Supportive Services

Career Development

Our education and vocation teachers help our kids find and maintain employment, as well as pursue their educational goals.

Medical Services

With many years of neglect and abuse behind them, our youth come to us with many physical and mental ailments. We provide premiere comprehensive medical care free of charge to every young person we serve. With a full-time Pediatric Nurse Practitioner on staff, we are able to give them the care they need. In addition, we have close working relationships with area hospitals when specialty care is needed. We work together with our community to provide each young person with a comprehensive physical, treat their chronic illnesses and offer preventative education and care.

Addictions

Many young people come to us with addictions to alcohol or drugs. Our Substance Abuse Coordinator helps youth overcome their addictions on an outpatient basis on site. We also work closely with several inpatient rehabilitation programs so if any one of our youth needs additional help, we can help them by referring them to the appropriate programs. Our addictions specialists offer counseling to our kids who are struggling with addictions or are in recovery and teach preventative didactic classes.

World of Work

In order to help a young person move ahead, it is important that they obtain employment. Our educational/vocational program, W.O.W., give them the tools they need to learn to obtain a job. They learn how to write a resume, where to look for work, and how to dress and prepare for an interview. Many of our youth go to become employees of large companies such as UPS, FedEx, and Gateway Security. In addition, we work closely with YouthBuild - a program that teaches trades such as construction to young men and women. Today, over 90% of our youth are employed.

Youth Advocacy Center

Our attorneys represent our young people in civil legal matters, including immigration, housing, public benefits, and are advocates for our youth in the criminal justice system. From obtaining Identification to becoming emancipated, our attorneys provide an array of much needed services to the kids. In addition, the Youth Advocacy Department is responsible for helping to create the Tuition Waiver Bill and the Homeless and Runaway Youth Act.

Pastoral Ministries

Our Pastoral Minister provides spiritual guidance to our young people. Although our roots are in the Catholic Church, we are non-denominational and we accept youth of all religious faiths. The Pastoral Minister organizes staff and youth retreats, runs meditation classes, and helps youth with anything they need, from clothing, to finding furniture for their new apartments and just being a friendly face to talk to.

Aftercare

We help our kids find and maintain more permanent living situations by connecting with them after they leave us. Many of the youth come back to us for guidance and we maintain contact as they adapt in their communities.

Legal

Our attorneys represent our young people in civil legal matters, including immigration, housing, public benefits, and are advocates for our youth in the criminal justice system.

Mental Health

About 90 percent of our kids have a mental health diagnosis, ranging from depression to schizophrenia. Our LCSWs access them, provde short-term counseling and connect them to ongoing services in the community.