RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

Prevention

Driven Ministries
610-678-7383

Mediation services between parents and youth

Parenting classes

Parent-Teen Conferences ($ minimal fee)

Berks County Children & Youth Services
Family Group Decision Making Coordinator - 610-478-6700

Family group decision-making process for families to join with relatives and friends to use their strengths to create a workable plan to ensure that children are cared for and protected from future harms in ways that benefit their culture and situation

Mary's Shelter
610-376-1973

Outreach to pregnant teens to prevent homelessness

Hotlines/Helplines

National Runaway Switchboard
1-800-RUNAWAY - (786-2929)

Crisis Intervention

Message Relay

Conference Calling

Home Free (in partnership with Greyhound Lines, Inc.)

Prevention/Education/Outreach

Website – www.1800RUNAWAY.org

Information and Referral

Covenant House
1-800-999-9999 (National), 1-888-829-1249 (PA)

Crisis counselors

BerksTALKLINE
610-374-TALK (8255), 1-800-472-TALK (8255)

Free, confidential, nonjudgmental, skilled listening services

Provides information on local resources

Intervention

Homeless Student Coordinator, Beth Rothermel
Berks County Intermediate Unit
610-987-8509 (phone), 610-987-8400 (fax)
betrot@berksiu.org

Link homeless youth to education services.

Arrange transportation for homeless youth for education purposes.

Provide school uniforms and supplies for homeless youth.

Enroll homeless students in school and ensure enrollment in free lunch program.

Greyhound Home Free Program
1-800-621-4000

Partner with National Runaway Switchboard

Provides a free ride home for runaway children ages 12 to 18

National Runaway Switchboard
1-800-RUNAWAY

Provides intervention assistance that focuses on solutions, offers information and referrals from a database of over 200,000 nationawide resources.

Arranges transportation through the Home Free Program with Greyhound.

Helps reunite runaway youth with their families.

Berks County Children & Youth Services
610-478-6700

Assessment and screening for child abuse and neglect

Foster care/placement for children who are not safe in their homes

Shelters

Covenant House
1-800-999-9999 (National), 1-888-829-1249 (PA)
31 E. Armat Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-951-5411

Crisis counselors

Shelter in Philadelphia for youth age 18-21

www.Nineline.org

Transitional Living program for young adults - Rights of Passage

Valley Youth House
539 Eighth Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-691-1200

Shelter for runaway and homeless youth age 12-17

Counseling services to resolve the incident that lead to the crisis that precipitated the runaway incident and to obtain long term living situations for youth.

Mary's Shelter
325 South 12th Street, Reading, PA 19608
610-376-1973

Shelter services for homeless pregnant young women and families (oldest child must be two years old or younger). If pregnant mother is under the age of 18, she must be signed in by a parent or guardian or be in the custody of Children and Youth.

The following resources are being provided because pregnancy is a common reason that young girls become homeless or runaway.

Pregnant and Parenting Teens

Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program
Berks County Intermediate Unit
610-987-8629, 610-987-8628

Services to encourage students to remain in school and graduate

Personal and vocational counseling

Parenting and life skills training

Assistance in acquiring quality child care

Provided at the school district

Referrals are received via the school nurse or guidance counselor

BerksTALKLINE
610-374-TALK

Provides a confidential, non-judgmental, high quality listening service, free to individuals who need to talk with someone.

Mary's Shelter
325 South 12th Street, Reading, PA 19608
610-376-1973

Shelter services for homeless pregnant young women and families (oldest child must be two years old or younger). If pregnant mother is under the age of 18, she must be signed in by a parent or guardian or be in the custody of Children and Youth.

Nurse Family Partnership
610-376-6077

Low-income, at–risk, pregnant women/teens bearing first child

Registered nurses visit women/teens in their homes during pregnancy and for the first two years of a child’s life.

Berks Visiting Nurses
610-378-0481

Provides home and community based-health care related services with a focus on helping individuals achieve a level of physical and emotionalwell being and independence in their home of choice.

Reading Hospital and Medical Center
610-988-9797

Women's health center and clinic

St. Joseph Medical Center
610-378-2000

Hospital

Service Access and Management
610-236-0530

24-hour assistance with mental health emergencies and case management