Youth Programs, Chicago Ridge, Illinois (IL)

Youth Programs

Youth Service Bureau
10455 Ridgeland Ave.
Phone number (708) 636-0888

History
The Chicago Ridge Youth Service Bureau…a brief history In 1975, a Youth Commission was appointed by the newly elected Village President Eugene L. Siegel and the Village Board of Trustees to study the needs of Chicago Ridge young people and families. With technical support from staff of the Cook County Youth Services Department and after a year of interviews with residents and other forms of data collection, the Youth Commission members proposed establishing a permanent Youth Service Bureau to serve as a counseling, training, and information resource to help meet the needs of our young people, parents, and families. The establishment of such a resource was seen as a positive investment in the welfare and health of our village young people and the Youth Commission plans were approved and given support by Village President Siegel and the Board of Trustees.

In early 1976, the first Youth Commission/Youth Service Bureau offices were established in a storefront located at 10619 S. Ridgeland Avenue. Start-up funds were secured, initial program plans were made, and the hiring criteria for YSB staff were established. After a lengthy search process which included extensive screening and interviewing of thirty-one candidates for the post of YSB Director, the Youth Commission members unanimously recommended the hiring of Hank Zwirkoski. Their recommendations were approved by the Village Board and Hank became the Executive Director of the YSB in November of 1976.

Within the first year of operation, the Chicago Ridge Youth Service Bureau began to be recognized as a model youth program. Financial support continued from the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission and the Illinois Youth Service Bureau Association selected the CRYSB to be one of two sites in Illinois for an information systems pilot project. In the early years, opportunities to expand YSB services came through the federal Comprehensive Employment Training Act funding. A major community research project was conducted by a team of ten St. Xavier University graduate students and this effort led to the securing of additional prevention monies for development of the Learning Web and Community Outreach programs. Fifteen various grants totaling over $300,000 have been secured for developing the YSB programs and services since 1976.

After thirteen years at the storefront location, the Youth Service Bureau took expanded space on the second floor of the old Ridge School in 1989 and operated there for over eight years. In order to make way for construction of the new municipal complex, the school had to be vacated by the YSB and other village departments in late 1997. The Youth Service Bureau next delivered program services from the small yellow house adjoining the old school site, keeping its 6337 W. Washington address. Within two years, the YSB moved again to offices at 10255 S. Ridgeland Avenue. Upon completion of the new Siegel Municipal Complex, the Youth Service Bureau moved into its current offices on March 17th, 2000. We are now easily accessible at our new 10432 Oxford address located within the lower level of the complex.

During the past twenty-five years, from a handful of different locations, many hundreds of young people, parents, and families have been given support and assistance through the Youth Service Bureau programs. Program services like counseling, training, and resource information have been provided in a safe, confidential environment by competent and caring staff. Today we continue to respond to the needs of young people, parents and families with personal care that can assist in resolving conflicts, opening better communication patterns, and targeting additional helpful resources.

Director
Hank Zwirkoski has been involved in the helping profession since the early 1970’s when he was on staff at a community crisis intervention service. Since that time, Hank has held supervisory and training positions with the Illinois Department of Corrections Juvenile Division, Aunt Martha’s Youth Services, and the West Suburban YMCA Community Extension Program. In the Fall of 1976, Hank was selected from a large field of candidates by the Chicago Ridge Youth Commission to become the first Executive Director of the newly formed Youth Service Bureau. With the full support of Mayor Eugene Siegel and the rest of the Village Board, Hank began to develop the YSB Counseling, Learning Web, and Community Outreach Programs to meet the needs of local young people, parents, and families.

Hank is licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation as a Clinical Professional Counselor and is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Both of these agencies have continuing education requirements to assure pursuit of high professional standards. In addition to completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology and his graduate degree in Counseling, Hank has completed graduate degrees in Public Service, Advanced Studies, and Communications & Training. He is well respected as a counselor, trainer, and public speaker… especially in the area of youth and family issues. His capacities to provide helpful counseling services, training, and resource information to young people, parents, and families are well known and highly respected.

Beyond his extensive work experience and educational background, Hank exhibits genuine compassion and care for those who contact the YSB for support services. He and Connie have four children of their own and they struggle to keep vitality and function in their marriage and family life. "I’ve probably developed some of my greatest capacities as a counselor in the course of facing the various challenges Connie and I have had resolving our own conflicts and raising our own children. There was a great deal of disruption and chaos in my own family when I was growing up and I know what it is like to be wounded. Surviving those experiences…struggling with my own maturity… and now pursuing the ideals of marriage and family life with Connie and our children has given me a real passion for the work I do. I really enjoy being useful to the young people, parents and families I meet daily as a consultant, counselor, and friend. This community has been a great place for me to invest my energy, time, and talents. I love the people here and I’ve made many, many friends along the way."

Village of Chicago Ridge
10455 S. Ridgeland Avenue
Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415
(708) 425-7700

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