Northwest Youth Service

COLLABORATING WITH AT-RISK, RUNAWAY, AND HOMELESS YOUTH TO FOSTER SELF-RELIANCE.

HOUSING PROGRAMS - THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HOMELESS YOUTH (AGES 18-25) INCLUDING PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH IN WHATCOM AND SKAGIT COUNTIES. SERVICE PLANS ARE DEVELOPED WITH EACH PARTICIPANT DEPENDING ON INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND NEEDS. FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, ACCESS TO COUNSELING, PARENTING SUPPORT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND RENTER EDUCATION. PROGRAM GOALS ARE AIMED TOWARD PARTICIPANT INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE.

THE POSITIVE ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT (PAD) PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDING HOUSING FOR MINORS (AGES 13-17). IN THIS PROGRAM, CLIENTS WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER TO CREATE A PLAN FOR OBTAINING STABLE HOUSING. THE PAD PROGRAM PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD, FUN ACTIVITIES, AND SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SERVICES.

THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDES INTEGRATED CLINICAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS INVOLVED IN OTHER NWYS PROGRAMS. IT PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, EVALUATION, SCREEN AND ASSESSMENT, AND TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS IN EXPLORING AND IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND INTEREST, BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND DEVELOPING THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. CURRENTLY, THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS: SUPPORTING EMPLOYMENT READINESS, INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT, WE GROW, AND SUMMER JOBS/YOUTH JOBS. TEEN COURT IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WHATCOM COUNTY SUPERIOR COURTS AND IS DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH SECOND-TIME YOUTH OFFENDERS. TEEN COURT IS BASED UPON A PHILOSOPHY OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN WHICH (1) THE OFFENDER IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE, (2) THE VICTIM IS MADE WHOLE, AND (3) THE OFFENDER IS RESTORED TO THE COMMUNITY. THE GROUND FLOOR PROGRAM IS A DAY CENTER PROVIDING BASIC NEED SERVICES TO YOUTH AGES 13 TO 24. THIS LOW-BARRIER SPACE ACTS AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR THE REST OF NORTHWEST YOUTH SERVICES' PROGRAMS AND PARTNER AGENCIES, AND PROVIDES AN INDOOR COMMUNITY AREA, LAUNDRY UNITS, FOOD AND KITCHEN SPACE, PRIVATE BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS, QUIET ROOMS, AND A 'FREE STORE' CONTAINING CLOTHING AND OTHER SURVIVAL SUPPLIES.THE QUEER YOUTH PROJECT SUPPORTS VULNERABLE LGBTQ YOUTH BY PROVIDING SENSITIVITY TRAININGS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS; REFERRING YOUTH ONLY TO LGTBQ-FRIENDLY OR "SAFE" PROVIDERS; BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LGTBQ YOUTH LIVING ON THE STREET; WORKING TOGETHER WITH FAMILIES THROUGH COUNSELING TO RETURN LGBTQ YOUTH TO SAFE HOMES; AND PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR QUEER YOUTH TO JUST BE THEMSELVES. THESE SERVICES FOSTER HEALTHY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, AS WELL AS HAPPY AND SAFE FUTURES FOR YOUTH.