Founded in 1911 by pioneering Hull House social reformers, including Nobel Laureate Jane Addams, SGA Youth & Family Services is the leading provider of mental health and prevention services for at-risk youths and families in Chicago.
SGA’s programs address the emotional, behavioral, and environmental issues that negatively impact students' growth, development, and academic performance. Services include counseling, case management, mentoring, after school programming, teen parenting education, relationship coaching for couples and substance abuse education. SGA is a proven leader in building community partnerships and spearheading collaborations that result in enhanced services for underserved youths.
As an agency that is immersed in the communities we serve and historically rooted in the neighborhoods and people of Chicago, SGA is an active player in the development, education, and organization of underserved communities.
By offering free onsite community and home based programs in 34 communities, our highly skilled social workers and clinicians bring services to students who would not otherwise have access to quality mental health care.
In fiscal year 2009, SGA Youth & Family Services impacted the lives of over 10,000 children, youth and adults in Chicago through its school-based, juvenile justice, family life skills, teen parenting and substance abuse prevention and intervention services.
The agency’s clients live in crime ridden, under resourced communities and are vulnerable to problems such as underachieving in school or dropping out all together, becoming involved in gangs, abusing substances, teen pregnancy and violence. Through counseling, psychotherapy, case management, skill building, and other proven and established techniques, SGA helps young people make positive and lasting changes in their lives. Because of the economic challenges faced by our clients’ families, all SGA services are provided at no cost to our clients.
SGA Annual Report 2009 (pdf format).
SGA LIFE Newsletter (pdf format).
View our Map of Services
View our video slideshow
The young people we serve are more likely to stay in school and graduate, avoid criminal activity and drugs and be better parents with healthy children. Our work equips youth with the personal assets they need to succeed.
SGA participates actively in over 50 neighborhood coalitions, task forces, and panels—resulting in coordinated programming in communities.
