Beginning as an orphanage, UCAN has become a multi-faceted social service agency providing a safe harbor to orphaned, neglected and abused youth, children, and families. Our vision is that youth who have suffered trauma can become our future leaders, and our pledge "to nurture the promise of Chicago's children" guides us in supporting over 12,000 children, youth, and families annually in a nurturing environment that can promote healing, provide education, and help to prevent violence. With fourteen sites in six counties (Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will), we have expanded our geographic reach while continuing to be a social service leader in treatment and therapeutic options through our clinical philosophy.

Building strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment.

Unique among social service agencies, UCAN offers a full continuum of services including but not limited to a residential treatment facility, a therapeutic day school, extensive community programs, support for pregnant or parenting teens, foster care/adoption placement, vocational training, and internships for promising former wards of the state. This array of services enables us to move clients from one program to another as their needs change, while sparing them the transitions and gaps caused by moves from one agency to another.