Rockford

LYDIA-Rockford has served the homeless teen population, students suspended from the public schools, and chronic truants. These experiences demonstrated the students' needs were not able to be met within the scope of the traditional school setting. To address those needs, LYDIA developed LYDIA Urban Academy-Rockford a non-traditional school for students who have dropped out, failed or been unsuccessful in the traditional learning environment.

In March of 2008, Safe Families for Children was expanded to Rockford after being successful in Chicago for more than four years. Safe Families for Children assists families during times of crisis thus preventing the need to be placed in foster care. 

For more details about LYDIA Academy-Rockford or Safe Families click link at left, or contact us:

LYDIA Home Association-Rockford
2323 South Sixth Street
Rockford, IL 61104
P: (815) 966-0039
F: (815) 965-3721

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SPECIAL THANKS: to the Kiwanis for their recent gift and In Youth We Trust grant for students' project "Art for the Heart."

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LYDIA Urban Academy Thanks the Rockford Community! Half of the cost of a student's education is covered through the parent-paid tuition and the student's Work Study.

Thanks to our Work Study business partners: Rockford Specialties, Komax Systems, Schlueter/Ecklund Attorneys, Swedish American Hospital, Heartland Community Church, LJ Fabricators, Area Erectors, United Way, Salvation Army, Noah's Ark, Brightside Adult Day Care, Rockford Day Nursery, Menard's, Little Caesars, Burpee Museum, Hope Reigns Ranch, and Rockford Rescue Mission. These businesses not only provide financial support through entry-level employment of LYDIA students but they also provide them much needed experience in the work force.

The remainder is financed by the community involvement: United Way of the Rock River Valley, Amcore Foundation, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, ClarCor Foundation, Olson Trust, Woodward Governor (15-computer lab), First Evangelical Free Church, Maywood Evangelical Free Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Total Faith Community Church and many private individuals through the Scholarship Program.