health and physical health services. They will have opportunities to learn employment skills and find work. Their attitudes toward their families will change, and families will
be reunified. Youth will move from homelessness to transitional housing to permanent housing.
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