Chon

Chon was a seventeen-year-old who ran away from home after a fight with his father left him with a broken jaw. After seeking medical care for his injuries Chon realized that going home was not a safe option. Instead, Chon found himself on the street homeless, hungry, exhausted, and cold.

A friend of Chon’s brought him to the New Avenues day service center where he was able to eat a hot meal, take a shower, get clean clothing and talk with a trained counselor. Staff immediately contacted the Department of Human Services to report the abuse. This initial visit to the day service center helped connect Chon to the continuum of programs that New Avenues offers.

Chon decided to participate in case management, where one of our counselors worked with him to develop an individual plan for success. Simultaneously, Chon enrolled in our alternative school to prepare for his General Educational Development (GED). He now has a safe place to live and is learning to prepare for independent living through our transitional housing program. Finally, with our staff’s support, he was able to find a steady job as a waiter. 

Stephanie

At age eighteen, Stephanie dropped out of high-school just months before earning her diploma. She ran from an abusive home and found herself living alone on the streets. When Stephanie first heard about New Avenues for Youth, she came in for breakfast and talked with our teaching staff, but she was reluctant to engage in any classroom activities. When she came back to the day service center for lunch, she was always curious about what classes had been offered in the school that day.

Over time, Stephanie began participating in writing and filmmaking workshops offered in the New Avenues school. She expressed her desire to complete her high school degree. Teaching staff began working with her to help Stephanie earn the General Educational Development (GED). Simultaneously, Stephanie worked with a case manager to address the emotional toll of many years of abuse. With the support of her teachers and case manager, Stephanie completed her GED and was awarded a scholarship to a local college.

Today, Stephanie is studying communication and filmmaking.

Josh was a seventeen-year-old who was raised in a neglectful home by parents addicted to methamphetamines. At an early age, Josh learned that anger was the only way to get attention from his parents. Over time, Josh’s relationship with his parents deteriorated, until they finally kicked him out of their home.

When Josh found New Avenues for Youth he struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction and had made numerous attempts to end his life. Josh was quickly paired with a clinical case manager to ensure his safety. With the support of his case manager, Josh began one-on-one and group counseling to address his mental health and addiction issues. Together, he and his case manager developed a treatment plan, and Josh learned about activities that did not involve alcohol and drugs, while developing a support system of people who were committed to sobriety. Josh has been sober for over a year.

Charlie

Sixteen-year-old Charlie grew up never knowing what it was like to have a stable home. Living with his parents in a small motel room, Charlie experienced physical and sexual abuse at the hands of his father. His mother, also a victim of abuse by her husband, was unable to defend Charlie. Charlie knew if he did not do something he would endure years of abuse, so he ran away.

When Charlie found New Avenues, he was anxious to find a safe place he could call home. With the help of New Avenues staff, Charlie became a resident of the transitional housing program. He was paired with a case manager and a primary counselor to help him build a plan for independent living. He began counseling to work through his anger and depression. Charlie also started to build valuable life skills, such as cooking, opening a bank account and making friends. He enrolled at a local high school to complete his diploma and began a customer service internship at a clothing store. Charlie lived in the program for thirteen months. He moved into his first apartment just three weeks after his high school graduation.

Charlie was hired at the clothing store full-time due to his work ethic and enthusiasm for helping others. Today, he is their customer service manager and was recently recognized as Employee of the Month.