Return to YMCA Safe Place Programs
Shelter House
Being a teenager or a parent of a teenager can be hard and this period in human development does not often lend itself to good communication and for many families can result in damaging words and behaviors. This temporary residential option provides the short-term respite that many families need to get some distance from the conflict at hand, engage in family mediation and create a plan to set up the family for success at home. Average stay is 6 to 10 days.
We assist the stabilization of teens in crisis and their families by assessing their strengths & needs; developing a plan to build the skills needed to improve their relationship; and supporting them through mediation services, aftercare follow-ups and community based referrals to maintain a healthy and safe home environment.
Unduplicated Shelter House Services:
- 24 hour staff support
- Case management support and advocacy for teens
- Access to medical and dental care
- Transportation to school
- Life skill training, tutoring and educational assistance
- Family team mediation services
- 24 bed residential dorm, daily meals and snacks
- Referrals to other local community support
The Need:
Teens turn to Shelter House for a variety of reasons: trouble in school, peer pressure or rejection, suicidal thoughts, physical or sexual abuse in the home, physical abuse from a dating partner, drugs or alcohol issues – either their own of their families’. Many care givers need help that would not otherwise be available to support their efforts raising their son or daughter. Without our early and free prevention and intervention services some families would escalate to the point that the conflict would become unsalvageable and the state social service system or court system would become involved. We make a $1,000 investment in every teen during his or her 6 to 10 day stay; this expense can increase up to $60,000/yr when teens enter state’s care.
Results:
- 85% of teens are successfully discharged.
- 93% of these teens learned at least one skill or solution strategy.
- 90% reported they made progress towards their case plan goals.
- 83% of surveyed teens reported continued family stabilization two weeks later.
- 93% of these teens also reported using their newly learned skills and solution strategies.
Shelter House Full time Staff
Shelter House Director
Tricia Hamilton
thamilton@ymcalouisville.org
Residential Case Managers
Kim Frierson
kfrierson@ymcalouisville.org
Dionne McCage
dmccage@ymcalouisville.org
Bill Thompson
bthompson@ymcalouisville.org
Senior Youth Workers
Nick Brown
nbrown@ymcalouisville.org
Quan Founder
qafounder@ymcalouisville.org
