Teen REACH

Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope) is a comprehensive youth development initiative funded by the State of Illinois, via the Department of Human Services, which provides afterschool program services to high-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 17. Teen REACH program providers work with youth in order to foster 21st Century skills needed in professional and personal environments. Programmatic activities surround topics of responsible decision-making, the ability to work in teams, managing emotions, creative expression and the arts, STEM, and more!

Important Information & Links

ACT Now Center for Afterschool Learning (ANCAL)

The ACT Now Center for Afterschool Learning is ACT Now’s new, online learning management system which is FREE and available to ALL of our members! Learners will be able to view live and recorded professional development trainings, access resources and tools that accompany our courses, access a discussion forum to connect with your colleagues and much more! To register and attend all ACT Now and Teen REACH trainings and events, please register for an account here: https://collabornation.net/register/actnowil. Once you have created an account, please visit the ‘Events’ tab to search and register for all upcoming trainings. 

Quality Standards Trainings (QST)

  • QST 101: January 11, 2023; March 1, 2023; May 17, 2023
  • QST 102: December 7, 2022 and April 20, 2023

Quarterly Meetings

  • All previous Quarterly Meetings can be viewed on ANCAL. 
  • Quarterly Meeting #3: TBD, this quarterly meeting will occur during the Illinois Afterschool Network’s (IAN) Spring conference which will occur from March, 29 2023 to March 31, 2023
  • Quarterly Meeting #4: May 24, 2023

Illinois Quality Program Self-Assessment (IL-QPSA)

Training Board Advisory (TAB) Members

  • Jessica Simmons, Lawrence County Health Department
  • Gabriela Zamora, Illinois Collaboration on Youth 
  • Curtis Peace, Illinois Afterschool Network 
  • Dr. Yolanda Beamon, Gary Comer Youth Center 
  • Mellisa Bogard, Boys & Girls Club of Chicago 
  • Marcola Owens, National Youth Advocate Program 
  • Kimberly David, Project Success of Vermillion County 

ACT Now’s General Resources for Providers

Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY) Resources

Illinois Afterschool Network (IAN)

Department of Human Services Resources

  • Please submit your quarterly Periodic Performance Reports (PPR) to Mike Sandidge, mike.sandidge@illinois.gov. 
  • The remaining FY23 PPR deadlines are as follows:
    • Q2: January 15, 2023
    • Q3: April 15, 2023
    • Q4: July 15, 2023