Youth Services Bureau

Youth Service Bureau

Youth Service Bureau's (YSB) mission is, “To inspire youth and families to recognize their strengths and power to live, learn, socialize and work in their community.” Youth who access YSB services are homeless, fleeing abusive or dangerous situations, or experiencing severe family conflict. YSB provides a variety of services to support youth with addressing the challenges in their lives. YSB services include a 24-hour youth referral line, street outreach and drop-in services, temporary emergency shelter, long term transitional housing and security deposit and rental subsidies.

YSB Youth Shelter

The YSB Crisis Shelter was established in 1991 as our community recognized a need to offer services to prevent youth from entering the streets or Juvenile Justice & Child Welfare Systems. Referrals to the YSB youth shelter are for youth between 12-17 who may be experiencing homelessness, severe family conflict or fleeing from an unhealthy living situation. The YSB Shelter is a temporary housing program with length of stay determined day to day. Referrals to YSB typically come from law enforcement, teachers, counselors, social workers, family members, the youth themselves, friends of the youth and anyone else in the community who is aware of a kid who may need help.

Services

  • 24-hour per day supervision
  • Private or shared bedroom
  • Food, clothing, transportation (including for school)
  • Crisis intervention and family mediation
  • Case management and aftercare services

Eligibility

  • Youth must be between the ages of 12 to 17 years old
  • Youth agree to shelter
  • Youth is not actively drug or alcohol dependent
  • Youth is non-violent or actively suicidal
  • Youth is not on formal probation

Entrance Procedures

Call YSB 24 hours a day (707) 444-2273 ext. 0 or text (707) 496-0959
 
The following will be assessed by YSB staff:
 
  • Obtain voluntary consent
  • Suicide risk assessment
  • Substance use assessment
  • Assaultive behavior assessment
  • Criminal record check
 

Transitional Living

The Launch Pad transitional living program (TLP) is a long term (maximum stay of 21-months) transitional living program for homeless youth or youth who are fleeing unhealthy living situations between the ages of 16 to under 22. The goal of the program is to assist youth and young adults in making the transition to self-sufficiency. Youth reside in a shared two bedroom or three bedroom apartment, five bedroom house, or YSB subsidized apartments. Apartments for youth under 18 are in our main building, which has a staff person on duty 24-hours a day. 

Program Philosophy: Launch Pad (TLP) is a strength-based program. Staff are dedicated to forming partnerships with the residents and supporting them in exploring their life goals. The staff work with the residents to create a safe environment which is non-judgmental, allowing them to make their own informed decisions.

Case Management Services

Each resident will receive comprehensive case management services. Residents, with assistance from staff, will have a Needs and Services Plan, which allows participants to focus their energy in order to create change in their lives.  

Areas of concentration:

  • Housing
  • Education
  • Employment 
  • Psychological-Social
  • Life Skills Education

How to Qualify

Accessing the Program: Launch Pad (TLP) is for youth who are experiencing homelessness or fleeing unhealthy living situations.

To qualify for TLP:
 
  • Youth must be between the ages of 16 to under 22
  • Youth cannot be drug or alcohol dependent
  • Youth cannot be actively suicidal
  • Youth cannot be on formal probation (if under 18)
  • Youth must voluntarily agree to be in TLP
  • Legal Guardian must consent to TLP (if youth is under 18 years old)


Call (707) 443-8322 ext. 206 or 205 to speak with a staff member about the transitional living program Launch Pad or additional YSB services.
 

Transitional Housing Programs for Foster Youth

(THP+ and THPP-NMD)
 
The Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP+) is for youth who are emancipated from foster care or juvenile probation and are between the ages of 18 to under 25. This program provides housing assistance, case management and financial assistance for qualifying youth.
 
The Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents (THPP-NMD) is licensed by the State of California and is for “non- minor dependent” foster youth 18 to under 21. This program is also known as extended foster care. Like the THP+ program, the THPP-NMD program provides housing assistance, case management and financial assistance for qualifying youth.
 
Please call YSB at (707) 443-8322 ext. 206 or 205 for more information. Referrals to these 2 programs are very limited and typically require Child Welfare Services involvement.

YSB's Subsidized Housing

YSB provides security deposits and rental assistance to qualifying youth 16 to under 25 who are homeless, getting evicted, or fleeing domestic violence. In addition to financial assistance, case management is also available to assist with housing, employment, and education. 
 
Please call YSB at (707) 443-8322 ext. 206 or 205 for more information.

The Turner House

The Turner House was purchased in part by a generous donation from a community member in the amount of $130,000, which kick started a fundraising campaign called, "On Solid Ground”. After raising a little over $300,000, we bought a beautiful 4-plex apartment building right next door to YSB’s main building in Eureka, CA. The building was named "Turner House" in honor of our original investor, Sara Turner. This youth housing program started in 2017. Turner House provides short term and long-term housing for youth from a variety of YSB’s housing programs.

The RAVEN Project

The Youth Service Bureau recognized the need for peer-based services within the youth and young adult community who are living on the streets or lack stable housing. Therefore, the Youth Service Bureau created a youth-led drop-in center called The RAVEN Project.

The mission of the RAVEN Project is to:

  • Improve the mental and physical well-being of the youth
  • Provide basic survival supplies
  • Create a network of resources and referrals (including housing)
  • Support and advocate for the youth
  • Provide positive role models
  • And employ at-risk youth within the area of Humboldt County!

Drop-in Center

The RAVEN Project Drop-in Center is housed in a small 1896 Victorian. Our address is 523 T Street, Eureka, CA. We are visible from US 101 North (5th St.). Our drop-in center is also a short walk from the 4th & S St. and 5th & U St. bus stops. 

The Drop-in Center is open on:
Tuesday - Friday 2:00 to 6:00

During drop-in, youth have access to case management as well as food, clothing, showers, computers, peer support, housing referrals and social groups. The atmosphere at RAVEN is very neutral and enforces a “hate free zone.” RAVEN supports all lifestyles and positive means of expression. Art supplies and opportunities for publication in RAVEN's youth-made zines are available.


Youth Outreach 

Traveling in teams of two or three, Youth Educators and Street Outreach Workers take to the streets with resource materials, safer sex supplies, first-aid supplies, toiletries, socks, and snacks. This is the RAVEN Project's method of bringing the program to the youth in their environment. 

Outreach provides the RAVEN Project the opportunity to interact with individuals who cannot or have not yet accessed services through the drop-in center.

Youth Groups

The RAVEN Project holds various weekly groups with specific activities geared toward certain populations.  Groups frequently change so please contact us for updates.  Typical groups include:
 

Cooking and Life Skills
Tuesdays from 5-5:50 p.m.

Peer Support
Wednesdays 5-5:50 p.m.

Art and Music
Thursdays 5-5:50 p.m.

Game Night
Fridays 5-5:50 p.m.

Staffing

The RAVEN Project recruits, hires, and trains youth from the street/homeless population to serve as Youth Educators. Youth Educators provide firsthand knowledge about the realities of street life and insights into how to best provide services to local youth. The RAVEN Project is staffed with a Program Coordinator, Case Worker, and Youth Educators under the title of Raven Assistants.

RAVEN Phone: (707) 443-7099      Address 523 “T” St Eureka, CA

Donations

Redwood Community Action Agency-Youth Service Bureau’s services are free of charge.  YSB relies on grants and the generosity of our community to provide services and supplies to this vulnerable population.

Monetary donations can be made directly to the RCAA Youth Service Bureau. You may donate directly to RCAA Youth Service Bureau by clicking on the donate button below and selecting "Youth Service Bureau" in the "use this donation for" section or by mailing a check or money order to: RCAA Youth Service Bureau, 904 G Street, Eureka, CA 95501; you may also deliver donations to this address. RCAA will be happy to provide you with your donation receipt and recognize your contribution, or you may choose to remain anonymous. All donations are tax-deductible (RCAA's non-profit Tax ID is 94-2646370).

If you want to make donations such as toiletries, clothes, tampons/pads, art supplies, etc. to YSB’s Raven Project, please call (707) 443-7099 beforehand to ensure they can accept donations.


 

    


How do RCAA's programs affect you?

  • Natural Resources Services (NRS) works directly with Humboldt County community leaders, schools and parents to improve safety and encourage more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. NRS helps coordinate both the Greater Eureka and Humboldt County Safe Routes to School Task Forces.
  • The Natural Resources Services works with community members, civic groups, and local jurisdictions to enhance neighborhood street tree planting and support the development of community forests for public access and watershed protection.
  • The TOOTH program: igniting healthy smiles and lifelong dental wisdom in young minds!
  • The Energy & Environmental Services Division provides much needed help to our low-income and elderly community members. The program helps to pay their energy costs, to make their homes warm and cozy, and improve their health by weatherizing their homes against inclement weather.
  • AFACTR AmeriCorps Member states that their experience with the program has been by far one of the best experiences I have ever had at any job. The training's I've had has opened my opportunities for other jobs in ways I never thought possible. The AmeriCorps experience has been a really great experience. I have nothing but good to say about being an AmeriCorps member.
  • AmeriCorps has helped me to understand the imperative need for stabilization services not only in Humboldt County, but on a macrosystem level. It has also allowed me to network with wonderful local nonprofits and federal service agencies to understand how they provide trauma informed services that strengthen family systems and community based models. Based on my term as an AmeriCorps member, I have become more comfortable with providing casework to clients and have developed a meaningful rapport with service agencies in our area. Providing at a resource center has driven my interest in continuing my education to pursue my master's degree in public administration.
  • I began my AFACTR term as an undergrad student and saw it as an opportunity to better define what I wanted to pursue as a career after college. As my term comes to an end, I have committed to gaining a master's in social work degree, something that I 100% attribute to my experiences at the family resource center. It feels like this program was tailor-made for people in a similar situation as me, who feel somewhat uncertain about future direction but have an affinity for or interest in helping professions. Additionally, the relationships I've build with my coworkers and clients have given me a feeling of connection and understanding to the community that was just not present in my life prior to my AmeriCorps term.
  • My AFACTR AmeriCorps service provided me with the confidence I needed to branch out into a whole different field of service.I cannot put into words how much this program means to me. My future looks very positive and full of opportunities I thought I would never have. As a result of AFACTR I now have so many tools at my disposal that I can utilize in my professional future.
  • As a second term AFACTR AmeriCorps member, I can say that AFACTR offers you a unique opportunity to be the best version of yourself. Whatever place you are in your life when you enter the program, you will leave having grown in ways you didn't know were possible. I cannot recommend strongly enough the powerful opportunity of upward mobility through hard work and commitment to your community. I am on my way to getting my master's degree which will be financially supplemented by my educational award and am in a place where I feel seen, valued and supported.