Volunteers of America’s Street Outreach Services provide education and prevention services to youth. Street outreach breaks with tradition by taking services to youth, rather than expecting them to come to the agency.  Volunteers of America staff serve as a link to runaway/homeless youth and the programs and services they need to leave the street.

Youth involved with the Peer Outreach Educator program are teamed with Street Outreach staff to promote healthy lifestyle choices to their peers on the streets. Identified by their bright yellow shirts, sweatshirts, or jackets, the Street Outreach team reach out to kids in parks, malls, rec centers, malls, fair grounds, or wherever they may be congregating.

The goals of Street Outreach Services are:

• To refer them to the Bowden Youth Center services
• To establish relationships with youth to help them leave the street
• To alleviate the immediate needs of street youth
• To reunite youth with their families, when possible
• To help youth decide on a future course of action
• To provide resources and hygiene kits to those at risk

Another outreach service provided is LEAP (Leadership, Education, and Adventure Program). LEAP is a series of individual and group activities designed to challenge and motivate its participants. LEAP encourages teamwork and builds individual confidence through exercises like “elbow tag.” LEAP facilitators are available and can travel to an off-site location.

Telephone	Fax
(605) 336-7536	(605) 336-7759