ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Teen Drop-In Center offers respite for out-of-school youth

While they’ve seen no teens yet, through their work of providing behavioral health services around West Virginia, Mountain Care Network co-owners Chris and Crystal Price know there’s a need.

Last summer, the two were looking for a way to serve the unsheltered population in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä when they came across an article about teen drop-in centers.

“There’s nowhere for teens to go except for adult spaces, where it’s super predatory at times, not very safe,� said Chris Price.

Michael Farmer, CEO of the afterschool program Step by Step, offered a space in a community building on the West Side. The building hosts the afterschool program, the church Farmer pastors and other community activities. Across the street is a family resource center.

The Drop-In Center is on the second floor of the space and offers a washer and dryer, changing rooms, a shower and the reading room, computer lab, game room and art room that Step by Step uses.

Step by Step also has resources like a clothing closet that teens can use if needed.

The center is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and teens can get connected with the Step by Step program, which runs until 6 p.m. and has a transportation program to get local youth home safely.

Barriers to education

The goal of the center is to get teens from sixth to 12th grade back into school. An academic liaison will work with the teens, their family and the school to identify barriers and any supports that are needed.

Jennifer Jones, practice manager for Mountain Care Network, and Chris Price said barriers for getting kids to school include clean clothes, hygiene, transportation, family dynamics and lack of motivation and in-school academic support.

“A lot of our kids feel like they need more support that they’re not getting, so they just kind of give up,� Jones said.

Chris Price gave the example of a student falling asleep in class. Teachers may not know what’s happening at home. Is there food in the fridge? Is there enough privacy to fall asleep?

“You can’t ever figure those dynamics out unless you touch base with the student, and the student’s not coming to school,� he said. “Hopefully, this helps us get students here to help identify those barriers.�

Staff at the Mountain Care Network can then work with families to help achieve goals that may make students more successful. For any teens who are unsheltered, referrals can be made to local youth shelters. The Mountain Care Network also will work with local schools.

Expansion

Thursday, several Kanawha County school counselors and social workers got a tour of the space. Already, they were asking for a center in their community.

“We really want to put together the recipe here,� Chris Price said. “If we can figure it out here, we know we can scale it.�

Mountain Care Network is eyeing the eastern part of the county for the next center.

“The need throughout the state is there,� Chris Price said. “The problem is ... as you get farther out, there’s not as many people going there, so, by the time you do get there, those problems are more intense.�

Chris Price wants to make sure teens know that the center is completely free. And, that while there is a church sign on the outside of the building, every student will be cared for, no matter their race, nationality, sexual orientation or gender.

“It is a safe space. It is a space that is clean. It is a space [where] they can feel secure and comfortable and still do vulnerable things like take a shower and wash clothes and potentially study,� Chris Price said. “And do the things that really anyone at that age should be able to do and feel safe doing so.�