Policy & Systems Change
Our Process
SCY’s Policy Agenda is developed through a collaborative process that began in November 2012. The coalition identifies policies and, every two years, SCY revises these items through consensus-building. These ideas are then reviewed, refined and drafted into a document for comment.
Our Focus
SCY focuses on five interrelated key priorities to equip communities and build families’ capacity and skills to raise safe, resilient, emotionally healthy youth. The 2025-2026 policy agenda is supported by principles that were prioritized by our partners and is reflective of goals that can be achieved within SCY’s purview.
View SCY's 2025-2026 Policy Agenda
Our Key Priorities
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What can policymakers do? |
What can individuals do? |
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Sustained investment in children and youth |
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Commitment to funding programs and implementing laws that are family-centered and will enable our young people to reach their full potential. Include young people in the decision-making process for policies related to their healthy growth and development. |
Parents: Establish a regular time to check in with your kids. Parents: Strengthen paretning skills through community-based programs such as the Chicago Parent Program or Know Your Child Workshops. Everyone: Consider becoming a tutor/mentor. Learn more about local opportunities through organizations like the Tutor Mentor Institute. |
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Equitable access to high quality mental health services |
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Ensure that resources are dedicated to allow every Illinois resident to get the mental health care they need at the time needed, within their own communities. |
Look out for our family, friends, and neighbors and encourage them to get help when you see signs of trouble. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of mental illness or crisis and how to help by attending a Mental Health First Aid training for adults and/or youth. |
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Common sense approaches to gun violence prevention |
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Enact and enforce gun violence prevention policies that have been shown to make a difference, including antitrafficking laws and enforcement measures and evidence-based approaches to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have access. |
If you must keep a gun in your home, store it unloaded and locked up with a trigger lock or in a gun safe, with the ammunition locked up separately. Learn more about security firearm storage through the SCY Firearm Safety Toolkit and Be SMART. |
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Juvenile justice system that reflects what we know about adolescent development |
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Recognize that adolescents’ brains are not fully developed and adopt policies that view a child’s involvement with the justice system as an opportunity for intervention to prevent further delinquent behavior. |
Parents: Model good behavior and teach children how to resolve conflict appropriately. Everyone: Get involved in community organizing with Community Organizing and Family Issues. Everyone: Contact the Center for Conflict Resolution to help parents, youth and community members navigate personal conflicts and disputes. Everyone: Support policies led by the Juvenile Justice Initiative to promote equity and human rights for all children and young adults in conflict with the law. |
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Sustained investment in strong communities |
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Adopt community and economic development policies to rectify the fact that the toll of violence falls disproportionately on low-income, minority communities. |
Get involved in your community—Join or start a Block Club, attend CAPS meetings and learn about community policing efforts, volunteer at your local school or organizations that serve your community. |