Reclaiming Futures Cook County was one of 10 original projects funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help teens involved with drugs, alcohol, and crime. We partnered with the courts, treatment facilities, service agencies, and community to better meet the urgent needs of these young people in our juvenile justice system.

Chicago is the birthplace of the juvenile justice system in the U.S. It was one of the largest cities and juvenile justice systems where the Reclaiming Futures model was implemented. First implemented in the economically distressed, largely African American neighborhood of Lawndale, it was then expanded to three additional inner-city neighborhoods.

Reclaiming Futures Cook County strengthened the quality of alcohol and drug treatment services for youth in the justice system by doing the following:

• Provided better access to drug treatment services for these young people and their families
• Established coordinated care plans
• Strengthened ties with our partners by instituting common screening and assessment instruments, providing cross trainings, and sharing information
• Worked with the Department of Substance Abuse Services (DASA) and the Administrative Offices of the Illinois Court

Our core partners
Circuit Court of Cook County
Jumpstart - Truancy Reduction Program
Street Dreams Employment
Readiness & Placement Program
Westside Association for Community Action
Youth Advisory Council
Youth Outreach Services