Lakes Center for Youth and Families

We are committed to making sure every young person that enters our doors can find the resources they need to make their life better.

We do this by strengthening positive connections and relationships youth have with their families and their community. Youth who show up at LC4YF are listened to and empowered with skills to help them shape their futures. The reasons they come to LC4YF may vary – they may want to find ways to help their community, learn how to find and keep a job, develop stronger social skills, build better relationships with their families, or get beyond addiction.

LC4YF offers a broad spectrum of programs and services for all youth and their families. Staff members intentionally plan experiences to draw in youth who may otherwise fall through the cracks and engage them in community volunteerism and skill building activities that are meaningful and relevant. They also provide professional guidance and counseling to youth who are struggling or engaging in delinquent activities.

Healthy Relationships: In 2016\r\n• 86% of youth completing counseling services reported significant improvement regarding relationships with family and friends.\r\n• 64% of recovering clients attended Our Place Recovery Group more than once during the year; 25% of recovering clients attended on an on-going basis (4 or more sessions)\r\n• 97% of youth completing the Community Justice/Diversion program reported a greater understanding of how their behavior and choices affect themselves and others\r\n\r\nMeaningful involvement:\r\n• 59% reported that they would have been home alone, unsupervised, home with siblings or hanging out with friends had they not participated in the after-school activity\r\n• 66% of participants said they would volunteer as a result of doing community service\r\n• 82% of mentored youth participated on a consistent, ongoing basis\r\n• 60% of youth completing Teen Intervene services reported reducing or quitting their chemical use.\r\n\r\nRelevant Learning Experiences:\r\n• 78% of youth referred to the program due to illegal activities (property offenses, assault, alcohol and drug offenses, status offenses) had no further involvement with the juvenile justice system one year after program completion.\r\n• 85% of youth completing the Community Justice/Diversion program and 71% of counseling clients reported increased decision-making skills one year after program completion.\r\n• 90% of youth completing counseling services reported an improvement in the problem they addressed in counseling (of those 71% reported a significant improvement).