A Vintage Fashion Gala Through Time
TeenHope
-Building Hope, Changing Lives, Shelter & Mediation for Youth in Need-
TeenHope is the only certified home for homeless teens from 13 - 17 in the Puget Sound area - a community which on any given night may have more than 800 of these teens living on our streets. We have beds for only 7 of these 800 young people and the authorization to expand to an additional 7 beds. TeenHope is able to provide shelter, nutritious food, clothing, counseling, employment and educational guidance, life skills, and more to teens in crisis situations. We also have a very successful mediation program, the Peace Table, which aids young people to be able to return to schooling and/or a safe home environment. Our goal is to give teens an alternative to the streets offering a safe place and to help them to make life changing decisions.
TeenHope History
In 1992, a grassroots group of concerned adults and young people realized hundreds of community teenagers had no place to call home and nowhere to turn for help. These teens were living in crisis in South Snohomish and North King Counties. Together, the group decided to address the needs of our teens at risk - abused, neglected, abandoned, or simply in conflict with family. They called themselves TeenHope.
TeenHope - teachers, counselors, business people, students, parents, and civic leaders - decided to create a home for emergency shelter and services. The home would be a safe haven for youth in crisis. Among other services, it would offer hope.
Slowly and carefully, they built their vision. On February 23, 1993, TeenHope became incorporated as a 501-C3 nonprofit organization in the state of Washington. Then, aided by a state grant, TeenHope bought property in Shoreline, Washington in April, 1995. Everyone worked furiously to open as one of five licensed youth shelters in Washington state at the time. On January 3, 1996, TeenHope opened four nights a week to teens ages 13 - 17. Although the Board knew homelessness and conflict were 24 hour problems, the organization lacked funding to operate seven nights a week during its initial months.
In 1998, we expanded our services to seven nights per week. Now, when teens need us, we're there - regardless of the day of the week. Funding for TeenHope must continue in order to preserve and grow to meet the increased needs of teens in crisis. Today, we strive to maintain our standards and expand our services to at-risk youth and families in crisis in our community.
The Peace Table is located in Shoreline, Washington at the TeenHope emergency shelter. It has established itself as the model for parent-teen mediation by using teams of volunteer co-mediators - one youth and one adult.
These teams work to assist family members in opening communication and finding solutions to conflict. Some of the issues mediated include school attendance and grades, curfew, household rules and chores, friendship, dating, and alcohol/drug use. The Peace Table is the bridge between a young person and his or her parents, and the work is very rewarding.
Because the work is important, and because successful mediation demands both skill and practice, the Peace Table mediator training is thorough. The 40 hours of initial training are very dynamic, with extensive practice mediation, guest speakers, videotapes and open discussion of the issues.
Those currently mediating with TeenHope attend training sessions for new mediators. This provides plenty of additional mentoring and guidance from experienced mediators, as well as an opportunity to develop working relationships with other mediators, both youth and adult.
When training is completed, the new mediator will first mentor with those more experienced, observing mediations conducted by others until skilled and comfortable enough to be assigned a case. Following training, mediators are asked to plan committing one evening per week to the Peace Table, to be scheduled at their convenience.
Overview of TeenHope
Services Offered
*Nutritious Meals *Clothing *Counseling, referral and advocacy *Employment and educational guidance *Bus Passes *Phone calls to loved ones *Life skills program *Art Program *Recreational programs *Case management *Crisis counseling for youth and parents *In-Service training for staff and community volunteers *Public education presentations *Community service opportunities for middle and high school students
Major Achievements
*Approximately
1500 "bednights" provided each year to youth between the ages of 13-17
*Shelter open 7 nights a week, 52 weeks a year
*Shelter filled to
capacity many nights and some youth turned away for lack of space
*Many ongoing public education presentations regarding at risk youth &
homelessness made to schools, community groups, service clubs, businesses and
churches yearly
*Shelter program has expanded to include life skills and
complementary self-development programs such as art, writing, tutoring, current
issues, and recreational events for teens in crisis
*Youth and Family Mediation program developed and launched January, 1999 (a
collaboration between Conflict Management in Education, Shorecrest High School
and TeenHope)
*The position of Executive Director was expanded to full time
in January, 1999
Significant Events in Recent Years
*TeenHope
continues to grow in the number of youth served. Our donor list consists
of individual community members, many churches, local businesses, service clubs,
and private foundations.
*Shoreline Chamber of Commerce has raised over$5000 for TeenHope.
*Shoreline Rotary Clubs donated over $3000 to TeenHope from
their first annual "Fun Run" in 2000.
*The Boeing Company granted the Mediation Program a $25,000 grant.
*TeenHope put on two successful auctions the last two years -
bringing in nearly $100,000 - and is preparing for another auction in May, 2001.
*TeenHope Peace Table selected as a 2001 Stay in School Project mediation
service provider by the Superior Court of the State of Washington for King
County.
*TeenHope budget increases to $285,000.
*Many community youth and adult groups organize work parties for painting,
cleaning, and gardening - some groups being from out of state, having located us
on the internet.
*Web page scheduled to launch in Spring 2001.
*Board membership increases to 17 members.
*TeenHope becomes a United Way agency effective July 1, 2000