CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope) program announces its first annual statewide Stop the Violence Summit Day, on Thursday, November 19.  Stop the Violence Summit Day will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Chicago, McHenry, Champaign, Quincy, and Cairo. Located at six Teen REACH sites throughout Illinois, Stop the Violence Summit Day will showcase the variety of positive prevention programs conducted every day to promote positive youth development and prevent community violence.

 “Stop the Violence Summit Day is an opportunity for youth, parents, families, government officials, legislators, community leaders and others to visit Teen REACH programs and witness the extraordinary positive youth programming,” said IDHS Secretary Michelle R. B. Saddler. “We want to increase community awareness and showcase our successful Teen REACH programs and services.”

With a proactive approach to delivering community based prevention services, Teen REACH is an outstanding community partner in promoting positive youth development throughout Illinois. Every Stop the Violence Summit Day site will be open and available for community members to observe the positive programming already occurring in the neighborhoods in which they live. 

Every day throughout the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Teen REACH programs work to improve academic performance, prevent violence and risky behaviors, encourage parental involvement, and create opportunities for recreation, sports, cultural and artistic activities for more than 27,000 youth. 

Teen REACH provides a positive environment for youth to learn and grow in a wide variety of events and activities that reflect the programs' investment in the six core service areas of:

Improving educational performance,
Life skills education,
Parental involvement,
Recreation, sports, and culture and artistic activities,
Positive adult mentors, and
Service learning.

Teen REACH services are delivered by 107 community-based agencies throughout Illinois. Services and activities are provided during out of school time hours to youth ages 6-17. Teen REACH provides a caring environment where youth connect with adults and receive a powerful opportunity to guide their attitudes toward school and eventual school success.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Community Health and Prevention statewide Teen REACH Stop the Violence Summit Day event will occur at the following locations on Thursday, November 19.  Events at all locations will start at 4:00 pm and end at 7:00 p.m.

Chicago Commons Paulo Freire Center
1653 West 43rd Street
Chicago, IL. 60609
Program Contact - Eddie Anguiano
773-638-5600x1015

South Central Community Center
1021 E. 83rd Street
Chicago, IL 60619
Program Contact - Patricia Daniels
 773-374-2223

Garden Quarter Neighborhood Resource Center
4508 Garden Quarter Road, #36
McHenry, IL. 60050
Program Contact - Elizabeth Bean
815-690-5236

Champaign Central High School
602 West University
Champaign, IL. 61820
Program Contact - Vernessa Gipson
217-766-8104

The Spot
918 Elm
Quincy, IL. 62301
Program Contact - Cynthia Eddy Roope
217-222-8440x147

Delta Activity Center
421 30th Street
Cairo, IL. 62914
Program Contact - Jason Lindsey
618-534-6538