Need help? Here’s a rundown of our support:
- Short-term crisis stabilization and emergency housing for youth aged 13-17
- Structured program, including individual, group, and family counseling
- Youth must be willing to be part of the program and need the approval of a parent or guardian
- Located in Tysons, Virginia
- Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN (1-800-729-8336) or text “NEEDHELP” to 855-11 to connect with us and see if we have availability
The issue:
Fairfax County Public Schools reported almost 3,000 youth without the support of a parent or guardian in the 2018-2019 school year. A national study from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago revealed that 1 in 30 youth between the ages of 13 to 17 experience some form of homelessness in a year. These young people often sleep on friends’ couches, may struggle with mental health issues, and lack the support and opportunities many of their peers receive. Many times they try to maintain a “normal” life – going to school and keeping up appearances like all is well.
Our work:
Second Story for Teens in Crisis offers a temporary safe haven for young people 13 to 17 years old. Young people stay for up to three weeks at a time and receive crisis intervention-focused individual, group, and family counseling and help keeping up with their education. Staff and counselors help youth achieve goals they set for themselves – things like improving relationships at home, processing their emotions productively, and developing coping skills for dealing with past trauma. Our goal is to reunite these young people with their families whenever possible, and the majority of the time family reunification is achieved. When this is not safe or advisable we help connect them to another safe living arrangement.
Who is eligible?
Any young person in crisis between 13 and 17 years old is able to call our hotline and complete a phone screening to determine eligibility or access resources if they are not eligible for our program. Parents and service providers are also welcome to call our hotline to determine if a young person is eligible.
Our impact:
In fiscal year 2020 we supported 58 youth and answered 942 hotline calls. Youth in this program received daily individual counseling and daily group counseling.
If you or a young person you know needs help and would like support from Second Story for Teens in Crisis call 1-800-SAY-Teen (1-800-729-8336) or text “TeenHelp” to 855-11.