Family Connection

Helping families of justice-involved youth stay connected

Spring 2025 | Issue 7

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families to promote community safety and positive youth outcomes.

Resource Connection

June 6th is National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Every year, communities nationwide come together for Wear Orange, a weekend dedicated to honoring the lives of people in the United States affected by gun violence and elevating advocates across the country who are demanding an end to gun violence by taking action. Wear Orange is a highly visible, nonpartisan show of support for public safety that’s powered by constituents in every corner of the country.

Wear Orange Chicago Event

IDJJ Youth Handbook

The youth orientation handbook is full of important information! You can access the flipbook version or download it from the Family Resources page of the IDJJ website.

View Handbook

Connect with other families

Connect with IDJJ staff

Connect with the IDJJ Family Advisory Council .The Family Advisory Group offers resources, information, and support for loved ones of IDJJ-involved youth! For more information, contact Zakee Shahid at 312-633-5219 x4004 or email zakee.shahid@illinois.gov.

The next virtual meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 5pm.

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JOIN MEETING

Connect to the Independent Ombudsman

The Ombudsman’s role is to ensure that the rights of youth committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice are fully observed, and to assist in pursuing services for committed youth and their families determined to be in need of assistance. Use the button below for details and contact information.

Juvenile Ombudsman

Need help with transportation to visit your youth?

DJJ is working with Geo Reentry Services to provide transportation for parents from the following counties to visit their youth in facilities: St. Clair, Sangamon, Madison, Macon, and Peoria. The service is available on Fridays and the contact person is Tammy Hamilton-Bush. Call 618-447-0112 or email tammy.bushhamilton@geogroup.com for more information. You can also reach out to Dr. Edrena Davis-Abram, DJJ's Family Engagement Clinical Social Work Manager at:

edrena.davis-abram@illinois.gov for help.

Visitation Guidelines

Making connections with families is a high priority for IDJJ. We are working to continue improving this aspect of care for our youth. Your child's Youth & Family Specialist (YFS) is a great place to start if you are looking to connect more frequently.

Need help connecting to mental & behavioral health services for a child in Illinois?

Go to BEACON website

Download BEACON Flyer

Northern Illinois University's Project Flex hosts DJJ Basketball Tournament

On March 26, NIU's Project Flex hosted an amazing day on their campus for IDJJ youth and staff! All five facilities participated in a day-long basketball tournament. Youth were chosen for the IDJJ teams based on a record of good behavior, staff recommendations, and an interest in participating in the tournament.

Student volunteers from NIU were recruited by Project FLEX to check in pre-approved guests, referee games, serve a catered luncheon, and cheer for the teams. Several teams of NIU students also participated in the early part of the competition to determine seeding for the youth centers’ tournament bracket.

IDJJ staff served as coaches for the teams, holding practices for the weeks leading up to the tournament and working to obtain uniforms and shoes for each tournament participant. Approximately 45 members of the IDJJ staff attended the tournament to coach, cheer, assist, and ensure safety protocols remained in place.

IDJJ gives a huge thank you to Dr. Jenn Jacobs and Dr. Zach Wahl-Alexander of Project Flex (along with their students) for the tremendous amount of planning and work that went into hosting the tournament. And we thank St. Anthony Lloyd for taking the lead for DJJ!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS- PEACE CENTER!

See below for a few pics from our fun day together!

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Good News About Youth at IDJJ!

Seven youth at the PEACE Center recently earned CPR certification.

Four youth at IYC Chicago recently earned fork lift operation certification.

A youth on Aftercare just graduated high school and has been accepted to Jackson State University.

Two youth at the PEACE Center recently completed blue print reading certifications.

A youth on Aftercare recently graduated from the Decatur juvenile day reporting center program.

A youth on Aftercare was awarded a scholarship to attend the 2025 Transformation of Youth Justice Symposium.

Three youth at IYC Chicago recently spoke on a virtual panel for Columbia University.

Six youth at PEACE Center just completed a public speaking course through New Life Center.

One Warrenville youth and two PEACE Center youth recently participated in a six week Director's Office internship.

13 youth have earned OSHA 10 Certificates since last July at PEACE.

14 youth have earned Intro to Construction Certificates since last July at PEACE.

Check out these recent photos

from IDJJ youth centers and Aftercare programs

IYC Chicago-Greater West Town Project Shipping & Receiving Program

PEACE Center public speaking course

PEACE Center CPR certification class

IYC Chicago Constitutional Law Class

IYC Chicago- Baking w/ Mr. Byrd

IYC Harrisburg- Black History Month program

IYC Pere Marquette-fishing

Aftercare program graduate