Valley Youth House Committee

EMPOWERS AND STRENGTHENS THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING THAT BUILDS RESILIENCE AND FOSTERS GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE.

ADOLESCENTS ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE/ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE CENTER AAI/AIC PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RESIDENTIAL PLANNING AND ATTAINMENT OF LIFE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 24. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES OUT-CLIENT SERVICES TO ASSIST YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM FOSTER CARE ON OR AFTER THEIR 14TH BIRTHDAY IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES TO TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE. PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED IN 8 PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES CARBON, DAUPHIN, DELAWARE, LEHIGH, MONTGOMERY, NORTHAMPTON, PHILADELPHIA, AND YORK.

EMERGENCY SERVICES VALLEY YOUTH HOUSE HAS TWO EMERGENCY YOUTH SHELTERS, FOUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM AND ONE DESIGNATED ACCESS POINT DROP IN CENTER. VYH'S TWO SHELTERS ARE LOCATED IN LEHIGH AND BUCKS COUNTIES AND PROVIDE 24 HOUR A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, WALK-IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, SHORT-TERM RESIDENCY, COUNSELING AND LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TO YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 20 AT THE LEHIGH VALLEY SHELTER AND AGES 8 TO 20 AT THE BUCKS COUNTY SHELTER. FOUR FEDERALLY-FUNDED STREET OUTREACH PROGRAMS SERVE THE CITIES OF ALLENTOWN AND PHILADELPHIA AND BUCKS AND DAUPHIN COUNTIES PROVIDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES (FOOD, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, CAMPING GEAR, ETC.), COUNSELING AND LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ENSURE YOUTH SAFETY. A TEAM OF OUTREACH WORKERS OPERATE FROM VEHICLES THAT ARE STOCKED WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLIES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, CAMPING GEAR AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS. YOUTH ARE SERVED IN AT LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE STREET YOUTH ARE KNOWN TO CONGREGATE, INCLUDING MALLS, PARKS, ALONG RIVERS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, AND IN ADULT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. IN PHILADELPHIA, VYH HAS A YOUTH DESIGNATED ACCESS POINT THAT ASSESSES AND/OR SUPPORTS HOMELESS YOUNG PEOPLE TO FIND HOUSING OR OTHER RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM HAS TWO COMPONENTS. FAMILY BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDES IN-HOME COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE AN EMOTIONALLY TROUBLED CHILD. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REHABILITATIVE SERVICES PROVIDES BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS, MOBILE THERAPISTS AND/OR THERAPEUTIC STAFF TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE HOME, SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE AN EMOTIONALLY TROUBLED CHILD'S BEHAVIOR. THE GOAL FOR BOTH PROGRAMS IS TO BUILD THE FAMILY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE THE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AND PREVENT THE NEED FOR PLACING THE CHILD IN A MORE RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.