YOUTHLINK

DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS: FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THE YOUTHLINK DROP-IN CENTER HAS BEEN A LOW BARRIER, INCLUSIVE REFUGE AND COMMUNITY OF SAFETY FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-24 EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SURROUNDING DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY. MORE THAN 2,000 UNDUPLICATED YOUTH ARE SERVED ANNUALLY; DISPROPORTIONATELY 92% ARE BIPOC YOUTH (73% IDENTIFY AS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 6% AS NATIVE). YOUNG PEOPLE ENTER A NONJUDGMENTAL, YOUTH-CENTERED COMMUNITY WHERE HEALTHY, TRUSTING ADULT RELATIONSHIPS ARE CREATED IN AUTHENTIC, MEANINGFUL WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO TRANSITION TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND WELLBEING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS (CONTINUED FROM PART III): YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GUIDED TO CHART THEIR JOURNEY BY BELIEVING AND USING THEIR OWN POTENTIAL (NOT THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES) TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, SELF-RELIANCE, AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION. FOUR COMPONENTS FRAME THE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE DROP-IN: OUTREACH, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE, INTERVENTION SERVICES, AND AFTER CARE. GOALS ARE TO DECREASE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS, TEMPORARY SHELTER, AND HOUSING STABILIZATION; INCREASE ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS FOLLOWED BY INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION; PREVENT PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED YOUTH FROM BECOMING HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME; CONNECT YOUTH DURING OUTREACH INTERVENTION TO DROP-IN CRISIS (BASIC NEED SERVICES), INTERVENTION (RAPID REHOUSING, STABILITY, INTENSIVE WRAP-AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT), AND AFTERCARE (INTENTIONAL AFTER CASE SERVICES). AS A BARRIER-FREE REFUGE AND HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE SERVICE, OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IS STREET OUTREACH. YOUTHLINK USES A "PEER" MODEL OF STREET OUTREACH WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH ASSISTING TO ESTABLISH TRUST AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) ON THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS. AT DROP-IN, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE INCLUDES FOOD, SHOWERS, CLOTHES, WASHERS/DRYERS, HEALTH CARE, RESPITE SPACE, COMPUTER LAB, MAIL ACCESS, CELL PHONES AND CHARGING STATIONS, CHILD ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE, BUS PASSES AND TOKENS. INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDE CHEMICAL/ADDICTION INTERVENTIONS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, BENEFITS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HELP TO OBTAIN VITAL DOCUMENTS (ID'S, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD ACCESS, ETC), EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, RAPID REHOUSING, HOUSING VOUCHERS, HOUSING AND LANDLORD ADVOCACY, COURT ADVOCACY, AND ACCESS TO THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER NETWORK OF MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER SERVICE PARTNERS ALL LOCATED UNDER ONE ROOF. YOUTHLINK VOICES OF YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMPRISED OF LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH, PROVIDES CONTINUOUS INPUT TO LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAMMING, AND MENTORING TO OTHER YOUTH IN THE DROP-IN.EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION:YOUTHLINK OPERATES AS A NIMBLE, FLEXIBLE, PARTNERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION. WITH AN ONSITE CAREER AND EDUCATION PATHWAY CENTER, YOUTHLINK STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THIS CENTER BY HAVING ONSITE PARTNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT EXPERTISE, INCLUDING GOODWILL EASTER SEALS AND HIRED (CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCYS) ONSITE WORKING WITH YOUTH TO ASSESS WORK READINESS, DETERMINE CAREER INTERESTS, BUILD RESUMES, IDENTIFY INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS, AND FIND JOB PLACEMENTS FOR YOUTH. YOUTHLINK PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING FIRST JOBS. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTHLINK PROVIDES PREPARATION FOR GED, GUIDANCE TO STAY IN HIGH SCHOOL, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO ENTER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROCESS AS WELL.YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER:THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF MULTISERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOCATED ONSITE TO REDUCE ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS AND SERVE THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. YOUTH ACCESSING SERVICES AT THE DROP-IN HAVE ACCESS TO THESE PARTNERS AND YOUTHLINK STAFF WORK WITH THESE PARTNERS TO CREATE "SUPPORT SERVICE BUNDLES" AROUND YOUTH TO FURTHER ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS.DROP-IN / EXTENDED HOURS: PEER SUPPORT GROUP FROM 6PM-8PM EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR YOUTH THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMZED OR SEXUALLY EXPLOITED. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH TO PROCESS TRAUMA AND UNDERTAKE THEIR JOURNEY TO HEALING.