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Recent Fact Sheets
Illinois Commission on Children and Youth Fact Sheet
Illinois Youth: Ready
for Life?
Prevention First and Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and
Human Rights recently held a series of policy briefings to
discuss the results of our statewide surveys of youth and
communities serving youth.
Click here for a copy of the
presentation
Ready
by 21 - Changing the Odds for Illinois Children
We Want to Hear From
You
The Statewide Collaborative for Prevention Advocacy is comprised
of a variety of organizations interested in educating the
general public, policymakers and funders about the value added
by prevention and early intervention programs, practices and
policies that increase the odds for Illinois children and
youth that they are Ready by 21: Ready for Work, Ready for
College, Ready for Life.
In order for us to maximize our advocacy efforts, we first
must answer the question, "How well are Illinois children
and youth doing?" We would like to hear from you and
your constituents about the children and youth in your community.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by clicking
on the link below. When you have finished the survey, please
forward our website link to your friends, associates, young
people, parents and others, encouraging them to complete the
survey, too.
Click
here to take the survey.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and encouraging others
to do the
same. If you have trouble accessing the survey or sending
it to others, please contact:
Special Initiatives Manager
Click here to e-mail: Ready
by 21
312-988-4646, ext., 231
 Prevention
First has joined with other Illinois agencies to
advocate for freezing potential cuts to prevention programs
that address juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, youth substance
abuse, child abuse and after-school programs through Teen
REACH.
Partners
include:
By investing in these
programs, communities help foster environments in which all
citizens can thrive, particularly parents and youth. Prevention
programs and services support and encourage parents and allow
youth to develop the social competencies and skills needed
to succeed in school and beyond, without being drawn into
drugs, crime and other high-risk behaviors.
Take
Action! 
- Meet
with your legislators.
- Write letters to
the editor.
- Present testimony
at budget hearings in your area.
- Speak to your own
success. If you are a service provider or know someone who
has been positively impacted by programs or services – a
parent, young adult, teen or child – get their testimony
in writing. Share it with your legislators at hearings.
These anecdotes give prevention a “face,” which helps our
policy makers better understand what prevention is about.
- Speak to the impact
of previous cuts to your organization’s programs – reduction
in numbers served, waiting lists and the like, and what
additional cuts will mean for your specific program and
the youth and families you serve.
For tips on testifying
at a committee hearing or on how to write a letter or make a
phone call to your legislator, visit the action center of the
Welfare
and Families Coalition. Take
action on the latest issues in legislation by visiting the
governmental affairs section of the Illinois
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association Web site.
For more information:
Executive Director
Prevention First.
217.793.7353
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What is Prevention?
