HR0203 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0203 LRB099 11094 GRL 31508 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The nationally-recognized Alternative Schools Network runs many programs that assist at-risk youth, including the Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service and Project New Futures Programs; and

WHEREAS, The Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service Program educates and graduates over 300 Department of Children and Family Services high school dropouts annually; the program provides educational support and various services to these youth in order to provide a quality education and helps to prevent and reduce violence in Department of Children and Family Services wards; and

WHEREAS, The Project New Futures Program supported 130 older Department of Children and Family Services youth to successfully enter adulthood by providing the personal, consistent, and intense support they needed as they prepared to emancipate from Department of Children and Family Services; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services has recently cut $1 million from the Alternative Schools Network's Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service Program by denying the organization the sub-contract that was needed to expand services for older Department of Children and Family Services youth; this funding cut also resulted in the elimination of the Project New Futures Program; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services is contractually obligated to refer youth that are appropriate for the Alternative Schools Network's Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service Program by their level of credits, skills, age, and motivation; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services has notified the Alternative Schools Network that the Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service Program should change from the grant-based program it has been in previous years into a fee-for-service program, a move that would undoubtedly affect many of the at-risk youth these programs seek to help; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Children and Family Services to reinstate the funding for the Alternative Schools Network's Youth Skills, Scholars, and Service and Project New Futures Programs and to maintain the grant-based nature of the programs so that at-risk youth can receive the education and skills they need to be responsible and productive adults; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services.