Youth in Need

Head start - a comprehensive child and family development program for income-eligible families with children from birth to age five as well as expectant parents in various counties. During 2022, the head start program served 3,193 children and family members. Over 90% of children met or exceeded developmental goals (physical, cognitive, social and emotional) necessary to be ready for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Foster care - the organization provides foster care and adoption case management services to children in alternative care and their families. This program intensively works with children and families to address issues that led to out-of-home placement, and to secure stable and safe, permanent living situations for each child. During 2022, 311 Youth and family members were served by the foster care program.

Counseling services - services are offered in school, home/office settings for Youth ages 3-21 and their families. Priority is given to victims of violence/abuse, juvenile law offenders, Youth experiencing school failure, symptoms of severe emotional disturbance, and those experiencing severe chronic conflict and unable to secure professional counseling with insurance. Counseling consists of 1) problem assessments/crisis intervention consultations, 2) brief, solution- focused family therapy, 3) on-going individual/group therapy when brief therapy has not sufficiently resolved issues, and 4) planning/linking with other community services as indicated in the service plan. During 2022, 2,701 Youth and family members were served. Over 80% of children and Youth improved their school engagement and performance.

Transitional living program (tlp) - Youth in Need provides homeless Youth ages 16-21 an opportunity to learn independent-living skills and work to complete their education and become self-sufficient community members by participating in the transitional living program. Youth in Need provides these services to Youth living in our group home or supported apartments program. During 2022, 67 Youth participated in the transitional living program. Over 90% of participants increased their knowledge of essential life skills and were on track to independence and self-sufficiency.

Emergency shelter program - the shelter is an emergency residence for 12 Youth (ages 10-18) experiencing crisis; 24-hour support and information is provided through a hotline. During 2022, the emergency shelter program served 163 Youth and family members.

Community Youth development - this program encompasses efforts to identify Youth at risk of homelessness, violence, failing to complete high school and engaging in high risk behaviors, to link them to community resources, and to directly provide them education, support, and activities to promote positive development. The organization is also the regional provider of safe place services for eastern Missouri. Safe place brings businesses and volunteers together to provide help and safety to children and teens facing abuse, neglect or serious family problems and educates young people about what they can do and where they can go if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. During 2022, the community Youth development program and project safe place served 1,661 Youth.