UCAN

UCAN www.ucanchicago.org Our Vision

Youth who have suffered trauma can become our future leaders.

Our Mission

UCAN strives to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. UCAN operates under the cornerstones of a consistent presence, meaningful programming and unrivaled diversity. Founded 145 years ago as a Civil War orphanage, we are one of Chicago’s oldest, yet most innovative, social service agencies. UCAN serves 10,000 at-risk children, youth a

nd families across Illinois through more than 30 programs that create a healing process for youth who have experienced trauma and provide a continuum of care, including the following services:

Therapeutic Youth Home
K-12 therapeutic day school
Clinical and counseling services
Transitional and independent living programs
Support for pregnant and parenting teens
Foster care placement
Workforce development
Youth leadership development
Violence intervention and prevention programming

September is Workforce Development Month!At UCAN, our Workforce Development program helps families achieve economic and ...
09/04/2026

September is Workforce Development Month!

At UCAN, our Workforce Development program helps families achieve economic and social self-sufficiency through empowering our clients with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become successful in the workplace. We are proud to be members of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Network and bring more opportunities to our community.

Whether you're looking for a job, need job training, or you're an employer looking to make a great hire, you too are a part of regional workforce development. Visit LevelUpAJC.org, the largest public workforce network in Illinois, to learn more about the resources available across Chicagoland.

Believe it or not, the holiday season is right around the corner!Stay tuned for an announcement about our annual Holiday...
09/01/2026

Believe it or not, the holiday season is right around the corner!

Stay tuned for an announcement about our annual Holiday Gift Drive coming this month 🌟🎁

Ready to get started early? Browse our Target Registry at https://hubs.ly/Q04w6VHN0

Thank you to Block Club Chicago for highlighting the critical Community Violence Intervention work being done in our cit...
08/28/2026

Thank you to Block Club Chicago for highlighting the critical Community Violence Intervention work being done in our city's West Side neighborhoods to interrupt and prevent violence.

Read the article, including a quote from UCAN's Vice President of Violence Intervention and Prevention Services, Edwin Galletti, here:

https://hubs.la/Q04vLG5W0

Photo as seen in article.

Join us for UCAN's second annual Civic Engagement Resource Fair!📅September 12, 2026🕒11:00 AM to 2:00 PM📍3640 W Fillmore ...
08/26/2026

Join us for UCAN's second annual Civic Engagement Resource Fair!

📅September 12, 2026
🕒11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
📍3640 W Fillmore St., Chicago, IL 60624

Come visit with government agencies and community partners to explore the city, county, state, and federal resources, tools, and programs available to you.

We can't wait to see you there!

The new school year is off to a great start!UCAN CEO Christa Hamilton and members of our senior leadership team were thr...
08/24/2026

The new school year is off to a great start!

UCAN CEO Christa Hamilton and members of our senior leadership team were thrilled to greet the students of Mason Elementary School alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Mayor's Office, and Chicago Public Schools leadership as energetic students started their first day of the school year.

Managed by UCAN staff, CPS' Safe Passage watchers at Mason also were front and center to monitor the students coming and going to school. We're looking forward to support the youth in our many programs -- and all youth -- this school year and beyond.

Thank you to the Chicago Tribune for their thoughtful piece highlighting UCAN's REACH 21 Program.We are also grateful to...
08/22/2026

Thank you to the Chicago Tribune for their thoughtful piece highlighting UCAN's REACH 21 Program.

We are also grateful to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and ICJIA's Executive Director, Delrice Adams, for their continued commitment to violence prevention.

Read the article here: https://hubs.la/Q04tXtRZ0

Photo by Chris Sweda of the Chicago Tribune

UCAN is pleased to debut a new blood pressure monitoring hub that in the lobby of our Nichols Center in North Lawndale! ...
08/20/2026

UCAN is pleased to debut a new blood pressure monitoring hub that in the lobby of our Nichols Center in North Lawndale! Generously donated by the American Heart Association - Illinois, the blood pressure monitoring system allows community residents, guests and our staff to monitor their blood pressure to help them make choices that support heart health.

UCAN CEO Christa Hamilton thanked our partners at the American Heart Association for their generosity and concern for community as she also welcomed our friends at Lawndale Christian Health Center. Together, we are all committed to making access to healthcare and empowering healthy decisions in our community. 💚

Three weeks into his presidency at National Louis University, Dr. Eddie Phillips made a deliberate choice: rather than s...
08/20/2026

Three weeks into his presidency at National Louis University, Dr. Eddie Phillips made a deliberate choice: rather than start behind a desk, he chose to start in the community. That approach brought him to UCAN's Nichols Center headquarters for a hearty conversation on his vision for NLU, priorities and challenges facing North Lawndale, and the university's decades-long ties to the community.

Hosted by UCAN CEO Christa Hamilton, the group of North Lawndale leaders discussed ways the hundreds of NLU students and graduates from the neighborhood are the foundation of new partnerships in education, workforce development and economic mobility. Alderwoman Monique L. Scott, Cook County Commissioner Michael Scott, Jr., and several CEOs and directors from local education, healthcare and community organizations contributed to what was the beginning of a strong, collaborative relationship between North Lawndale and one of Chicago's oldest universities.

Honored to join IMPACT Class 13—37 leaders committed to tangible outcomes for Chicago. Together we’re moving policy to p...
08/19/2026

Honored to join IMPACT Class 13—37 leaders committed to tangible outcomes for Chicago. Together we’re moving policy to pavement, strengthening local businesses, and expanding services that reach people.

...and a great time was had by all as UCAN joined with thousands of participants and onlookers as Congressman Danny K. D...
08/18/2026

...and a great time was had by all as UCAN joined with thousands of participants and onlookers as Congressman Danny K. Davis presented the Back To School 47th Annual Picnic & Parade throughout the city's West Side.

Co-chaired by Representative La Shawn K Ford, the parade survived a brief burst of rain at the start and traveled through neighborhood after neighborhood on our way to Columbus Park to join dozens of vendors and organizations under the sun. Along the way, UCAN staff greeted children of all ages with candy, smiles and waves ... and we didn't forget the adults who received stress balls to help them relax.

UCAN salutes Cong. Davis for his documented years of support of our programs and participants and it was a joy to contribute 150 plus backpacks to support youth as they prepare to return to school.

Address

3605 W. Fillmore
Chicago, IL
60624

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17735880180

Website

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