Midwest Youth Services (MYS) serves at-risk, runaway and homeless youth, ages 9-18. Our mission is to deter youth from the juvenile justice and child welfare systems while strengthening families. Our services are totally free and confidential.

We offer 24-hour, 7-day-a-week crisis intervention, mediation and emergency shelter to these vulnerable children. MYS is the only agency providing these services in Brown, Cass, Schuyler, Scott and Morgan counties in Illinois. Without our services, more youth would be on the streets and be targets for exploitation and crime.

We assess the overall needs of each youth and help them access the resources they need. This includes getting dropouts or truants back in school, arranging for tutoring, mentoring, medical, dental and mental health needs, social support and counseling.

We teach families communication skills so they can resolve their own problems with little outside intervention. Our community youth services program helps community groups develop activities and programs that promote positive youth development.

This includes:
• Identifying community needs and concerns
• Forming and supporting committees that work to address these issues.
• Fostering leadership in the youth of our communities
• Improving the political, economic and environmental conditions in our communities.

We help youth who have already had experience with the legal system. Youth who have been found delinquent by the Court and referred by probation participate in intensive programming that includes:

• A comprehensive service plan
• One to one mentoring
• Advocacy and supervision
• Case management
• Participation in Spectrum Wilderness experience (when eligible)

Midwest Youth Services is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois. It has qualified as an exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Midwest Youth Services receives support from private donations, grants, and United Way as well as state and federal grants. All donations are tax deductible. Make Midwest Youth Services, Inc. your favorite charitable organization!