Illinois DCFS Events for Youth and Emerging Adults
These Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) sponsored events are for Youth and Emerging Adults (ages 13-21). See full schedule below.
Upcoming Online Events for Youth and Emerging Adults
This is a voluntary family support event that Be Strong Families provides as an additional resource for Illinois-based Youth and Emerging Adults (ages 13-21) with IDCFS-involvement to choose to attend. Registrants MUST be based in Illinois in order to participate in this event. After completing a Café, participants will be sent a certificate of completion and e-gift card via email within 7-14 business days after the event takes place.
September 2026 Youth and Emerging Adult Cafés for Illinois Youth
Online Youth and Emerging Adult Cafés - Time is Money: Managing Your Day Like a Boss
If time were cash, how would you be spending it? Join Be Strong Families for two September Youth and Emerging Adult Cafés for conversations about making the most of your minutes by saving what matters, cutting the “waste,” and investing in what fuels your goals. We’ll explore what gets in the way, how to prioritize, and ways to use communication and knowledge to level up your time management.
September Event Dates:
Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Register for September 3: https://bestrongfamilies.co/Sept3YEACafe
Monday, September 14, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Register for September 14: https://bestrongfamilies.co/Sept14YEACafe
Why You Should Join:
Connect with others and share ideas
Certificate of Completion sent via email
Participants receive a $10.00 e-gift card
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION
This is a voluntary family support event that Be Strong Families provides as an additional resource for Illinois-based Youth and Emerging Adults (ages 13-21) with IDCFS-involvement to choose to attend. Registrants MUST be based in Illinois and have current involvement with IDCFS in order to participate in this event. Please register using your legal name and make sure all information is accurate. We must be able to confirm your current IDCFS involvement. If we cannot verify your information, you will not be eligible for an e-gift card.
In order to fully participate, participants must join the event from a device that has access to a working microphone and camera.
This event is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS). After completing a Café, participants will be sent a certificate of completion and e-gift card via email within 7-14 business days after the event takes place. If you have questions with regards to this event or receiving certificates of completion or e-gift cards, please contact training@bestrongfamilies.net.
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Welcome to our Youth and Emerging Adults Café Series—where each meet-up is like a cool adventure into specific themes that help you with important life skills. We're all about making these sessions interesting and useful, especially as you go from being an emerging adult to an adult.
What's in Store for You:
Awesome Experiences: Every Café session is made to be a fun, cool experience. We talk about stuff that's really important for when you're growing up and becoming an adult.
Big Themes: We chat about things like getting to know yourself better, dealing with tough situations, and building a strong community. Plus, we go deep into real-life skills that will help you be more independent.
Explore and Learn: Whether we're talking about how to communicate better, manage money, or handle your emotions, our Cafés are your special space to learn and grow.
Why Hang Out With Us:
Real-Life Tools: Forget boring stuff! We're all about giving you tools that really work in everyday life.
Cool Chats: Join in on awesome conversations that help you feel stronger and more confident, both on your own and with your friends.
Ready for the Next Step: Get all the info you need to rock your journey from being a youth and emerging adult to a super capable adult. We've got your back!
So, if you're up for a chill time filled with learning and good vibes, come hang out with us! These Cafés are all about getting you ready for the exciting journey ahead. See you there!
To register on Zoom, click the event name on the schedule above. Have questions? Want to host IDCFS-sponsored in-person or online direct services for parents with child-welfare-involvement? Contact Greishen Rodriguez or Andrew Hitchcock.
Available Events & Trainings for Youth and Emerging Adults
Below are descriptions of all available Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) events and trainings offered by Be Strong Families. These IDCFS-sponsored events are for Youth and Emerging Adults. To register, click the event’s name on the schedule above.
All IDCFS trainings are available in English and Spanish.
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Youth and Emerging Adult Cafés are Be Strong Families’ Café process for youth and young adults to empower, inform and energize their journey to adulthood. This Café process was developed with youth and young adults, for youth and young adults, and aligns with conversational patterns, YouthThrive™ Protective/Promotive Factor and expectations of teens and twenty-somethings.
Format: Online or In-person
Total Training Hours: 1 - 1.5 hours