Project Prepare
Youth Guidance's Project Prepare program prepares inner-city youth for high school graduation, post-secondary education, and for a future of self-sufficiency. The curriculum includes career awareness and job readiness training, job placement, retention and follow-up services, financial literacy education, and counseling/case management. Project Prepare students consistently have a lower drop-out rate and higher attendance rate as compared to their schools. Since 1999, on average, only 4.9% of Project Prepare students dropped out each year while the average dropout rate for all students at the same schools was 16.8%. During the 2011-12 school year, Project Prepare will serve 400 students in five Chicago Public Schools.

Parent & Family Engagement
Youth Guidance’s Parent & Family Egagement Services are designed to equip parent leaders with specific skills that enhance their ability to support their children's educational experience and improve school outcomes. Parents develop the capacity to support positive adult-student relationships and the creation of a safe, child-centered school climate. Ultimately, Parent & Family Engagement Services grow the capacity of schools in order to support on-going positive home-school connection, and be improved resources to the community.

Parent & Family Engagement Services provide professional development and on-site coaching to deepen the meaningful engagement of parents in school. Services are aligned with the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, and are based on over 20 years of Youth Guidance's parent engagement work in Chicago's Public Schools