Achievements

Engaged over 10,000 Cicero youth, residents, and service providers in identification of critical safety issues and recommendations to address those concerns.
Published the Community Safety and Gangs in Cicero Report to broaden public awareness and mobilization regarding new safety initiatives.
In cooperation with Cicero School District #99, created the Parent Volunteer Safety Patrol to enhance safe passage of students to and from school.
Surveyed over 4,000 children, youth and residents regarding school and community safety issues.
Increased coordination and communication among service providers, police, and schools to reduce community crime and violence.
Successfully organized and advocated to keep the Morton High School Health Center open despite massive budget cuts.
Engaged over 2,500 Cicero students in the Illinois Youth Survey to assess local adolescent health in relation to risk-related behaviors.
Increased community health awareness through publication of the CYTF Comprehensive Health Resource Guide to Services in Cicero.
Undertook a comprehensive community health assessment, The Cicero Community Health Initiative Adolescent Health Report 2009, citing the top 5 most pervasive health concerns of Cicero, youth, parents, providers and educators participated in the assessment.
Developed the Heath Ambassador Program, an innovative approach for peer-to-peer health education fr adolescents and adults. To date, over 40 Cicero youth ad parents have participated in the program.
In cooperation with the Town of Cicero, expanded public health awareness through monthly “Health Happenings” page in the Cicero Town News Circulation: 20,000).
Hosted a Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking, sponsored by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to over 50 community members.
Hosted a Town Hall Meeting on Mental Health and Mental Illness, sponsored by the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority (IVPA) to over 50 community members.
Facilitated planning and coordination among youth service organizations resulting in twice the number of after-school programs and engagement of over 5,000 more Cicero children and youth than in 2005.
Added more than $5,000,000 in new resources dedicated to the creation of after school programs in the community.
Coordinated 10 professional development training workshops for local youth service providers to improve program effectiveness.
Surveyed over 2,500 Cicero youth to assess their participation levels in out-of-school activities and to solicit their suggestions for new programs.
Created and distributed the bi-lingual Youth Opportunities Directory for Cicero youth and parents.
800 additional Cicero children now receive pre-kindergarten early childhood education in Cicero.
Annual coordination of “week of the Young Child” event to increase public awareness of early childhood issues and available services.
Created and distributed an Early Childhood Service Directory.
Increased child developmental screening events to reduce long waiting lists.
Coordinated Parent Cafes and Parent University with Cicero School District #99.
Coordinated parent training and engagement in the Parent Patrol project.
Conduced a community survey to asses parent engagement levels and satisfaction regarding relations with children.
Hosted two events to engage Cicero parents with their children (Family Game Night and Parent-teen Movie Night).