History

Founded in 1977 as the Illinois Caucus on Teenage Pregnancy, our organization has accomplished much in the fields of adolescent welfare, workforce development, health, and parenting.

The 1960s introduced the birth control pill—and the potential for women to gain greater control over their reproductive lives. In 1967, Cook County Hospital began dispensing birth control, and within 10 years the hospital’s birth rate dropped by a third. In 1969, a new state law legalizing family planning services for unmarried adolescents of any age passed after an 11-year-old gave birth to twins.

In the 1970s, the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union worked tirelessly to set up grassroots health programs for women. When CWLU demobilized, activist Jenny Knauss continued organizing around health care system reform on behalf of Illinois young people, and in 1983 she became the first executive director of the Caucus. In 1991, we changed our name to the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health to reflect the organization’s broadening agenda.

For more than three decades, ICAH has organized and trained young people to advocate for issues that directly affect their lives and communities. ICAH has conducted statewide research, developed resources, changed public policy, and hosted frequent events and training sessions for youth and service providers, always with an emphasis on building youth leadership skills and serving marginalized populations, including low-income, immigrant, homeless, LGBTQ, and pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Today ICAH continues to work in partnership with youth, advocating policies and practices that promote a positive approach to adolescent sexual health and parenting.

1977
The Illinois Caucus on Teenage Pregnancy is founded following a conference on the increasing adolescent pregnancy rate nationwide.

1986
The Caucus creates its first Youth Advisory Board.

1993
ICAH passes legislation to establish a committee to report to the Illinois General Assembly on pregnant and parenting youth public aid policies.

1996
ICAH launches the Youth Need to Know Network, an Illinois coalition opposing federal abstinence-only-until-marriage policy.

2005
ICAH launches the Illinois Campaign for Responsible Sex Education.

2006
ICAH helps pass the Family Life and Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Policy in Chicago Public Schools.

2008
ICAH forms Illinois Youth Policy Council to advocate for responsible sexual health education statewide.

Read a detailed organizational timeline.