Youth Resource Center

Serving Our Community’s Vulnerable Youth and Families

Youth Resource Center

The YRC Drop-in Center is a first point of contact that provides an informal atmosphere to attract and engage youth who are disadvantaged and/or homeless. Key features of the YRC include:

Low- or No-Barrier: Foster a welcoming, safe, non-judgmental environment, with limited requirements, conveniently located near public transportation.
Meet Basic Needs: Provide easy access to food, laundry, shower and clothes. Provide access to Internet, phones, and lockers for storage of belongings. Scheduled visiting medical staff can provide optional basic healthcare and first aid.
Trauma-Informed Care: Despite the informal atmosphere, staff is trained and ready to provide crisis intervention, conflict resolution and supporting services. It is especially important that staff be trained or have access to services specifically for LGBTQ and/or tribal youth, who are disproportionately represented among youth who are experiencing homelessness in our state.
Positive Youth Development: Staff is trained to develop the youth’s competence, confidence, connection and contribution.
Youth Focused: Create a positive and healthy peer network for youth, access to caring adults and engage in youth-centered programming.
Service Coordination: Operate as a central hub for services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, housing search support and advocacy. Staff can help with documentation and facilitates school re-engagement or connection to adult basic education or workforce development programs. Drop-in centers operate in tandem with mobile “street” outreach programs, family engagement services, emergency shelters and transitional housing.

2 young adult males holding some food donations in front of a fireplace

Young adults sitting around a table eating lunch

Our Vulnerable Youth in Great Falls are Struggling

More than 475 children in Great Falls are homeless at some point during the year
More than 600 children are in foster care in Cascade County, more than double the state average
70% of foster care placements are due to substance abuse and of these 80% involved Meth
25% of the graduating class of Paris Gibson Education Center lived on their own
30.8% of 10th graders reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past 12 months
More than 15,000 pounds of food are given to high school students annually
Many of the social services offered to children phase out between the ages of 12-18 leaving a large coverage gap in services for teenagers

The Youth Resource Center Fills Huge Resource Gaps

The Youth Resource Center, meets the physical, social and emotional needs of vulnerable youth in a low-barrier, safe, secure and loving environment. The Center is open Monday–Friday from 1:00PM - 7:00PM and serves youth ages 13-20.

The Center Offers:

Food (including a meal each day at 5 p.m. for our guests)
Clothing & hygiene products
Shower & laundry facilities
Mental health & addiction counseling
Suicide prevention services
Medical & dental care
Transportation assistance
Connection to employment, education/training & housing
Life skills

Young adults wearing baseball gloves posing for a photo on a baseball field.

How Can You Help?

Volunteer - Contact Logan Wren [email protected] or 406.952.0136 to fill out an application to start the process.
Transportation - Contact the Center at 406.233.1094 to volunteer.
Donate Necessary Items - We are in need of individually wrapped snacks, canned vegetables, beans and fruit, canned milk, tuna, and dry goods such as pasta and noodles, ready-made dinner items, cereal and dessert mixes. We are also always in need of hygiene items (particularly feminine hygiene items), laundry pods, dryer sheets and bus passes.
Donate Financially - Make your tax-deductible donation today! Donate Online