Family and Adolescent Services Team: The Family, Adolescent Services Team provides individual, family, and group counseling to local youth ages 12-18 and their families. After an initial period of assessment, a comprehensive plan is designed to address those issues that are of concern to the youth or family.  Staff also acts as advocates and provide direction and follow-up in the family’s behalf on problem areas in the home, school, or community.

Runaway and Homeless Youth:  The Runaway Youth Program offers 24-hour crisis intervention services and supportive counseling to runaway and homeless youth, ages 12-18.  This service includes emergency shelter care and transportation if necessary.  The program’s goal is reunite youth and their families whenever possible. On-going individual and family counseling is offered by trained counselors to assist in this reconciliation and to strengthen family relationships.  This service is available to youth and their families on a voluntary basis.

Gabriel Shelter: The Gabriel Shelter is a 12 bed temporary stay residential facility for youth ages 12 to 18. The shelter provides a safe and stable environment with supportive services while a plan can be developed regarding the future living arrangements of the youth.

Specialized Adolescent Assessment Unit:  The Specialized Adolescent Assessment Unit offers individual and family assessments to youth ages 12-18 and families referred from the Children and Youth System.  Goals include the development of an Individualized Family Services Plan designed to promote the youth and family’s potential, preserve family stability, and prevent unnecessary placement of children.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters: The Big Brothers Big Sisters program provides an opportunity for positive growth and enrichment to children from single parent families. This is accomplished by providing a trusting, caring relationship with an adult volunteer. Volunteers are carefully selected, trained, and matched with children between the ages of 7 and 17.  Volunteers are requested to make a one year commitment and to spend at least 1-2 hours a week with their little brother or sister. During this time the volunteer and child participate in activities to foster a special friendship and also help the child develop into a productive, responsible adult.

For more information visit http://www.bbbswb.org.

Smart Choices: The Smart Choices program is an after school educational program designed to help students ages 12 –18 make healthy choices in life. Lessons guide students to make proper choices in areas of sexual abstinence, avoiding drugs and alcohol, handling peer pressure, and respecting themselves.

Parenting/Life Skills: Parenting/Life Skills education offers individual and group educational and experiential counseling services to adults and teen parents, whose children are 0-10 years old.  Initial assessments identify both parenting strengths as well as areas of needed improvement.  Emphasis is placed on the development or improvement of effective parenting skills, including examining childhood and adolescent developmental stages, teaching behavior management techniques, and building positive parent/child relationships.