Michael Byrd
Superintendent of Programs at the Illinois Youth Center-Chicago for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
Chicago, IL
Michael Byrd is the Superintendent of Programs at the Illinois Youth Center-Chicago for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. In this capacity Mr. Byrd plans, directs, and supervises duties for program functions i.e., Education, Health Care, Clinical Services, Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse program, Case Management, Records Office and Volunteer Services.
In his career he was Executive Director of CASA of Cook County with over 25 years of experience with the issues that complicate the lives of the families involved in the Child Welfare System. He has worked as a Public Policy and Research Specialist with the Illinois African American Family Commission, a Senior TA Consultant with Be Strong Families leading their Fatherhood Initiative, the Cook South Regional Administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Chief Operating Officer for SOS Children's Villages and was Director of the successful Parent Education Program in the Cook County Juvenile Court, Child Protection Division, training parent mentors to assist parents involved in the Child Welfare system with "getting their children back". Michael Byrd served for over 2 years on the Supporting Providers Network Association Board (a home childcare provider group) and ended his tenure as the Supporting Providers Network Association Boards Parliamentarian.
Mr. Byrd started his career working in psychiatric and substance abuse treatment settings. He has provided clinical counseling through both inpatient and outpatient individual and family therapies inclusive of dually diagnosed patients.
Mr. Byrd is a devoted husband to his wife Diana of 29 years and father of a 33 year old adopted daughter, 23 year old college graduate and 19 year old college freshman, grandfather of 9 year old twin girls, 8 and 6 year old adopted granddaughters and a 7 year old grandson, He is actively involved in the Faith Community of St. Sabina and has served on several ministries in the church including the Marriage Enrichment Ministry; Chair of the Spiritual Life Institute, the Brotherhood Men’s Ministry, co-team leader with his wife of the Cornerstone Family Ministry, and was co-team leader of the Lectors and Commentators ministry which he has belonged to for 23 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Human Service Administration.
“Family to me means a loving connection that transcends biology though biological connections are important to me. As an adopted person, I also appreciate the fictive connections that get established through the soul and value we place on the lives of others who connect to ours and whose paths on their journey's intersect with our own.”