One Hope United (OHU) is partnering with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to expand its successful Hope House program in Illinois and strengthen the evidence base for national replication. This collaboration will focus on a rigorous, data-driven evaluation of the Hope House model to support future growth and demonstrate its impact on youth in foster care. Launched in Florida in 2020, the Hope House program has already provided opportunities for many youth ages 13 to 17 involved with the child welfare system. Designed as a therapeutic family home alternative to institutional group care, the program provides teens with stable, nurturing environments that foster well-being, educational success and independent living skills.  This expansion will broaden opportunities for more than 15,000 youth in the Illinois child welfare system by providing stable housing, educational continuity and trauma-informed care. The outcomes of the Hope House model have been striking, reflecting the stability and continuity the program provides. On average, a teen entering a Hope House has experienced 19 placement changes. Hope Houses offer a different path:

• Youth are five times less likely to run away than peers in traditional foster placements.

• Youth remain in a placement an average of 307 days, providing sustained support during critical developmental years.

• Youth are six times less likely to be hospitalized under the Baker Act, a Florida law governing involuntary mental health evaluations.

Learn more about One Hope United at www.onehopeunited.org