This summer, over 100 Chicago teens were left without their final paychecks after the state of Illinois pulled funding from a youth job program.
The state inexplicably withheld a portion of $253,000 owed to the Cook County Southland Juvenile Justice Council, the organization responsible for paying the Chicago teens. As a result, about $100,000 in wages remains unpaid to the working children.
Despite the importance of mentorship programs for youth, the council has since been forced to turn away teens eager to work and learn, regrettably cutting off access to one of the few safe and structured opportunities available to them.
State-funded summer initiatives are crucial for youth in at-risk neighborhoods because they provide structured guidance, job training, and professional opportunities. Like many other state programs, nonprofit organizations like the CCSJJC provided the Chicago teens with a pathway to adult success.
A 2014 study found that an eight-week summer job program for Chicago teens reduced violence by 43% over 16 months. The findings suggest that preventing delinquency through early intervention, like state-funded jobs, is more effective than trying to correct behavior after minor crimes have already occurred.
Many children and teens leave these programs with scholarships, job opportunities, and valuable knowledge they might not otherwise have access to without state support.
The state of Illinois has since only paid $17,000 to the CCSJJC, far short of what’s needed to cover the wages owed to the working teens. Hopefully, the state will pay the juveniles what they are owed for their work in the city of Chicago, and keep these programs running for future teens who need the same options.
