The Youth and Family Project offers free individual and group counseling services for school-aged youth, LGBTQ+ support groups, support for homeless young adults, supervised visitation for families experiencing separation, and holiday gift giving support for families experiencing financial hardship. While these services don’t necessarily “go together” intuitively, they all offer services to youth and their families at critical points in their lives and several families participate in multiple programs at various points throughout their lives.
One young person began her journey with Youth and Family Project during the summer between middle school and high school. Layla had recently been removed from her father’s home and placed with a family friend. Her father struggled with alcohol abuse and would threaten her with violence while he was drinking. She was referred to supervised visitation and individual counseling services simultaneously.
During supervised visitation, Layla developed a relationship with the visit supervisor and was able to trust that despite a history of feeling unsafe around her father, she trusted that the supervisor would protect and support her. Layla was able to relax in a comfortable, natural environment while exploring a relationship with her father as he worked toward sobriety.
In counseling services, Layla was able to begin working through some of the trauma she had experienced and adjust to her new, safer living environment. She learned skills to cope with anxiety and panic attacks. Throughout the course of counseling, Layla’s panic attacks became less regular, and the counselor supported her in developing stronger relationships with her new support system. Layla’s placement with the family friend became permanent as her father continued to struggle with sobriety and she through advocacy provided by the Youth and Family Project, she was able to secure a private practice therapist at the end of the school year to support her through the next chapter of her life.
The Youth and Family Project was honored to meet Layla where she was at and offer hope throughout her journey. In 2022, we served a total of 2,756 individuals across our programs, several who like Layla will return to the agency for different services depending on their current situation. Would you consider donating to the Youth and Family Project to help us create a lasting impact and meaningful change in the lives of those we serve? Donating to the Youth and Family Project is about more than providing services to youth and families in need, it's about spreading hope. Any amount you are able to donate can help!
The Youth and Family Project was honored to meet Layla where she was at and offer hope throughout her journey. In 2022, we served a total of 2,756 individuals across our programs, several who like Layla will return to the agency for different services depending on their current situation.
Would you consider donating to the Youth and Family Project to help us create a lasting impact and meaningful change in the lives of those we serve?
Donating to the Youth and Family Project is about more than providing services to youth and families in need...
It's about spreading hope.
Any amount you are able to donate can help!