About DHS - Youth Programs for Employment & Education

The Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) is through March 31, 2024.

Benefits for Youth Participants Include:

  • Full and part-time paid job placements 
  • Case management services include life skills, counseling, and work readiness training.
  • Educational enhancement opportunities.

This holistic approach will account for the youth’s physical, emotional, social, and mental health needs while helping them to secure and sustain employment and/or achieve higher education, ensuring a greater likelihood of success and self-sufficiency. The purpose of this effort is to foster healthy, safe, well-educated, and self-sufficient transition-age youth in Illinois. 

Eligibility/Requirements:

  • Youth must be between the ages of 16-24.
  • Both in-school youth and out-of-school youth can participate.  As part of this program, out-of-school that have not earned their GED (or High School Equivalency) will be required to re-engage in earning their Diploma or GED.
  • Youth must have at least one risk factor that may make it hard for them to get or keep a job.
  • Youth must be an Illinois resident.
  • Youth will be required to complete an I9 Form.
  • Review IDHS program details here.




Apply Today!

If you are interested in participating in any DHS Youth program, speak with one of the agencies listed below. Agency staff will invite you into the application process. 

Providers Offering IYIP:

This program is offered by the following community-based organizations.

IYIP Providers
Other Programs:
AIYIP - for youth aged 16 -24
  • Calumet City
  • Central States SER
  • Chicago Area Project
  • Community Assistance Programs
  • EDDR - Cook & Winnebago
  • Gary Comer Youth Center
  • Goodwill - Cook, Lake & Winnebago
  • Phalanx
  • SGA Youth & Familty Services
  • SEED
  • TAKE
  • Youth Outreach Services
HYES - Homeless Youth Employment Services - for youth aged 14 -23
  • New Moms
  • The Harbour
  • Youth Service Bureau
  • La Casa Norte
  • The Nights Shield
RPSA - Reimagine Public Safety Act - for youth aged 13 -24
  • Aurora Area African American Men of Unity
  • Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
  • Boys & Girls Club of Elgin
  • Breaking Barriers International
  • Chicago Augstin Youth Travel Adventures
  • Covenant House Illinois Inc.
  • Emmaunel Temple Family Life Center
  • Girls Light Our Way
  • Kay Ray's Work of Services and Communty Partners 
    • Burnside
    • GGC
  • KCC Academy of Chicago
    • Chatham
    • Roseland
    • West Pullman
  • Leaders In Transormation Education
  • Major Adams Community Committee
    • Auburn Gresham
    • East Garfield Park
  • Project Success of Vermilion County
  • Proviso-Leydon Council for Community Action, Inc.
  • Saving our Sons Ministries, Inc.
  • Tri-County Urban League
  • UCAN
    • North Lawndale
    • Roseland
  • West Side Health Authority
  • Your Passion 1st
  • Youth Conservation Corps
  • Youth Crossroads
  • YWCA of Quad Cities