A Continuum of Care

Ben Martens

Jackson Street Youth Services offers youth a safe place to live, resources to work through crises, and programs to help create a brighter, more stable future. We offer 24/7 shelter to youth 10-17, transitional housing for 18-24 year-olds through our Next Steps program, material support to youth 10-24 with our Outreach program, and a host of support groups, community engagement opportunities, mental health supports, events, and even supported employment through our Youth Ambassador program.

We often refer to our services as a Continuum of Care, or wraparound services, to explain the fact that we do far more than simply offering shelter to youth. Case in point: our partnership with Greenbelt Land Trust.

Despite the rural nature of our community, many youth we serve have never experienced quality time in nature. When Greenbelt’s volunteer manager Jean Fleming reached out to us about bringing youth out to Bald Hill Farm, our Positive Youth Development Coordinator Zoe Seaders literally squeaked with excitement!

She said, “Getting the youth out on the farm has been one of our favorite activities. Jean is incredibly patient and gracious with the youth, even when they have next to zero experience and an unhealthy fear of the outdoors.”

For the last two years, our youth have hiked, learned about native plants and wildlife, picked and pressed apples, built birdhouses, and experienced the sense of peace and wonder found in nature that many of us take for granted.

Zoe shared a heartwarming story about the birdhouse project:

“One of our youth had literally no confidence about her birdhouse while making it. A month later, she opened it up to see that the birdhouse she built, that has her initials carved on the bottom, was full of eggs! The smile on her face made my year.”

Our work is all about opening doors for young people in need. Poverty, trauma, and instability can make their worlds very small, scary, and limited. Through our services we show youth a broader vision for their future, whether it’s scholarship opportunities, affordable housing, or healing their family relationships.

We’re incredibly grateful to Jean and everyone at Greenbelt for going out of their way to create a space for our youth to participate in relationship with the land. The benefits of time spent in nature for mental and physical health are well-documented, and we’ve seen that for ourselves in the youth that we support.

If you’re interested in learning more about our work, there are many ways to plug in!

• Youth HOPE Month – Albany Skate Park Vigil on 11/12 and Corvallis Skate Park Concert 11/20, both events 5-7pm. Come support youth, say hello to our team, and check out some inspired speakers and performers.
• Holiday Food Drive – We are collecting non-perishable food the first 3 weeks of November for Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday food boxes.
• Youth Holiday Wishlists – Adopt a youth wishlist and purchase up to 3 items for a single youth. We send you the list, you drop off the presents.

If you’re eager to get involved contact Ben at ben.martens@jacksonstreet.org for more information about all of these opportunities!

~Ben Martens

Ben Martens is the Communications and Events Coordinator for Jackson Street Youth Services.

Their Mission: Jackson Street Youth Services is here to promote safety, stability and well-being for youth. We work to prevent homelessness by showing a path to long-term success through building positive relationships and teaching skills for self-sufficiency.