The Harbor Wings Cypress Place 1

Mission Statement To promote increased safety, well-being, self- sufficiency, and the permanent connections with caring adults for runaway, homeless and street youth. This mission is met by offering programs that provide shelter, counseling, community services and prevention education for youth, adults and families. 2

Purpose  The current continuum serves through three pillar programs: Basic Shelter, Street Outreach/Drop-in Center Services & Transitional Living/Independent Living.  We respond to keeping youth safe, aiding the homeless experience to be brief and helping to assure long term stability essential to adult success 3

4 The Programs The Harbor Basic Center Program 929 Pine Street Port Huron MI (810) Wings Transitional Living Program 1114 Court Street Port Huron Michigan (810) Cypress Place Street Outreach Program & Drop-in Center th Street Port Huron Michigan (810)

Runaway Youth who have left home without permission. Homeless Youth who have been kicked out of their home, abandoned, are doubled up, living in uninhabitable conditions, have no other safe alternative living arrangement. Potential Runaway Youth who have threatened to or thought about running away, have runaway in the past or are at risk of running away Potential Homeless Youth Youth at risk of losing housing due to unstable housing, increasing safety concerns, and family dynamics Street Youth An individual who is a runaway youth or a indefinitely/intermittently homeless youth, and spends a significant amount of time on the street. Definitions 5

Provides shelter for runaway, homeless, potential runaway or homeless, and at-risk youth between the ages of 9 through 17 who voluntarily request services, as well as counseling services and reunification guidance for those looking to reconnect with their families. Youth can remain at The Harbor for up to 21 days. All services are free! The Harbor 6

The Harbor Services The Harbor offers the following types of assistance to young people and their families: 24 hour Crisis Intervention and referral Safe and structured environment that promotes Positive Youth Development (shelter for up to 21 days) Food, clothing, medical care and other services that youth need (offered either directly or by referral) Individual, group and family counseling Recreation programs Outreach to youth who may need assistance as well as to public and private agencies that work with youth and families Educational Support Establishing Community Connections Aftercare services for youth after they leave the shelter (90 days) 7

Homeless, Runaway, or at risk of Running Away/Homelessness Ages 9-17 Youth voluntarily enters the program Parental consent Not an active threat to self or others or violent offenders Youth in foster care are not eligible for Harbor services Able to follow program structure with out one on one care Eligibility 8

Referral Process – The Harbor Referrals are accepted by calling our 24 hour hotline (810) in which trained personnel are available to take crisis and/or referral calls 24/7, 365 days a year. The Harbor also accepts referrals on a walk-in basis 24/7. The youth may come to the program on their own or can be accompanied by an adult. In the event a youth or referring agent contacts The Harbor prior to the youth coming to the program, staff may set an appointment to ensure that a staff person is available to take the time necessary to complete a thorough assessment and intake when the youth does come to the program. The Harbor will accept collect calls in the event the youth does not have a cell phone or long distance services. In most cases the staff will be able to help with transportation if the youth presents a need. Transportation arrangement options include having the youth take a taxi to the program, gaining permission from the parents for staff to transport or assisting the youth with finding a responsible adult that will agree to transport. In some cases the police or sheriff department will transport. The provision for care requires the youth to enter the program voluntarily. Parents will be notified once the youth gives their permission for The Harbor staff to contact the parent/legal guardian for consent to complete an intake at The Harbor. 9

The Transitional Living Program provides support for youth aged 16 to 21, who need temporary housing (up to 18 months) and social support services while they look for jobs and housing of their own. Goal is to help youth learn the skills needed to live independently. Serves homeless or potentially homeless Promotes Positive Youth Development Application Process Free Program Wings 10

Safe, stable living accommodations Basic life skills building, including consumer education, budgeting, housekeeping, food preparation and parenting skills Educational opportunities, such as GED preparation, post-secondary training and vocational education Job attainment services, such as career counseling and job placement Mental health care, including individual and group counseling in house or by referral Physical health care, such as physicals, health assessments and emergency treatment, assistance with obtaining insurance Services Provided 11

Homeless, Potentially Homeless, Street Youth Ages Voluntarily enters the program Parental consent (if under 18) Not an active threat to self or others No Criminal Sexual Conduct cases accepted Want to learn the skills to become independent Youth who have an open Foster Care or Juvenile Justice case, where the case is scheduled to close within 60 days and youth does not have identified housing Eligibility 12

Referral Process – Wings Transitional Living Program Any homeless/potentially homeless youth between the ages 16 to 21 or individual working with an identified homeless/potentially homeless youth they are concerned about may contact Wings by calling (810) Wings requires that a youth requesting services complete an application for entry to the program. Following the completion of the application a face to face interview is arranged between the Wings Advocate and the youth. The youth’s applications are reviewed at a Team Supervision meeting generally scheduled on Tuesday afternoons. Priority for services is based on propensity for success, commitment to being in the program on the part of the youth, and the imminent need of the youth. For example, a youth living on the streets, or in a car may be given priority over a youth who has a place to live and is thinking of leaving where they are currently because they don’t like the rules. Youth who are not accepted for services are contacted by phone and provided with information regarding the reason for the decision. Once the youth is accepted for services, an intake is scheduled and services begin at that time. For those youth under age 18, a parent/legal guardian is encouraged to be at the intake and if they are unable to be at the intake they must be available and agree to the terms of the program and sign the required intake forms prior to the youth entering the program. 13

Cypress Place Street Outreach Program & Drop-in Center The Street Outreach program offers support and educational programs to runaway and homeless youth living on the streets, and to engage those who are at risk of becoming homeless. Help youth find stable housing and services. Focus on developing relationships between outreach workers and young people that allow them to rebuild connections with caring adults. The ultimate goal is to prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of youth on the streets 14

Street Outreach Services Street-based education and outreach Access to emergency shelter Survival aid Individual assessments Treatment and counseling Prevention and education activities Information and referrals Crisis intervention Drop-in center services Follow-up support 15

* Homeless, Runaway, or at risk of Running Away/Homelessness *Ages 9-21 *Youth voluntarily receives services At the Drop-In Center (Cypress Place in Port Huron) *Not an active threat to self or others *No Criminal Sexual Conduct cases Additional services available at Cypress Place -Showers -Laundry facilities Eligibility 16

Referral Process – Cypress Place Drop-in Center & Street Outreach Program Any youth between the ages 9 through 21 who is runaway, homeless, potentially runaway or homeless or a street youth may access drop-in center services or street outreach services by calling The Harbor 24 hour hotline at (810) or simply dropping in during drop-in center hours. Drop-in Center service hours are: Thursday 3pm-8pm (Focus on Services) Friday 3pm-8pm (Open Hours) Saturday 3pm-8pm (Open Hours) The Drop-in Center is located at th Street, Port Huron, Michigan Phone number: (810) Short-term counseling exclusive of shelter care is available at The Harbor, Wings and Cypress Place. The referral process for counseling includes making a call to The Harbor on the 24 hour hotline (810)

Right to Education McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program Right to enroll in school on their own without documents Right to attend school of origin with transportation Right to free school meals for the remainder of the school year Right to an education free of barriers 18

Contacts Sally A. Currie Program Director - The Harbor/Wings/Cypress Place (810) Nikki Carse Program Assistant – The Harbor/Wings/Cypress Place (810) Karen Fenech Counselor - The Harbor (810) Candice Erickson Youth Advocate - Wings (810) Jessica Miller SOP Coordinator (810) Website:

Funding Sources We would like to acknowledge the following funding sources that support The Harbor, Wings and Cypress Place Department of Health and Services, Administration for Children and Families Emergency Food and Shelter Program (Federal Emergency Management Agency) State of Michigan – Department of Human Services Michigan State Housing Development Authority Port Huron Area School District – Title 1 St. Clair County Regional Education Services Agency St. Clair County Community Foundation United Way of St. Clair County Private Donations and Contributions The Harbor, Wings and Cypress Place are programs of Comprehensive Youth Services, Inc. 20