Spectrum Youth & Family Services
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Drop-In Center
Our Drop-In Center is a safe place for young people to eat a meal, use the telephone, do laundry, get clothing, or take a shower. The Drop-In Center and Street Outreach are staffed by Peer Outreach Workers and AmeriCorps and supervised by a Coordinator. Staff provide informal counseling, setting goals, and link youth to other Spectrum services.Typically on average more than 480 youth seek help and over 10,000 meals served.
Drop-In also offers practical life skills groups and where youth learn about:
- How to prepare for getting a job and prepare for being employed;
- How to shop for groceries on a budget and cook food, nutrition and food safety
- How to budget and manage money, maintain a checking account
- How to access education and other local/regional training opportunities
- How to have safe relationships/ preventing dating violence
- How to recognize and avoid sexual exploitation
- Safe sex , STD prevention and HIV counseling testing and referral
- How to access healthcare and medical care
- Basic medical home treatment for common health problem
- Drivers education
- Other topics are introduced based on the evolving needs of the youth and gathered through focus groups.
Last year The Drop-In Center helped more than 400 youth and we served more than 8,400 free hot meals.
