NORTHERN OKLAHOMA YOUTH SERVICES CENTER AND SHELTER INC
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Mission Statement
NOYS MISSION STATEMENT Northern Oklahoma Youth Services (NOYS) is a community based youth service program that exists to strengthen families, decrease the occurrence of child abuse and neglect, family violence, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and other negative behaviors and conditions that limit a youth’s potential to grow into a healthy, responsible self-sufficient adult. SHELTER MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Emergency Youth Shelter is to provide quality care and supervision for children and youth who are temporally homeless.
About This Cause
Organizational Information “Northern Oklahoma Youth Services (NOYS) is a community-based youth service program that exists to decrease the occurrence of; child abuse/neglect, family violence, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and other negative behaviors.” Agency goals and objectives are developed to address the community’s needs, based on availability of resources. The overall philosophy can be stated pretty simply. “Is it good for kids? Does it fit our basic mission? And can we afford it?” For the past 48 years we have recognized a critical need in our area for an emergency youth shelter. The mission of the Emergency Youth Shelter is to provide quality care and supervision for children and youth who are temporarily homeless because of neglect, abuse, abandonment, waiting to return home or to other placement. Northern Oklahoma Youth Services (NOYS) has a 48-year track record of successfully managing state and federal grants. NOYS is licensed by the Department of Human Services Office of Childcare and certified by the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services. NOYS is nationally accredited through C.A.R.F. (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to provide behavioral health services. The agency undergoes an independent audit each year to make sure our funds are in accordance to general accounting principles. Northern Oklahoma Youth Services is a private non-profit agency governed by a local Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are volunteers drawn from the local service area and comprised of area citizens concerned about the issues affecting area youth. The NOYS Board of Directors meet monthly to review and approve monthly financial, program, and various other business reports. Board members also serve on numerous advisory or steering committees associated with NOYS programs. The NOYS Board of Directors assist with fundraising, community awareness and education activities that advocate for youth and family programs. Board members also support other community activities and services including the United Way. In addition to time and advocacy, every one of the Board makes a financial contribution to our agency. Northern Oklahoma Youth Services also recognizes the valuable support and partnership that it has with the United Way of Ponca City. NOYS acknowledges the Ponca City United Way in media releases, promotional materials and public presentations. The United Way logo is used on agency brochures, correspondence and referenced in taglines for public media. Our agency has up to date United Way information posted for the community to see. NOYS staff will assist with the United Way campaign as needed and conduct a vigorous in-house campaign among staff and Board Members. Program Description The Youth Emergency Resource Center (shelter) provides temporary care and supervision for youth in crisis. The youth shelter can also be a valuable resource to a family in crisis when a “cooling off” period is needed between parent/guardian and adolescent, to avoid violence or runaway behavior. The shelter has consistently met our outcome goals, Peer Standards set by the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services, State of Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, as well as, the standards of the DHS licensing authorities. Professional level counseling is available to residents and families. Shelter residents are supervised and cared for by trained staff that have completed extensive background checks. All shelter staff are certified in CPR and managing aggressive behavior. The staff members also participate in mandatory continued education hours. Any staff member who transport the youth for education or recreation are also certified in van driver safety. We also provide case management, crisis intervention, short term counseling, referral and follow-up counseling when needed. Health services include weekly screenings by a health professional. Residents are transported to school and any necessary appointments/activities. The shelter program includes a variety of personal development services and activities for the youth in our care. Ample time is provided for homework, recreation, counseling, and help with meal preparation. Residents receive homework assistance, independent living lessons, and trips to local recreational facilities. Independent living education and case management services will help provide youth the skills needed to get off and stay off the streets. After transition services, we will follow up with the youth as they progress outside of shelter to provide support as new challenges or situations arise in the youth’s life. Typical residents are homeless, or at-risk of being homeless, youth ages of 6 through 17. This includes youth who are runaway, awaiting placement and/or abandoned. Shelter residents may have been victims of abuse and/or neglect. Services are designed to include positive youth development, educational advocacy, and incorporate trauma informed clinical services. History has consistently demonstrated the need for an emergency youth shelter in our service area. Last year NOYS provided 2085 safe shelter care days to 94 youth residents. NOYS has a proven track record of being a successful community-based program, collaborating with many local and statewide organizations/stakeholders. The agency’s partnerships vary in purpose. We have contractual relationships with some organizations to govern funding, MOU’s or cooperative agreements with some, Others are less formal and involve regular contact that include information sharing and coordination of services. Our partners include other United Way member agencies as well as these additional community partners: OJA, Kay Co. District Court, DHS, law enforcement, area schools, NCOcoC, the City of Ponca City as well as State and Federal agencies as both funders and referral sources. Without a shelter many local teens would be living on the street, in substandard housing, or staying at a house with inadequate care or supervision. Homeless teens, especially girls, often become the victims of exploitive relationships. Without a shelter in Kay County, many neglected or abused youths who are in the custody of Child Welfare would be moved to a shelter in a distant part of the state. Thus, disrupting their ability to attend a familiar school, and interact with siblings, parents, or grandparents. For custody youth an unfamiliar caseworker may hamper their ability to mend relationships with parents or progress in their service planning. The lack of a youth shelter in Ponca City would not only have a significant negative impact on the youth but, also on many communities in North Central Oklahoma. Youth in this rural area have no alternatives for self-sufficiency. The youth who come in contact with the authorities cannot be safely released without an emergency shelter alternative. These youth tend to get entangled in the criminal justice system, mental health or other system services. This is a detriment to the youth and the involvement with law enforcement diverts resources away from more appropriate populations/placements. Northern Oklahoma Youth Services is unique because we operate the only emergency youth shelter in the service area. Other local homeless shelters may provide services to the general homeless population but, do not serve youth who are separated from their parents or guardians. The NOYS emergency shelter meets the needs of children who are homeless due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, runaway behavior, or other temporary emergency situations.The need for these services is demonstrated by the current utilization of the shelter. Over the last three years the youth emergency shelter operated by Northern Oklahoma Youth Services averaged 6.5 youth in care during every single day of the year. The programs operated by NOYS address some of the most pressing unmet needs in the community. To address many of the problems indicated by the community needs survey we provide counseling, parent education, emergency shelter, school based services, and substance abuse prevention. Most of these services are not available anywhere else in the region and certainly are not free to the family like what NOYS provides. All of our prevention programs are available to assist the youth and their family. These programs include individual counseling, family counseling, child abuse prevention, Trauma Counseling, and parent education programs. Our goal as an agency is to provide preventative services so there is no need for future shelter placements. NOYS designs services to be as accessible as possible. The shelter is open and available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. There are no fees for any of our services ensuring inclusiveness to all members of our community. We know the shelter is needed based on community risk factors and statistical indicators. The program has grown in terms of utilization over the last several years. We have experienced some of our highest daily census counts ever while maintaining positive outcomes for residents. Funds received will be used for the general expenses of operating a shelter program. If possible, funds will be used to leverage any state, federal or foundation grants that may be available. For example, the Emergency Solutions Grant through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce contributes to the shelter program and requires match funds.