Welcome to the
Ryan's House For Youth (RHFY) Campus
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY!!!
WHAT WE DO
Ryan’s House For Youth (RHFY) Board, Staff and Volunteers are so pleased about what we have been able to accomplish over the past 9 years and are excited to share with you just our accomplishments since December 23, 2017 with you.
Also, many things have been said about us recently, so we would like to set the record straight by addressing some of the concerns that have been shared with us.
Homeless Youth - RHFY goes by the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless which includes youth who are doubled up and couch surfing. RHFY uses the term youth (as the state does) as 12-24 year olds, because science now proves that a young person’s brain doesn’t fully form until at least 25 years of age. Quite a few of our youth have had many Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and trauma which have caused learning issues as well. For more information about The McKinney-Vento Act, Trauma and ACES please call for an appointment at 360-331-4575.
Drop-In Center – The RHFY Drop-in Center is located on the east side of the Campus. It is open for all youth ages 12-24 between the hours of 7am-7pm Monday through Friday. There is always an adult in the Drop-in Center and if a youth under the age of 18 is there, a staff or volunteer chaperones them while on site. No youth is allowed in the housing area on the west side unless they are residents. The Drop-in Center itself is approx. 900 sq. feet with a kitchen, clothing closet and dining / TV area. There are security cameras in every room, which can be monitored remotely, and every staff member, volunteer, and youth over the age of 18 has a background check done.
The Drop-in Center has many purposes. This space offers a supervised home like setting where youth and young adults can come to eat, shower, take a nap, and receive one-on-one case management, and access our clothing closet. Our clothing closet offers everything from clothing to school supplies and everything in between. Case management involves helping youth access photo identification, social security card, birth certificate, medical coverage, food benefits, applying for college, finishing high school, obtaining medical treatment, obtaining mental health and drug addiction services, resume building and mock interviews. Case managers offer mediation and reunification services for families, and so much more. Our case managers go above and beyond and even go a step further, not only do they help coordinate services, they will help with scheduling appointments, transportation to and from appointments, and help filling out paperwork. Case managers are available for 24/7 support. The Drop-in Center is also a point in contact for our Host Home Program.
Also, many things have been said about us recently, so we would like to set the record straight by addressing some of the concerns that have been shared with us.
Homeless Youth - RHFY goes by the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless which includes youth who are doubled up and couch surfing. RHFY uses the term youth (as the state does) as 12-24 year olds, because science now proves that a young person’s brain doesn’t fully form until at least 25 years of age. Quite a few of our youth have had many Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and trauma which have caused learning issues as well. For more information about The McKinney-Vento Act, Trauma and ACES please call for an appointment at 360-331-4575.
Drop-In Center – The RHFY Drop-in Center is located on the east side of the Campus. It is open for all youth ages 12-24 between the hours of 7am-7pm Monday through Friday. There is always an adult in the Drop-in Center and if a youth under the age of 18 is there, a staff or volunteer chaperones them while on site. No youth is allowed in the housing area on the west side unless they are residents. The Drop-in Center itself is approx. 900 sq. feet with a kitchen, clothing closet and dining / TV area. There are security cameras in every room, which can be monitored remotely, and every staff member, volunteer, and youth over the age of 18 has a background check done.
The Drop-in Center has many purposes. This space offers a supervised home like setting where youth and young adults can come to eat, shower, take a nap, and receive one-on-one case management, and access our clothing closet. Our clothing closet offers everything from clothing to school supplies and everything in between. Case management involves helping youth access photo identification, social security card, birth certificate, medical coverage, food benefits, applying for college, finishing high school, obtaining medical treatment, obtaining mental health and drug addiction services, resume building and mock interviews. Case managers offer mediation and reunification services for families, and so much more. Our case managers go above and beyond and even go a step further, not only do they help coordinate services, they will help with scheduling appointments, transportation to and from appointments, and help filling out paperwork. Case managers are available for 24/7 support. The Drop-in Center is also a point in contact for our Host Home Program.
Staff and Volunteer Training – Because RHFY is a trauma informed organization, all Staff, Board members and Host Families are required to take a three-hour trauma informed care training. This class is also offered to volunteers and many are happy to have the information. All volunteers, staff and board are also given a de-escalation training along with specific training to the policies and procedures of the facility. Policy and employee manuals are available on site. For more information please call for an appointment at (360) 331-4575.
Financial Rules – RHFY has a detailed set of accounting principles and policies. RHFY has a bookkeeper off site as well as a separate firm (Franklin Tax) that does the 990 and a third independent firm (Edwards and Associates) for the yearly audit.
Insurance – RHFY has and will always have the appropriate insurances. RHFY has general liability, Directors and Officers, Professional Liability, and vehicle insurance.
Housing- RHFY offers on site housing for young adults ages 18-24. RHFY offers emergency, short term, and transitional housing on site. There are strict rules in order to be housed onsite, including urinalysis drug screening and a background check upon entry, followed by random drug screens. Young adults are expected to be in school full time, working full time, or working onsite 20 hours a week and seeking employment 20 hours per week. There is a curfew, daily chores and responsibilities. RHFY requires any individuals whom have been diagnosed with a mental health illness to be receiving treatment, and any individuals suffering addiction issues are required to participate in treatment. Any individuals who are not willing to follow rules and guidelines are not permitted to stay in housing. If you have further questions about what these rules look like please feel free to stop in during normal business hours!
Housing Minors – RHFY only houses under aged youth (12-17) in their Host Home Program. Community members like you, open their homes to house these youth locally so that they can stay in their school of origin. RHFY follows the strict guidelines set out in the State law passed in 2016. Interested families go through an extensive application and screening process and if match is found a youth is welcomed into the home. All families are background checked, their homes are visited, case management and other supports are given to both the youth and the host family. In most situations, mediation and reunification with the biological family is the goal. This program has allowed over 15 youth to graduate high school and 2 young pregnant teens were able to raise and keep their babies with loving support. No young person under the age of 18 is allowed housing on the RHFY Campus. No youth is allowed to sleep in the woods or on the property. (Youth under the age of 18 who do not qualify for the Host Home Program or if literally homeless awaiting a host home placement are referred to shelters such as Oasis Teen Shelter, The Pad, or Cocoon house.)
Financial Rules – RHFY has a detailed set of accounting principles and policies. RHFY has a bookkeeper off site as well as a separate firm (Franklin Tax) that does the 990 and a third independent firm (Edwards and Associates) for the yearly audit.
Insurance – RHFY has and will always have the appropriate insurances. RHFY has general liability, Directors and Officers, Professional Liability, and vehicle insurance.
Housing- RHFY offers on site housing for young adults ages 18-24. RHFY offers emergency, short term, and transitional housing on site. There are strict rules in order to be housed onsite, including urinalysis drug screening and a background check upon entry, followed by random drug screens. Young adults are expected to be in school full time, working full time, or working onsite 20 hours a week and seeking employment 20 hours per week. There is a curfew, daily chores and responsibilities. RHFY requires any individuals whom have been diagnosed with a mental health illness to be receiving treatment, and any individuals suffering addiction issues are required to participate in treatment. Any individuals who are not willing to follow rules and guidelines are not permitted to stay in housing. If you have further questions about what these rules look like please feel free to stop in during normal business hours!
Housing Minors – RHFY only houses under aged youth (12-17) in their Host Home Program. Community members like you, open their homes to house these youth locally so that they can stay in their school of origin. RHFY follows the strict guidelines set out in the State law passed in 2016. Interested families go through an extensive application and screening process and if match is found a youth is welcomed into the home. All families are background checked, their homes are visited, case management and other supports are given to both the youth and the host family. In most situations, mediation and reunification with the biological family is the goal. This program has allowed over 15 youth to graduate high school and 2 young pregnant teens were able to raise and keep their babies with loving support. No young person under the age of 18 is allowed housing on the RHFY Campus. No youth is allowed to sleep in the woods or on the property. (Youth under the age of 18 who do not qualify for the Host Home Program or if literally homeless awaiting a host home placement are referred to shelters such as Oasis Teen Shelter, The Pad, or Cocoon house.)
Transportation - RHFY had originally started in the south end and had land in Scatchet Head. The community raised many concerns about the location and so chose not to build there. That piece of property was sold to help make changes to the new Campus. This Campus is centrally located and the bus goes directly in front of the facility and has a stop at the RHFY driveway. RHFY also has 4 vehicles in which to transport youth for intake, to doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, for school, for employment, etc. RHFY is part of a task force to tackle transportation barriers for youth and young adults on Whidbey Island. RHFY created a model with a small number of youth who signed up for transportation through our Drop-in center or Facebook transportation page. Transportation needs ranged from work to medical appointments. Our model has proven to be successful and the task force is working on creative ways to work with other organizations island wide to expand the program.
Accomplishments - This school year we had 5 young adults graduate high school! We have housed 28 youth in either host homes or on Campus since December 2016. (2384 bed nights) We have successfully placed 4 young adults in suitable facilities off island to ensure their success, placed 2 young adults into treatment programs, and 5 young adults have transitioned out into independent living. We have been able to offer through our volunteers; weekly visits to our youth by a licensed psychologist, yoga classes onsite, mentoring opportunities, and job opportunities. This is just a sample of our work over the last 7 months and we look forward to creating change in the cycle of homelessness and helping provide a future for our youth and young adults.
Accomplishments - This school year we had 5 young adults graduate high school! We have housed 28 youth in either host homes or on Campus since December 2016. (2384 bed nights) We have successfully placed 4 young adults in suitable facilities off island to ensure their success, placed 2 young adults into treatment programs, and 5 young adults have transitioned out into independent living. We have been able to offer through our volunteers; weekly visits to our youth by a licensed psychologist, yoga classes onsite, mentoring opportunities, and job opportunities. This is just a sample of our work over the last 7 months and we look forward to creating change in the cycle of homelessness and helping provide a future for our youth and young adults.
Taxpayer’s cost of losing a youth to the Juvenile Justice System $407 a day (2014 statistic)
Cost of saving a youth through
Ryan’s House For Youth Services $26 a day.
Cost of saving a youth through
Ryan’s House For Youth Services $26 a day.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY!!!!
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"Don't I deserve a family too?"
—A quote from an unaccompanied youth from Whidbey Island
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Ryan’s House for Youth offers a safe, home-like environment for at-risk and homeless teens. With the help of caring mentors, youth find the tools to help heal and grow in their relationships, while giving them the opportunities to reach their highest potential.
Click here to read more… |
How these Students are Living NowThree percent of homeless youth live in an un-sheltered environment; under tarps, in tents, in cars, or in the woods. Out of fear, 29% of these students aren’t comfortable revealing information about where they’re staying. The teenage years can be a stressful time for any kid, but one thing teenagers shouldn’t have to worry about during this time, is where they are going to sleep each night.
There are many reasons why these students are homeless. The majority of them leave home due to a parent or parents with substance abuse issues or mental illness. Neglect also comes into play during these scenarios; parents are so busy with their own issues, they cannot focus on their children. Click here to read more… |
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