No. Turning kids in to their parents or police is not part of the program. One of the primary goals of the program is to help youth get somewhere safe, whether that is a shelter, home, a relative, or another option. This means working with them so they are no longer "on run," couch hopping or on the street. In order for this goal to be reached, it is essential that the youth trust the street outreach worker. If the youth do not trust the outreach worker and think of them as someone who is going to turn them in, then youth will not come to Safe Streets for help. And essentially, this would create a very useless outreach program.
In many instances someone comes to Safe Streets who is on run from home, and the worker will encourage them to call home and let their parents know they are safe, but that is entirely up to them. There have also been occasions where a youth doesn't want to talk with their parents but they do want their parents to know they are safe, so the youth worker has called a parent to relay a message and hopefully open the lines of communications.
If I am on run and I come see you, do you make me go to a shelter?
The outreach worker will encourage a youth to let them take the youth to the shelter, but if they don't want go, the outreach worker will not force them
Don't you think that if you are providing a youth that is on - run with food and clothes, you are enabling them to stay on run and not return home?
No. Youth who leave home do so for a variety of reasons. They are not on - run so they can hang out with their friends. Often there is conflict or things going on in the home that make it unsafe, such as physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, chemical use in the home, just to name a few. Providing youth with a winter jacket and a bowl of soup isn't enabling, but rather it is providing them with basic human necessities. In addition, it needs to be stressed that these things are given with the hope that they will lead to a trusting relationship between the youth and the outreach worker, one that moves towards the youth making positive decisions that will help transition them off the street.
What dangers are there to a youth who is on run, kicked out or couch hopping?
There are many factors that put youth at risk. Frequently they are in unsafe situations, perhaps sleeping in the woods or in abandoned buildings, or even at a house where they are pressured or forced to perform sexual favors in exchange for having a place to stay and food to eat. Often youth say they would never stay at a house where they don't know the people, but one can never predict what other people might be staying there or visiting that could be a danger to them. In addition, poor eating and/or sleeping outside increase the chances of youth becoming sick. Also complicating things is the fact that youth that are on run or kicked out don't always have access to necessary medical attention. It is because of these issues, that the outreach program wants to get youth somewhere safe.
I left home because I was being abused. If I let the outreach worker take me to the shelter, will they just make me go back home?
When a youth goes to the shelter and reports that they are being abused, the counselors at the shelter have to report it to social services. From there, someone may talk more to them and their parents (or whoever is abusing them). Depending on the severity of the abuse, how often it happens, and if there is still danger to a youth, social services, not the counselors at the shelter, decide if they should return home after they leave the shelter. However, in instances where a youth does return home, services are often in place to help the family so that the abuse stops. A youth shouldn't be afraid to ask for help because they are fearful of having to return home. Instead, if there is abuse, this is all the more reason to seek help. Abuse is not acceptable and it won't stop if no one knows about it.
"Are there locks on the doors?"
No. The Evergreen Shelter is not a correctional/lock up detention facility. We lock our exterior doors at night but our doors always open from the inside. However, the windows do have an alarm to let us know if they have been opened.
"Can I drop by to speak with a counselor without
having to stay there? Will my parents be notified?"
Anyone can stop by or
call at any time to speak with one of the counselors and your visit will be
confidential. If, however, you are unable to get home or you need a place
to stay overnight, we would have to notify your parents where you are and
that you are safe.
Sometimes youth disclose serious safety concerns about their lives at home.
Youth in abusive or neglectful situations can be legally protected for a limited
time while their situation is investigated. Occasionally, youth not in danger
ask to stay for a time out from a stressful situation or conflict. The youth's
guardian would need to give the shelter staff permission for the youth to
stay.
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