Cook County, Ill. – Sixteen-year-old Charles was one of 36 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students who graduated in April from Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc., Chicago’s YAPWORX® employment readiness program. YAPWORX® is a unique paid workforce development curriculum designed to equip systems-involved and other young people facing employment barriers with job readiness skills.
“We met every Tuesday for 10 weeks to talk about things like mental health, how to do a resume, and all of that,” Charles said. “It was all about the essentials of being an (adult). Just knowing what we need to know in order to be independent.”
Celebrating its 50th year in 2025, YAP® partners with public systems in 33 states and Washington, D.C. to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis in corrections and residential care facilities. The national nonprofit also uses its unique youth and family wraparound services model to help cities reduce violence among those at the greatest risk. YAP® Advocates are trained to help program participants and their parents, guardians and other family members see and nurture their strengths while connecting them with individualized resources and support.
YAPWORX® engages volunteer business owners, leaders and employees from various fields to educate program participants about their work and provide mentoring and social capital. Through a partnership with Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Student Support & Engagement, YAP® Chicago delivered YAPWORX® services to Charles and his classmates from February through April for two hours once a week. Program participants received a $75 weekly paycheck paid through YAP.
Charles was referred to YAP® last year through the court system when he landed on probation from a gun charge. He was assigned to YAP® Advocates Marie Tribett and Patricia Jackson. Jackson described Jordan as “shut off, closed and not talkative,” when they initially met.
“He was a little standoffish at first and I had to break the ice,” Jackson said. “He really doesn’t open up to everyone, but over the course of a year he’s grown a lot with communicating more.”
A high school junior, Charles took a while before letting Jackson gain his trust. She helped Charles with his schoolwork and assisted him in getting his identification card. Jackson said they also take walks together, go to gaming centers, go fishing and that Jackson took him out to eat at Olive Garden for the first time.
“Just to see him have joy and smile while doing something different warms my heart,” she said. “He’s really a respectful young man. He is family-oriented and he loves his [9] siblings.
During his time in YAPWORX, Jackson taught Charles to use his money responsibly. For example, she got him in the habit of purchasing his Pace Pass (bus payment card) first to get to-and-from school before he did anything else.
“While in YAPWORX, I would take him to cash his check. I taught him that when he gets paid to take care of his needs first, then take care of his wants second,” Jackson said. “It was teaching him responsibility. He definitely grew in that area.”
Chicago YAP Advocates took turns providing YAPWORX lessons to the group of program participants. In addition to topics that included emotional wellbeing and resumes; other topics included entrepreneurship and how to dress properly for a job interview.
“Charles loved YAPWORX,” Jackson said. “He wanted to participate because it kept him busy.”
Before YAP and Jackson, Charles said he kept to himself but now he is able to be himself, is more independent and stays away from anything that might put him in the wrong predicament.
“Right now, he is in a good place with the courts, parole office, with school, and his family. He’s doing so good right now,” Jackson said, adding that Charles is getting better with being on time for school and engaging more with his teachers. “His grades are getting better. He still needs work in that area, but they are improving.”
Jackson said if she had to describe Jordan in one word it would be “honest.” As for Charles, he now doesn’t feel the need to be out and about as much as he would have been before YAP and he reaches out to his Advocate three or four times a week to update her on how he is doing in school, family life or if he needs anything in general.
“I love that lady,” Charles said of Jackson. “She most definitely ‘be coming through.’ She makes sure I am straight.”
Charles is expected to be discharged from the program in November.
“I really believe in giving kids a second chance. I have seen growth and change in families,” Jackson said. “I am proud to be [Charles’] Advocate, slash [second] momma.”
For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.
