Teen REACH

Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope (Teen REACH)

Goals: To provide a safe environment with caring adult role models that will work with youth to increase academic achievement and develop the life skills necessary for future success.

Outcome: Youth will be safe; youth will graduate from high school.

Program Description: Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope) is a comprehensive youth development initiative that provides after school program services to high-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 17.

Target Population: Youth targeted for the program are age 6-17 (minimum 85% are 11-17) and have one or more of the following Individual/Family Risk Factors: Youth living in a single-parent household; Youth residing in a household receiving TANF funds; Youth experiencing academic difficulties ; Youth is in danger of or has been previously held back to repeat one or more academic years; Youth experiencing truancy concerns; Youth is reported to have behavior issues; Youth is reported to be a victim of bullying; Youth is reported to be a perpetrator of bullying; Youth is unsupervised after school; Youth has witnessed or been a victim of family violence; Youth identifies as LGBTQ; Youth with siblings who dropped out of school; Youth with siblings who are teen parents; Youth with siblings who are involved in the juvenile justice system; Youth with one or both parents who are incarcerated; Youth with siblings who are gang involved; Youth is reported to be gang - involved; Youth in the DCFS system; Youth is homeless; Youth is pregnant ; Youth is parenting.

Activities: Teen REACH programs are open 240 days a year for at least 720 hours during the high risk critical after-school hours. The core services provided are:

  • Improving educational performance which includes time to do homework, tutoring in basic skills and enrichment programs that encourage creativity.
  • Life skills education which encompasses training and education that promotes the development of healthy lifestyles, and encourages abstinence from risk-taking behaviors in the areas of alcohol and/or substance abuse, criminal activity, violence and sexual activity.
  • Parental involvement so that parents and guardians have opportunities to meet with staff to discuss their children's activities and to participate in events that strengthen parent/child bonds and community involvement.
  • Recreation, sports, cultural and artistic activities and arranging safe outlets for youth to try new skills and develop new interests, to build friendships, find their place in a group, and gain developmentally relevant experiences.
  • Adult mentors who allow opportunities for participants to develop and maintain positive, sustained relationships with adults.
  • Service-Learning activities that connect classroom lessons with meaningful service to the community. Students build academic skills while strengthening communities through service.

Program Sites / Service Areas

In 2015 the Department funds 57 Teen REACH programs with 122 program sites. 32 providers are funded in Cook County with 51 program sites and 25 providers are funded outside of Cook County with 70 program sites. This includes the one statewide provider with 40 program sites.

2015 Program Analysis

  • 12,935 youth received Teen REACH services from 57 providers in 120 community program sites at an average per capita cost of $594 per youth. 
  • 88% of youth served were 11-17 years of age at enrollment
  • 27% of youth served were Hispanic; 55% African American; 36% Caucasian; 6% Multiple Races; 3% other. 

2015 Performance Measures by Program Model

  • 98.3% (5,247) of Teen REACH youth participating in the program 9 month or longer were promoted to the next grade level or graduated.
  • 99.2% (470 of 474) of Teen REACH seniors participating in the program 9 month or longer graduated.
  • 99.95% of Teen REACH youth were safe from violence during program hours.

Provider Model (56 Providers and 80 Program Sites)

  1. 98.2% (4,129) of Teen REACH youth participating in the program 9 months or longer were promoted to the next grade level or graduated
  2. 99.3% (436 of 439) of Teen REACH seniors participating in the program 9 months or longer graduated
  3. 99.95% of Teen REACH youth were safe from violence during program hours
  4. 72.9% (2,677 of 3,673) of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved school attendance
  5. 81.1% (2,720 of 3,354) of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved grades
  6. 84.9% (2,909 of 3,427)of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved homework completion
  7. 87.3% (2,457 of 2,816)of tracked Teen REACH youth demonstrated improved anger management/conflict resolution skills
  8. 87.8% (3,343 of 3,806)of tracked Teen REACH youth demonstrated improved life skills
  9. 91.2% (2,749 of 3,014) of participating youth/families completed a nutritional education program/curriculum
  10. 88% of Teen REACH youth served were 11-17 years old (Acceptable: 85%)
  11. 110% of projected average daily attendance was achieved (Acceptable: 80%) 
  12. 117% of projected youth attendance hours was achieved (Acceptable: 80%) 
  13. The average cost per youth per hour was $3.77 (Acceptable: $4.50)

Statewide Model (1 Provider and 40 Program Sites)

  1. 99% (1,118) of Teen REACH youth participating in the program 9 months or longer were promoted to the next grade level or graduated
  2. 99.7% of Teen REACH seniors participating in the program 9 months or longer graduated
  3. 99.7% of Teen REACH youth were safe from violence during program hours
  4. 74.9% (519 of 693) of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved school attendance
  5. 60.8% (908 of 1,494) of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved grades
  6. 100% (1,471 of 1,471) of tracked Teen REACH youth had improved homework completion
  7. 87.8%(698 of 795) of tracked Teen REACH youth demonstrated improved anger management/conflict resolution skills
  8. 89.7% (390 of 435) of tracked Teen REACH youth demonstrated improved life skills
  9. 85.8% (883 of 1,029) of participating youth/families completed a nutritional education program/curriculum
  10. 92% of Teen REACH youth served were 11-17 years old (Acceptable: 85%)
  11. 150% of projected average daily attendance was achieved. 
  12. 192% of projected youth attendance hours was achieved. 
  13. The average cost per youth per hour was $2.37.  (Acceptable: $3.35)

FY14 Core Services Provided 

The table below provides a breakdown of the total number of hours youth spent in each core service area. Providers' record attendance every day for each youth by core service area and by number of minutes spent in each. Providers are required to provide service in each area. 

Core Service Area - Provider Model Hours in FY14 %
Academic Achievement 409,515 25%
Life Skills 234,888 14%
Positive Adult Mentors 212,672 13%
Parental Involvement 49,558 3%
Recreation, Sports, Cultural and Artistic Activities 566,158 34%
Service-Learning 42,277 3%
Non-core Services 141,571 8%
Total 1,656,639 100%
Core Service Area - Statewide Model Hours in FY14 %
Academic Achievement 427,108 34%
Life Skills 200,129 16%
Positive Adult Mentors 132,685 11%
Parental Involvement 21,912 2%
Recreation, Sports, Cultural and Artistic Activities 429,444 34%
Service-Learning 35,586 3%
Non-core Services - 0%
Total 1,656,639 100%

Links

Teen REACH Providers List (Program not Funded in FY16)

Teen REACH Program Standards

Teen REACH Logic Model

Quality Assurance Review Tools