Youth Outreach Services (YOS) is a nonprofit organization that has been partnering with at-risk youth and their families in Chicago since 1959. The Austin office provides community-based substance use intervention services as part of the organization’s broader counseling program, which serves youth across 23 Chicago neighborhoods and surrounding suburban communities. YOS is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a United Way partner organization.
Substance Use Treatment for Youth
YOS delivers substance use screening, assessment, and treatment to young people struggling with alcohol or drug use. The program focuses on helping youth recognize how substance use is negatively affecting their lives and building the skills needed to reduce or eliminate use. YOS also serves as the exclusive provider of substance abuse screening, assessment, and treatment at Illinois Youth Center facilities in Chicago, St. Charles, Warrenville, and Pere Marquette, extending its reach to incarcerated youth in state facilities.
Counseling and Support Services
Beyond substance use treatment, the Austin office is part of a broader continuum of YOS counseling services that includes individual, family, and group therapy, outreach and mentoring, and 24/7 crisis intervention. The organization accepts insurance and managed Medicaid. YOS reaches approximately 3,000 youth annually across its service areas, guided by the belief that all young people are capable of excellence and deserve the support needed to face life’s challenges with confidence and dignity.
