Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable at-risk children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education and, ultimately, to succeed in school and in life.

Youth Guidance sees a bright and successful future for every at-risk, inner-city elementary and high school student in Chicago. Because we believe that success in school is not only possible, but should be achieved and celebrated, we are present in the schools to facilitate an environment that truly engages students in the learning process, and through careful guidance, enables them to realize their full potential and graduate with a meaningful plan for successfully managing life.

Youth Guidance has been serving Chicago children for more than 87 years. Founded in 1924 as The Church Mission of Help, the agency was originally formed to assist girls in need of shelter, clothing, medical care, financial help, legal assistance and educational/vocational opportunities.

In 1962, the Church of Mission Help merged with an agency serving boys in family court and became Youth Guidance Youth Services. In 1969, the agency entered into a partnership with Chicago Public Schools and established its first full-time offices within Chicago schools – laying the foundation for the comprehensive, innovative school-based initiatives that exist as part of Youth Guidance today.

Today, Youth Guidance creates and implements outcomes-driven, school-based programs and capacity-building initiatives to over 14,000 at-risk youth in some of Chicago's most underserved communities, in partnership with nearly 70 Chicago public schools. 90% of these students are low-income, 76% African American, 19% Hispanic/Latino, 4% Caucasian and 1% Other.