New Kane County Network Connects Services For At-Risk-Youth
The Kane County Circle of Care is a concept creating a coordinated service network designed to connect at-risk youth and families with support services and reduce the number of children entering foster care.
Led by CASA Kane County, the service will focus on prevention through early intervention, helping families navigate challenges related to housing, food access, mental health, childcare, and youth development.
With foster care entries in Kane County doubling over the past six years, CASA leaders recognized the urgent need for a coordinated, proactive approach to support families before crises occur.
The service will aim to support all at-risk youth, with a focus on underserved youth ages 14 and older and young adults in their early 20s.
The Kane County Health Department is a core partner in the initiative, working alongside CASA Kane County and other agencies to improve access to behavioral health, early childhood services, overdose prevention, and family support programs.
While Circle of Care will focus specifically on youth, the Kane County Health Department has a similar referral service called IRIS. The IRIS community includes 243 partners representing multiple sectors, including behavioral health, primary care, dental, parenting resources, substance use services, basic needs (such as food, clothing, and emergency shelter), senior services, juvenile and adult probation, early childhood, K–12 education, youth support, veteran services, and more. Learn more at https://www.kanehealth.com/AOK/Pages/Initiatives-Pages/IRIS.aspx. Help finding social services locally is also available anytime by calling 2-1-1.
Circle of Care partners include the Kane County Health Department, CASA Kane County, Illinois DCFS, the Kane County Regional Office of Education, Waubonsee Community College, local law enforcement agencies, health providers, and community organizations.
More information is available at casakanecounty.org or by emailing info@kanecircleofcare.org.
