Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, 360 Youth Services reach agreement to be stronger together
The leadership team of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois have finalized an agreement to bring 360 Youth Services under its organizational umbrella.
360 Youth Services will continue to operate as a separate social service nonprofit, retaining its name, mission, values, and services, but with LCFS providing administrative support and governance. Both organizations are committed to working together to strengthen and grow the youth and family-centered prevention, counseling, and housing programs provided by 360 to the Naperville, Aurora and surrounding communities.
"Our organizations saw each other as a good fit because our missions, values, and commitments around being welcoming to marginalized youth are in such strong alignment," said Mike Bertrand, LCFS president and CEO, of the agreement. "Having raised my family in Aurora, I'm aware of the incredible impact 360 has had in this community over the last 50 years, and I want this to continue. What made 360 attractive to LCFS is their preventive services because I believe we need to offer support to more children and families before they reach a crisis point."
Together the two organizations already serve more than 5,600 young people and their families throughout Illinois, and hope to grow that impact. LCFS has a very strong commitment to serving older youth and currently they are one of the largest providers of services to adolescents in Illinois' child welfare system.
360 Youth Services is the only youth-specific service provider for young people experiencing homelessness outside of Chicago in the state of Illinois.
"Our programs and impact are strong, but as a small nonprofit we've faced administrative challenges," said 360 interim executive director Dawn Melchiorre. "LCFS' organizational support will allow us to focus on serving more young people and their families in order to fulfill our vision of a community where all youth possess the necessary skills to successfully navigate life's challenges."
About Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois is a child welfare agency dedicated to improving the well-being of people across the state by protecting children, strengthening families and building futures for those who have experienced trauma. After nearly 150 years, it has grown into the second-largest community-based social service agency in Illinois with programs including foster care, adoption, counseling and preventive services. LCFS has regional sites in Chicago, Belleville, Decatur, Joliet, Kankakee, Mt. Vernon, Oak Brook, Quincy and Springfield.
About 360 Youth Services
360 Youth Services provides affordable mental health counseling, substance use prevention education, crisis intervention services for at-risk youth, community education and advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized youth, and safe, developmentally appropriate housing for youth experiencing homelessness in the Naperville, Aurora and surrounding communities.