Cassandra Otoo, SCY’s Program Coordinator is responsible for the daily programmatic responsibilities related to the Juvenile Justice Collaborative (JJC). She coordinates all communications with Collaborative partners, including care coordinators, service providers and SCY team members. Cassandra is an experienced social worker who has served over 15 years providing direct services to students who have been expelled or pending adjudication from Chicago Public Schools. Cassandra has served in the capacity of District SAFE School Coordinator and Juvenile Justice Re-engagement Manager for CPS. In these roles, she has been instrumental in the development of reentry plans and partnering with community organizations in servicing the Juvenile Justice Population. Most recently, she has worked at the University of Illinois Chicago as the Assistant Regional Manager for the Division of Specialized Care for Children. She co-lead implementation of establishing best practices among Care Coordinators for medically fragile and technology dependent youth. Cassandra earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Social Work from Aurora University. She has been a catalyst of change in supporting youth who have been given a limited voice due to the economic and environmental disparities placed largely on African American communities. She applies the motto “to whom much is given much is required” to all aspects of her advocacy as she works to reduce violence among youth.
