Evergreen Youth & Family Services Inc

EVERGREEN YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 2,500 CHILDREN, TEENS AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR.

EMERGENCY SHELTER: THE EVERGREEN YOUTH SHELTER PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH 9 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE HOMELESS/RUNAWAYS OR EXPERIENCING PERSONAL, SCHOOL OR FAMILY CRISIS. THE SHELTER IS OPEN 24 HOURS PER DAY, 7 DAYS PER WEEK, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. THE SHELTER SERVES YOUTH FROM 14 COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA INCLUDING THREE AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATIONS (LEECH LAKE, RED LAKE, AND WHITE EARTH). THE SHELTER IS A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED WHEN FACING TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS IN LIFE. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHO DO NOT REQUIRE A SHELTER STAY. THE SHELTER PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND PARENT EDUCATION AND COACHING.

EVERGREEN YOUTH SERVICES: EVERGREEN'S SECOND SITE, EVERGREEN YOUTH SERVICES, IS ANCHORED BY THE YOUTH DROP-IN CENTER, WHICH IS OPEN 46 HOURS PER WEEK. THE DROP-IN CENTER PROVIDES DAY SHELTER, MEALS, SNACKS, LAUNDRY AND SHOWER FACILITIES, COMPUTER ACCESS, A YOUTH EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, AND BABY SUPPLIES. THE STAFF AT THE DROP-IN CENTER PROVIDE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ADULT GUIDANCE AND REFERRALS TO MULTIPLE EVERGREEN PROGRAMS INCLUDING, YOUTH SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, DEED YOUTH AT WORK PROGRAMMING, ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, SAFE HARBOR AND CRIME VICTIM SERVICES AS WELL AS REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING & INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS: EVERGREEN HAS A CONTINUUM OF HOUSING OPTIONS INCLUDING A TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM WITH ON-SITE UNITS AND SCATTERED SITE HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, AND SAFE HARBOR HOUSING FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED OR TRAFFICKED. SERVICES INCLUDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT LIVING PLAN, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND SKILL BUILDING. SKILLS GROUPS TEACH SKILLS IN SELF-SUFFICIENCY, FINANCE, COMMUNICATION AND TRAIN YOUTH IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING AND RELATIONSHIPS. YOUTH RECEIVE HELP WITH EMPLOYMENT, PARENTING, ACCESSING MAINSTREAM RESOURCES AND CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION. YOUTH ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORT TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ISSUES, PREGNANCY AND STI/STD PREVENTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

THE ORGANIZATION IS A REGIONAL TRAINER ON YOUTH AND FAMILY ISSUES AND ANNUALLY HOST A CONFERENCE FOR YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE EQUIPS YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS WITH ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE YOUTH; GIVE BEST PRACTICES THAT CAN IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS; AND OFFER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.