STREET OUTREACH

 Our Street Outreach takes us to hidden places where homeless and runaway youth live:  streets, wooded areas, bridge underpasses, parks, etc.  As we meet the youth on the street, we provide a listening ear and address their immediate physical needs of food, clothing, first aid, etc.  For those who desire to come off the streets immediately, we will transport them to a shelter.  Through this combination of listening and meeting physical needs, we establish relationships built on trust.  It is this relationship that allows us to work with the youth to empower them to make the necessary choices to come off the street. 

DROP-IN CENTER

 Our Drop-In Center includes a clothing and hygiene product pantry, a food pantry, laundry facilities, shower facilities, and meals.  The youth can come to the Drop-In Center to access services, have a safe place to hang out, and to work with staff and volunteers on the issues that will help them remove themselves from street life.  Many youth come just to talk.  Our Bible Study Group provides a casual forum for kids who are asking questions about God, Christianity, and their own personal spiritual beliefs.  It should be noted that Outreach, Inc. provides all services regardless of a youth’s personal beliefs, lifestyle, or practices.

INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT

At first, many youth begin to make life changes with very specific requests such as assistance in obtaining ID’s, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and transportation and buss passes, receiving leads for jobs or housing, and referrals for medical and prenatal programs.  Through this initial service, the Social Worker and Vocational/Educational Resource Manager build a deeper relationship with the youth.  They help the youth work through emotional and spiritual struggles and develop a more comprehensive, long-term service plan with goals and objectives. They can instruct the youth in necessary life and social skills like money management, employability, and home economics, and, connect them with GED, vocational training programs, and postsecondary educational opportunities.  The staff can help the youth reunify with their families when appropriate, connect with churches, and network with other service providers and community resources.  Since the youth are usually afraid to access other mainline social services or have little access to them because they are not in school, do not have a phone, do not have an ID, etc., Outreach, Inc. serves in the gap to walk along side them as they connect with needed resources and rebuild their lives.
 Street youth in crisis are able to access us 24 hours a day via our toll free hotline number.  As a result of this availability and reestablished trust, youth call us in their most desperate times.  Many of them have called while contemplating suicide, allowing us to support them through their pain.

G.O.A.L. (GRADUATION, OCCUPATION, ADDRESS, LIFESTYLE)

G.O.A.L is a collaborative effort between Outreach, Inc. and Indianapolis Public Schools in cooperation with the Indiana Dept. of Education.  The G.O.A.L. program works with homeless and unaccompanied youth currently enrolled in the Indianapolis Public School system, providing them with the wraparound services needed to empower these youth to remain in school and complete high school.  For those whose educational needs extend beyond a traditional setting, Outreach, Inc. staff will explore alternative educational options.  Outreach, Inc. provides food and clothing, laundry and shower facilities, hot meals, and intensive case management as well as advocacy within the school system.

EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION

One of the major components for our youth to exit the streets successfully is to assist with educational and vocational training.  Proper education and job placement are critical.  Currently, Outreach, Inc. has established a satellite GED location for training and testing, as well as collaborating with many area agencies to assist youth in obtaining their high school diploma and/ or GED.  Furthermore, Outreach, Inc. is dedicated to helping youth not only obtain employment but also receive the necessary training to retain employment.

JOBS PARTNERSHIP

One of the major barriers to homeless and at-risk youth on the streets is un- and under-employment.  Through Jobs Partnership, youth are able to learn the much-needed social and employability skills that are necessary in job search and retention.  A network of community leaders facilitated by Outreach, Inc. staff provides this training.