Arrowhead Youth and Family Services announced it is closing the residential programming, effective April 23.Â
The closure is due to "insurmountable financial challenges", Chief Executive Officer Dr. Luis Moreno said in the announcement.
Arrowhead plans to continue providing its Day Reporting Center program, which serves as a resource center and reentry hub for youth.Â
"Despite tireless efforts to sustain our mission of guiding youth towards becoming productive and responsible individuals through quality counseling, education, and social services, the organization is compelled to cease the operation of its residential programming due to insurmountable financial challenges," Moreno said in the announcement.Â
Located in rural Coal Valley, Arrowhead Youth and Family Services is a private, nonprofit treatment facility for at-risk boys between the ages of 12-21. The facility's mission is to motivate the boys to become productive and responsible members of society.Â
Moreno said the decision to close the residential programming comes from several reasons, primarily stemming from the State of Illinois' implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act and that funding provided by the state is not sufficient to cover the costs associated with delivering services and programs. The Family First Prevention Services Act was signed into law in February 2018 and reformed the federal child welfare financing streams, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website states.Â
The demographics of providing services to at-risk youth also has changed, Moreno said.
"Originally designed to work with low to moderate-risk youth, the increasing severity of the youth placed Arrowhead as a result of restrictions...has stretched our resources beyond capacity," Moreno's announcement said.Â
Delays and inconsistencies in payment from state agencies for services rendered by Arrowhead also created "significant cash flow challenges", Moreno said, hindering Arrowhead's ability to operate effectively and sustainability.Â
Over the coming weeks, Moreno said the facility will work closely with stakeholders to restructure operations and remain committed to fulfilling all outstanding obligations to staff, partners and vendors to the best of their ability.Â
"Our dedicated staff members have worked tirelessly to empower young people and equip them with the skills and resources necessary to overcome obstacles and thrive," Moreno said. "We know the services we have provided have made a lifelong impact on our residents and the communities where they now reside."Â
Services will continue during the transition to support the youth and families who have been a part of Arrowhead's programs.Â
Dr. Luis Moreno shows off the old chapel during a tour of Arrowhead's grounds in December, 2023. The center announced on Tuesday it plans to close its residential program.