JCYS TEAMcorps: Teach Experience Achieve Motivate

Background
JCYS is Jewish Council for Youth Services, an organization that boasts a 100+ year history and tradition of service to families and communities in the greater Chicagoland area. TEAMcorps is a grant-funded program that currently serves Chicago Public High Schools through a life skills program for students and staff. The program has been in existence for more than 12 years and has served nearly 10,000 students.

What We Do
JCYS TEAMcorps programming directly correlates with ISBE state standards in English Language Arts, Health and Physical Development, and Social and Emotional Learning. We offer two programs which complement each other.  The first, Life Skills Workshop (LSW), is a sixteen-day program which helps students build skills for a successful high school career and beyond. In cooperation with classroom teachers, trained facilitators implement experiential challenge initiatives that build key social and life skills, including effective communication, leadership development, self-confidence, perseverance and goal-setting during a 10-week program.  Program success is measured through surveys which record the students’ positive change in attitude toward school-related issues. The second phase of the program, Life Skills Inventory (LSI), helps students identify their own marketable life skills based on service learning, awards, academic achievements and  professional experience.  LSI culminates with students completing their own resume and cover letter for future employment possibilities.  Finally, TEAMcorps facilitates the professional development of participating teachers through school-wide workshops led by experts in a variety of fields as requested by individual participating schools.

Partner Schools
Currently TEAMcorps is working with Hyde Park Academy, Mather High School, Sullivan High School, Taft High School and Ogden International High School.

Get Involved!
If you are a teacher or coordinator who would like to be part of this program, a business owner in one of these local communities who would be interested in hiring qualified students, or if you would like to hear more about funding opportunities, please call Elysabeth Ashe, Youth Programs Director, at 773-281-2533 or email teamstory@sbcglobal.net.