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| Teen Emergency Shelter |
Reaching Those Who Need Help One Child, One Family At A Time
| They come to us every day, holding the hand of a social worker. Some are runaways escorted by the security of a policeman. Their eyes tell their stories. But once at the shelters, the children and teens know they're safe. From the abuse, neglect, abandonment, and parental rejection. Some have come before; some will come again. They stay until it's safe to go back home of out-of-home care can be found. Our shelters are a place for children to heal -- physically and emotionally. Children may remain in care for a few hours, or for several weeks, or for a few months. | The Teen Shelter is Funded in part by a Health and Human Services Basic Center Grant for Runaway and Homeless Youths. |
The Teen Emergency Shelter opened in 1992, specifically to meet the needs of homeless and runaway youth, deter school dropouts, and strengthen families. The Teen Emergency Shelter is an eight bed facility licensed to accept kids ages 10 to 17. The Teen Emergency Shelter is the only facility of its kind within a 100 mile radius. Admission to the shelter is voluntary, but often the result of a referral by a school, Juvenile Probation, Child Protective Services, the Police, or one of the 39 Safe Place sites in the area. The average length of stay is about two weeks.
An integral part of the Teen Shelter's program is the counseling provided to teens and their families. The purpose of the counseling is to defuse the crisis situation, identify the problems that led to the crisis, provide the family with coping skills, and encourage an environment in which the youth can mature into a reasonably content and responsible adult. Youths receive independent living and social skills training, with an emphasis on education.
The Teen Emergency Shelter provides an aftercare program at no cost to the family. Substance abuse education and prevention counseling is also provided.
The Teen Emergency Shelter is committed to providing youths a safe, supportive environment in which they can make constructive decisions about their future and their relationships with others.