In order to highlight pockets of excellence across the country, the NNED selects a partner organization to highlight once a month. Dekalb County Youth Service Bureau, has been selected as the Partner of the Month for July in celebration of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Dekalb County Youth Service Bureau (YSB) is a organization that provides individual, family, and group mental health counseling, as well as specialty services which are designed to keep families intact, keep youth out of the juvenile court system, and empower youth to achieve in Illinois.
YSB has been enriching the lives and relationships of youth ages 8 to 18 and their families for over 45 years. YSB became a separate agency in 1971 after being a City of DeKalb Department since 1969. YSB was one of three initial youth service bureaus in Illinois and since its inception, continues to respond to and meet the service needs of today’s youth and their families. YSB is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from throughout DeKalb County.
The some of the programs and services that are currently offered:
- Youth & Family Counseling – Youth & Family Counseling (YFC) offers individual and family counseling to youth aged 8-18 and their families. YFC is designed to address the specific needs of those experiencing difficult situations in their lives. In addition, youth can be referred for a comprehensive assessment to determine if additional services are needed.
- Girls Empowerment Group – The Girls Empowerment Group encourages girls to seek and celebrate their “true selves” by giving them a safe space, encouragement, structure and support to embrace their important journey of self discovery. A strength based approach helps girls identify and apply their power and voice as individuals and as a group focusing on issues that are important in the lives of adolescent girls.
- Alcohol / Drug Early Intervention Programs – Early Intervention is designed to educate teens about alcohol, drug, and other substance related issues. A two-session screening assessment is used to gather drug/alcohol history and make recommendations for services. This program uses group education to provide accurate information regarding alcohol/drug use and exploration of the decision-making process involved in making healthy choices.
- Alternative to Suspension Program – Alternative to Suspension is for students from 6th-12th grade, to act as a gateway to mental health services for at-risk youth who are required to serve out-of-school suspension. While enrolled in the program, youth will receive a comprehensive mental health screening to determine potential risk factors that contributed to the youth being suspended.
- DeKalb County Youth Project – Youth Project is geared toward youth between the ages of 11 and 18. The program was developed for the purpose of equipping youth with the skills to identify, manage, and appropriately express anger and other intense emotions, in order to prevent aggressive and abusive tendencies, promote pro-social skills, improve anger control, and reduce the frequency of acting out behaviors. Youth can be referred for counseling or META (Managing Emotions, Thoughts, & Actions), an educational group that focus on three components: Anger Control (the Emotional component), Moral Reasoning (the Thoughts component), and Social Skills (the Actions component).
Learn more about Dekalb County Youth Service Bureau and their mission to assist youth as they build healthy lives and relationships with their families, friends, and community. YSB envisions a community where all young people know they are valued as important contributors, and know that YSB is here to support them so they can live up to their potential and achieve their personal goals.
View a list of previous NNED Partners of the Month.
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