Youth In Need

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 2024, 1,640 youth and family members were served. Over 80% of children and youth improved their school engagement and performance.

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 2024, 462 youth and family members were served by the foster care program.

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 2024, 78 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.

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 2024, the community youth development program and project safe place served 7,179 youth.

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 2024, the emergency shelter program served 198 youth and family members.