We offer a variety of ways for youth to gain support, including a phased approach through our Wellness Program.

Outreach & Engagement

All our youth come to us from homelessness or incarceration (relating to their homelessness). We canvas areas where homeless youth congregate, and also receive regular referrals from governmental agencies and non-profit case workers who work with the homeless. Team members spend several hours a week meeting with youth on the streets and in the jails, building trusting relationships, describing our services, and offering to help youth turn their lives around. Our jail visits are most often the only outside visitors youth receive while incarcerated, and the only offer of support.

All aspects of the participant’s engagement in the Wellness Program, including the treatment plan, coordination with our collaborative partners, progress, and steps necessary to reach the goals of stability and self-sufficiency, are managed by the participant’s YLR case manager. The case manager is there to navigate the participant’s journey with him or her. The case manager models a healthy relationship , and lifelong bonds are formed.

Case Management Support

Our participants grew up in institutionalized care. Warehousing children in this fashion perpetuates trauma. We educate the public on the challenges facing emancipated foster youth and the lack of services available to assist them. We advocate at the local level for the development of critical services currently missing in the public sector and the provision of these services in a way which meets the actual needs of youth. Our results-driven supportive services informs our advocacy to promote stability and self-sufficiency. Based on daily frontline experience, we monitor in real time the outcomes of our participants, and constantly seek to adapt and innovate, sharing lessons learned with our collaborators and policymakers. We believe youth should have a voice in their healing. Input from participants helps drive systems change based on their direct experience. We use our data and experience to influence: (1) the availability and flow of funding; and (2) the implementation of practices by service providers.

Education & Advocacy

We’re here to help.

Across all age groups of unsheltered adults, over a quarter report that their first homeless episode occurred when they were transitional age (Escape Routes Analysis of Homelessness published April 24, 2018 and underwritten by The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation). Nearly one-third of transitional age homeless youth report that they were in foster care. Given that many youth in institutional care are not successful in building a path to self-sufficient adulthood and are at risk of becoming second or third generation homeless, there is an important public interest in strengthening these youth, including addressing behavioral (mental) health needs (Ibid). Very few public or private resources exist to assist these youth with the transition to the adult world after years of living in the foster care world. One of the most significant factors contributing to these grim statistics is mental illness compounded by substance use and abuse.

Request Support

If you are in need of help at this time, please complete this form or give us a call at 714-526-9046.