Waukegan Strong

Through a multidisciplinary partnership with Waukegan High School and Middle Schools, as well as youth and parents in Grayslake, IL, Community Youth Network, Inc. (CYN) will reduce incidents of youth violence through restorative practices to improve school safety and climate; prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimization by providing Peace Circles and trauma treatment in the school setting; engage parents and youth in an advisory council to address their concerns and provide a venue for their voices to be heard; and obtain parent direction on the content for parent workshops. CYN has a partnership with Waukegan Middle Schools and High Schools to provide restorative practices, case management, and therapy services to youth ages 11–18 (and their families) who are involved in an interpersonal conflict, have been exposed to violence, have perpetrated violence, or are in need of trauma-informed therapy. CYN will meet these needs by offering a variety of activities to support students, which will decrease violence and assist those who have been affected by violence. Activities include restorative practices/Peace Circles; trauma-informed individual, family, and group counseling; and case management. A total of 468 youth will be served with trauma-informed therapy during the 3-year grant; 80 percent of youth will show symptom reduction as evidenced by the pre/posttest. A total of 120 parents/caregivers will be served over the 3-year grant in parent workshops. A total of 303 youth will be served through Peace Circles/Restorative Conversations over the 3-year grant. A total of 120 youth/parents/caregivers will participate in multidisciplinary meetings over the 3-year grant.