TEEN SERVICES For most of us, the sight of a young teenage girl on the street every night, while our own children sleep comfortably in their beds, stirs up feelings of dread and distress. What could have possibly brought children to this point? How can they survive? Can they ever be reached and helped? The answer to the last question is yes. It is tough work - but it takes place every day at Preble Street. Teen Center Portland has Maine's largest concentration of youth who are homeless. Shelter statistics and surveys of community organizations show that the problems of this vulnerable population are far-reaching and complex. The Teen Center is available to homeless and runaway youth between the ages of 12 and 21. Often rejected or abused by their families, these young people are at serious risk for sexual exploitation, HIV, pregnancy, and unlawful activity. Many have mental health problems, education deficits, and a history of substance abuse. And almost always they have no social, family, or community network to turn to for help. Concentrating first on meeting basic needs, the Teen Center also offers immediate response services to move youth off the streets, reunite them with their families, or find other appropriate safe options. The Teen Center is a multi-service collaborative center with on-site preventive and supportive services. At the Teen Center youth have access to: Meals, clothing, personal hygiene items, showers, laundry, phone (both local and long distance), and mail. Alternative education provided by the Portland Adult Education Street Academy to help them make the transition back into public schools, earn a GED, or apply to continuing education programs. Mental health counseling provided by the YWCA Street Program. Health services provided by health professionals from Portland Public Health. Substance abuse services provided by Day One, including a range of service options from informal education and non-traditional interventions through individual treatment. Employment services such as resume writing, job training, and job shadowing. Outreach from a wide range of community providers, to build relationships with the youth and assist them with linking to the social service system. Lighthouse Shelter The only low-barrier emergency overnight shelter for young people in the area, the Lighthouse Shelter opens its doors every night of the year to young people who have no other safe place to stay. They may have left unstable homes or been bounced from one placement to another for months or years. At the Lighthouse Shelter, in addition to offering warm beds, showers, and a place to store belongings, we work to build trust, identify needs, provide information and support, facilitate access to other community services, and provide a starting point for young people and their families to begin to solve their problems. Characterized by caring, mutual respect, and recognition of the inherent dignity and value of every human being, the purpose of the shelter is to: Ensure overnight accommodations for young people living in the streets or unsafe conditions. Provide meaningful opportunities through referral to community resources such as educational, employment, medical, and mental health services. Forge trusting relationships. Assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing. Reach out to young people and advocate for youth services when needed. Enable each young person to realize his or her potential.