Life changes can begin with very specific needs such as assistance in obtaining ID’s, birth certificates, Social Security cards, transportation, passes, receiving leads for jobs or housing, and referrals for medical prenatal programs. Through these initial services, the Social Worker and Vocational/Educational Resource Manager start to build a relationship with the youth. Working through emotional and spiritual struggles they help to develop a more comprehensive, long-term service plan with goals and objectives. Time is also spent on life and social skills that most of us take for granted such as money management, employability, and home economics. Connecting with GED completion assistance, vocational training programs, and postsecondary educational opportunities are important steps in these life changes.

The Outreach Inc. staff also helps youth reunify with their families when that is appropriate, connect with churches, and network with other service providers and community resources. The youth we assist 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, or do not have an ID. 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, they call us in their most desperate times, including even while contemplating suicide, allowing us to support them through their pain.