Roots to rise: a trauma-informed youth housing & empowerment program provides homeless youth with shelter, trauma informed individual, group and family counseling, all grounded in positive youth devel…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Family Service Agency of DeKalb County Illinois Inc. $562,990 on September 30, 2025, under the Basic Center Grant Program (CFDA 93.623) to deliver emergency shelter and trauma-informed counseling services to homeless youth.

The recipient, operating as the Children's Advocacy Center of DeKalb County, provides temporary shelter for up to 21 days, emergency food and clothing, individual and group trauma-informed counseling, family counseling grounded in positive youth development, and health care referrals to youth under 18 years old who have run away, been forced to leave home, or lack safe living alternatives. The program aims to reunite youth with their families when safe or locate appropriate alternative placements, while preventing involvement in law enforcement, child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems.

The award obligates $562,990 over a three-year performance period running through September 29, 2028. Work is performed in Illinois. The Basic Center Program funds community-based services that provide outreach, crisis intervention, and aftercare alongside shelter provision.

Roots to rise: a trauma-informed youth housing & empowerment program provides homeless youth with shelter, trauma informed individual, group and family counseling, all grounded in positive youth devel - the basic center program (BCP) (CY) provides temporary shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might otherwise end up in the law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Bcps work to establish or strengthen community-based programs that meet the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Bcps provide youth under 18 years of age with emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling and referrals for health care. Bcps can provide up to 21 days of shelter for youth and seek to reunite young people with their families, whenever possible, or to locate appropriate alternative placements.