Universal Family Connection

What Universal Family Connection does

Universal Family Connection, Inc. (UFC) is a Chicago-based non-profit social services agency founded in 1976 by Dr. Lorraine R. Broyls and incorporated in Illinois in 1980. Operating from 1350 W 103rd St in Chicago, the organization delivers intervention, counseling, and case management services to families in crisis, at-risk pregnant and parenting individuals, victims of domestic violence, homeless youth, and underserved populations across the south and west regions of Chicago and surrounding suburbs — including Austin, Englewood, Roseland, Pullman, Beverly, Morgan Park, and six other community areas. UFC's served population is approximately 90% African American, 5% Latino, 3% Caucasian, and 2% other, with programs funded primarily through Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chicago Department of Family Support Services (DFSS), and the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA).

The organization operates a portfolio of 17 program lines spanning adoption resources, behavioral support services, crisis intervention (CCBYS), domestic violence victim and perpetrator services, education and parenting skills, the Emerging Adults Program, employment programs, family reunification and stabilization, HIV/AIDS services (Ryan White Title I), homeless youth services, intensive family preservation, prevention and counseling (including DASA addiction intervention, restorative justice, and partner abuse intervention), social emotional learning, violence prevention (street intervention, case management, victim advocacy, mentoring), and capacity building/training services for frontline violence intervention workers. Service delivery occurs in-person at the headquarters location and via remote client services that were retained after their COVID-19 introduction. The underlying technology is described functionally as a 'social services delivery platform'; no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, mobile applications, patents, trademarks, or research publications are disclosed.

UFC's revenue model is a multi-source non-profit mix: (1) government grants and contracts with Illinois state and Chicago city agencies, (2) individual and corporate donations, and (3) modest program fees such as the $60 non-refundable charge for an 8-week Parenting Skills Program. The organization holds Council on Accreditation (COA) accreditation (25 years continuous, re-accredited August 2023 through 2027), IDHS-approved Violence Prevention Provider status, and RPSA grantee certification. Go-to-market is community-led — referrals from government partners, walk-ins, the Mayor's Mentoring Initiative partnership (since Spring 2017), and volunteer channels — with no traditional product distribution. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by John L. Lewis and led by Founder/President/CEO Dr. Lorraine R. Broyls.

Name

Universal Family Connection

Legal name

Universal Family Connection, Inc.

Website

https://universalfamilyconnection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Universal Family Connection is a Chicago-based non-profit founded in 1976 that delivers counseling, case management, violence prevention, and family intervention services to individuals, youth, and families across south and west Chicago communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from the public to support organizational programs and services.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from government agencies including RPSA grants, and partnerships with Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Public Schools, and Department of Family Support Services.
3. Program Fees: Fees charged for specific programs such as the Parenting Skills Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Universal Family Connection (UFC) is a community-based non-profit social services agency that delivers family-focused intervention, counseling, case management, and prevention programs to at-risk individuals, youth, and families in Chicago's south and west regions. Its portfolio includes adoption resources, behavioral support, crisis intervention (CCBYS), domestic violence services, family reunification, HIV/AIDS services, parenting skills education, violence prevention, and capacity-building training for partner organizations.

Product overview

Universal Family Connection, Inc. (UFC) is a not-for-profit social services agency offering a comprehensive spectrum of programs designed to assess client needs, provide intervention services, and coordinate community services. The organization operates as a multi-module social service platform serving the south and west regions of Chicago. Its programs include adoption resources, behavioral support services, crisis intervention, domestic violence services, education and parenting skills programs, employment assistance, family reunification services, HIV/AIDS services, homeless youth services, intensive family preservation, prevention and counseling, social emotional learning, violence prevention, and capacity building/training services. The portfolio also includes remote client service delivery methods and volunteer programs, all coordinated through partnerships with city and state agencies including DCFS, DFSS, CDPH, and IDPH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adoption Resources Provides adoption-related support including information resources, birth parent rights and responsibilities, and adoption parent rights and responsibilities.
• Behavioral Support Services Provides specific intensive counseling services with the goal of problem solving for physical, mental, and emotional concerns.
• Crisis Intervention (CCBYS) Crisis intervention services for youth under the Children and Youth Bridging Services (CCBYS) program.
• Domestic Violence (Victim/Perpetrator Services) Services for domestic violence victims and perpetrators including prevention and survivor treatment.
• Education Services Education services for at-risk pregnant and/or parenting individuals who lack appropriate parenting skills, including men and women 15 or older.
• Parenting Skills Program 8-week sessions providing decision-making skills and parenting techniques, including child and teen development, nutrition, safety, discipline, and stress management.
• Emerging Adults Program Support services for emerging adults, part of UFC's new programming initiative.
• Employment Programs Programs designed to assist individuals with employment-related services and job training opportunities.
• Family Reunification & Stabilization Programs Programs designed to reunify and stabilize families facing issues threatening the family unit.
• HIV/AIDS Services HIV/AIDS related services including psycho-social support through Ryan White Title I program.
• Homeless Youth Services Services addressing the needs of homeless youth in the community.
• Intensive Family Preservation (Intact) Intensive services to preserve intact families and prevent out-of-home placement.
• Prevention & Counseling Prevention and counseling programs including child welfare, addiction intervention treatment (DASA), restorative justice, drug courts program, and partner abuse intervention program.
• Social Emotional Learning Services Services focused on social emotional development and learning.
• Violence Prevention Services Violence prevention services as an approved Violence Prevention Provider by IDHS, including street intervention, case management, victim advocacy, and mentoring.
• Capacity Building/Training Services Comprehensive training services including organizational development, human resources, grant management, program capacity building, and fiscal management. Certified by Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA).
• Remote Client Services Remote service delivery method implemented during COVID-19 for continued client support.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including senior aide program, severe weather shelter program, college internships, and community service opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% African American, 5% Latino, 3% Caucasian, 2% Other demographic composition of served population

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing public health services coordination. CDPH mission is to make Chicago a safer and healthier place by working with community partners to promote health, prevent disease, and ensure access to health care.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird largest school district in the United States. Partnership allows UFC to provide education-related services and reach students and families through schools.
• Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency receiving, investigating and acting upon reports of child abuse or neglect. UFC works with DCFS to provide child welfare services and prevent child abuse.
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency promoting health of Illinois residents through prevention and control of disease and injury. UFC is an approved Violence Prevention Provider by IDHS.
• Department of Family Support Services (DFSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago city agency dedicated to supporting coordinated services to enhance lives of Chicago residents, particularly those most in need. DFSS provides funding and coordination for community-based organizations.
• Council on Accreditation (COA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational accrediting body for human service organizations. UFC has maintained COA accreditation for 25 years, demonstrating organizational quality standards.
• Mayor's Mentoring Initiative ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFC has partnered with the Mayor's Mentoring Initiative Program to provide positive mentors for youth in Chicago starting Spring 2017.
• Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFC is a RPSA Grantee and certified Violence Prevention Organization. Works with five service providers to administer Violence Prevention Services. Includes training for Frontline Violence Intervention Workers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago-based nonprofit providing counseling, case management, family stabilization, and community-based social services across the metro area. Directly comparable in mission, service mix (counseling, family preservation, youth services), and reliance on government contracts.
• Chicago Urban League: Chicago affiliate focused on economic empowerment, family stability, youth development, and social services for African American and underserved communities. Comparable target population and government/foundation funding model.
• Cure Violence (formerly CeaseFire): Chicago-headquartered violence prevention organization using public-health approaches to interrupt violence. Highly comparable in violence-prevention service line and Chicago community focus.
• Erie Neighborhood House: Chicago nonprofit delivering family services, youth programming, education, and case management in underserved communities. Comparable service portfolio (family support, youth, education, social emotional learning) and similar funder mix.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and human services nonprofit offering housing, case management, violence prevention, and family stabilization. Overlapping program mix including violence intervention, family services, and reentry/crisis support.

Emerging players

• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Chicago food bank coordinating community-based services and capacity-building support to a network of partner agencies. Comparable community-services delivery model and grant-funded revenue structure, but narrower food-security focus.
• La Rabida Children's Hospital: Chicago pediatric specialty provider with adjacent family support, child welfare, and community health programs. Comparable child- and family-focused service population and Chicago footprint, though operates in clinical rather than social-service setting.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large multi-service Chicago nonprofit delivering counseling, adoption, family services, domestic violence, and emergency assistance. Operates overlapping service categories at significantly larger scale across the city.
• Salvation Army Metropolitan Chicago: National nonprofit with major Chicago presence providing family services, housing, addiction services, and emergency aid. Comparable family-crisis and community-services portfolio with much broader geographic footprint.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Major Chicago community-services organization providing youth programming, family services, social-emotional learning, and community outreach. Overlapping youth/family programming with broader recreational mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universal-family-connection-inc-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universal Family Connection