Yucca Valley center hoping to give at-risk youth breather

Yucca Valley-A program that offers recreation, necessities and counseling for youth will raise money with a car wash 9 a.m. Saturday in front of the Sears building here.

 

The Transitional Age Youth Center is raising money for summer trips, including a fishing trip and spa outing for teenagers and young adults who seldom get to indulge in such activities.

 

Some of the members of the youth center have never been outside of the Morongo Basin, Josh Buchanan, outreach coordinator, said Monday afternoon.

 

Trips like one planned to Big Bear Lake give them a change to socialize and spend time in nature, and show them the outcomes of making good decisions in their adult lives, he said.

 

But the outings are not paid for by the center’s regular sources of funding, so staff and clients are raising money through the car wash and upcoming fund-raisers.

 

Claire Karp, associate divisional director for Pacific Clinics, which runs the youth center, said adults have stepped in to help the kids achieve their goals.

 

“I’m so impressed with the community,” she said. “The outpouring of support for the young adults in the center has been tremendous.”

 

From Home Depot’s donation of supplies for Saturday’s car wash, to the Yucca Valley Bowladium’s gift of games and shoe rentals, to Carrow’s offer to share a night’s profits, several local businesses have given to the center.

 

Karp suggested another way businesses could help is by offering internships or work opportunities to members.

 

One of the unique aspects of the Transitional Age Youth program is the leadership role young people take.

 

The Peer Leadership Board, comprised of young people from the center, come up with the ideas for the program like the upcoming trips and help raise money.

 

“They put everything to a vote,” Buchanan explained.

 

The process helps build leadership skills, he said: “They’re not only off the streets, they’re making adult decisions.”

 

Pacific Clinics’ Transitional Age Youth is a two-pronged program for young adults ages 16 to 25.

 

The drop-in center offers a safe place for young people to socialize, do their homework, watch TV, access a computer and play pool or arcade games.

 

It also offers kids who are homeless or nearly so a place to shower, launder their clothes and eat a meal.

 

There are no applications or membership requirements; everyone within the age group is welcome.