Youth Prevention Team Kicks Off New School Year

The Haymarket Center Youth Prevention Services (YPS) team kicked off a new school year, partnering with James R. Doolittle Elementary, Wendell Phillips Academy, Irvin C. Mollison Elementary, the Beasley Academic Center, Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville, Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary, and Carter G. Woodson Elementary to provide in-school services and education.

In 2005, Haymarket Center introduced its Youth Prevention team, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in the South Side Chicago communities. YPS’ prevention approaches focus on helping people develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to make good choices or change harmful behaviors.

In addition to providing educational resources to Illinois Youth, you can find our Youth Prevention team out in the community! Our YPS team hosts many fun and exciting events to encourage participation among 6th through 12th grade students, including talent showcases, poetry nights, and most recently, a softball game to celebrate the beginning of the 2021 school year!

“We’re thrilled to have the ability to host events like these for our neighborhood youth,” states Spencer Jones, Youth Prevention Specialist at Haymarket Center, “We get to have fun and get to know our community members while raising awareness for a much larger cause.” Along with providing water and snacks for the teams, YPS distributed school supplies among players and park attendees.

You can learn more about our Youth Prevention Services and the team’s upcoming events by following them on Instagram or visiting their website, hcenteryps.org.

This program is funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration.

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