TODAY, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED to situations that were beyond our imagination when the Youth Service Bureau started more than 30 years ago—some only a click away on the Internet. Drugs are more readily available and juvenile delinquency is increasing, as are school drop-outs and the tragedy of child abuse and neglect. Since 1982, the Youth Service Bureau has helped at-risk youth and their families meet concerns such as truancy, ungovernable behavior, abuse and neglect. Now, YSB’s highly trained professional
children. Not every child has an advocate or the resources to get the help they need; YSB is there for them and their families,” she says. “Our mission statements says it best: The mission of the Youth Service Bureau is to provide advocacy, counseling, education and intervention for at-risk youth and their families, helping them reach their full potential.” Five highly-beneficial prevention and early intervention programs help fulfill this mission: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a program of highly trained volunteers who speak
The Youth Service Bureau Helping at-risk youth meet today’s challenges staff understands today’s greater challenges; the agency’s programs are designed to prevent and curb these problems. “I thank God for a program like this that helps our children by holding them accountable and giving them the help they need,” says one parent about the YSB Crossroads program. “The TASC Parenting Class gave me the tools I needed to become a more effective parent. My family is 200 percent better!” says another parent. And one young client, who successfully completed outpatient substance abuse therapy through the YSB’s Options program, says, “I think that this was a good program for me because it showed me what I was doing to my family and it helped me to realize that it just wasn›t worth it.” Many similar responses attest to the importance of this social service agency to St. Tammany and Washington parishes. YSB has an impressive record of effective and sensitive service to clients of all ethnicities from every socio-economic background. Tina Flick, who has been a member of the YSB board for about a year and half, has treasured her involvement with YSB and making a difference in the lives of children in crisis or need and their families. “I love to put my energy behind anything that helps 58
Inside Northside
in court for abused and neglected children. Crossroads processes referrals by the court of non-violent juvenile offenders, scheduling and supervising their community service work, and later providing counseling as needed for the youth and their families. Families In Need of Services (FINS) provides resources and support for families who have children with ungovernable behavior (such as running away and truancy) in an attempt to keep families from becoming involved in the court system. Options is a family-focused, licensed outpatient treatment program for adolescents who are experiencing problems with alcohol and/or other drugs. The Truancy and Assessment Service Center (TASC) is a prevention program that provides resources and support for children in grades K - 5 and their families in order to reduce truancy and prevent juvenile delinquency. “Our focus is on the children of the northshore. They are our future,” says Flick. “Government funding is being cut to programs like YSB—that’s why Chef’s Soirée, our largest fundraiser, is so critical for YSB and its programs. We need the support of the northshore community now more than ever.” For more information on the Youth Service Bureau and its programs, go to ysbworks.com.