Crime & Law

Shelter Offering Alternative to Youth Detention Center in Cook County to Close

Heartland Human Care Services will close its pre-trial residential shelter for justice-impacted youth, the Manuel Saura Center, on Nov. 30, a spokesperson for the organization confirmed.

The center is “unique in providing residential care” as an alternative to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center run by the Cook County Judge’s Office. It offers pre-trial residential care and case management for children between the ages of 10-17. 

The nonprofit decided to conclude the program after conducting a “review of its long-term stability,” according to a statement from spokesperson Amanda Solon.

“Our priority is to work with the County to ensure a thoughtful transition for youth currently receiving services and to support the team members who have dedicated themselves to this work,” the statement continued.

The Office of the Chief Judge is taking “immediate steps” to identify an alternative provider to continue services, Chief Judge Charles Beach wrote in a Tuesday memorandum to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

“Our priority is to maintain continuity of care for the youth served by the program and minimize any disruption in services during the transition,” Beach wrote.

This is Heartland’s fifth shelter to close this year — the other four being shelters for unaccompanied youth who crossed the U.S. border, as previously reported by WTTW News. Those cuts were due to the U.S. Office for Refugee Resettlement not renewing their contracts with Heartland. A total of 408 employees were laid off after those shelter closures.

It’s unclear how many employees will be impacted by the closure of the Manuel Saura Center. As of Tuesday afternoon, the layoffs, including the number of impacted and the first layoff date, have not been posted to a layoff database maintained by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. 

As of Tuesday, three people were residing at the center, according to Beach.

What happens to those youth is a top concern to workers, said Rachel Thomas, president of Local National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2320, who represents workers at the center.

Thomas is hoping the union can work with the organization to avoid the shutdown. One path is through hiring more security guards and creating more safety measures for staff and youth – “we think that this could be a program that could be viable for years to come,” Thomas said.

Contact Blair Paddock: @blairpaddock.bsky.social‬ | [email protected] 

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