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.
June 2026
Online Youth and Emerging Adult Café: Celebrating the Finish Line
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Register Here
Big or small, every goal reached deserves a moment to celebrate. At this Youth and Emerging Adult Café, participants will talk about times they pushed through challenges, learned something new, and made it to the finish line. The conversation will include a mix of group discussion and one-on-one sharing, giving everyone a chance to reflect on what success feels like and what helped along the way. Join us for a fun, encouraging space to recognize progress, learn from each other, and get motivated for the next goal ahead.
Why You Should Join:
Connect with others and share ideas
Certificate of Completion sent via email
Participants receive a $10.00 e-gift card
July 2026
Online Youth and Emerging Adult Café: Creating Connections
Thursday, July 9, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Register Here
Who and what truly makes you feel connected? Join us for an engaging, conversation-driven online Youth and Emerging Adult Café where we’ll explore the power of connections with family, peers, and community. We’ll use the YouthThrive™ Promotive and Protective Factors of Relationships to reflect on how relationships shape our journey, build self-confidence, and provide support through life’s challenges. This is your space to connect, share, and grow while developing essential life skills, strengthening relationships, and preparing for the future. Come ready to explore what connection means to you—and how to create more of it in your life!
Why You Should Join:
Connect with others and share ideas
Certificate of Completion sent via email
Participants receive a $10.00 e-gift card
Online Youth and Emerging Adult Café: Creating Connections
Monday, July 20, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Register Here
Who and what truly makes you feel connected? Join us for an engaging, conversation-driven online Youth and Emerging Adult Café where we’ll explore the power of connections with family, peers, and community. We’ll use the YouthThrive™ Promotive and Protective Factors of Relationships to reflect on how relationships shape our journey, build self-confidence, and provide support through life’s challenges. This is your space to connect, share, and grow while developing essential life skills, strengthening relationships, and preparing for the future. Come ready to explore what connection means to you—and how to create more of it in your life!
Why You Should Join:
Connect with others and share ideas
Certificate of Completion sent via email
Participants receive a $10.00 e-gift card
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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