Programs and Services: Prevention

The Street Outreach Program

The mission of the Street Outreach Program is to create a welcoming youth community in Washington County and to help teens stay safe and healthy. Teen Outreach Workers employed by the Bureau provide outreach to teens on the streets. They offer teens a "resource card" that lists phone numbers teens can call to access various types of assistance and resources. Outreach Workers also provide teens with information about youth activities in the community and organize fun, safe activities for teens during the out-of-school hours.

In the winter, the Street Outreach Program hosts Teen Dinners at the Basement Teen Center. With donations from local restaurants, the Program provides free dinners to teens, as well as an activity or a topic to discuss as a group, such as teen rights, healthy relationships, teen health, and other topics that are interesting to teens. Among many other activities, the Program has also has organized teen lunches, coffee houses, and ice cream socials. All activities are designed to draw teens together in a safe and welcoming environment.

Last year, the Bureau's Street Outreach Workers:

• Handed out 283 resource cards
• Held 8 teen dinners and 2 teen lunches at the Basement
• Hosted 1 Coffee House and 1 Ice Cream Social
• Provided information, resources, and referrals to 95 teens

To learn more about the Street Outreach Program, contact the Street Outreach Workers at 229-9151 or email streetoutreach@youthservicebureau.info.