Dave Rosenberg

YOLO COUNTY'S EMERGENCY SHELTERS NEED YOUR HELP

By Dave Rosenberg
Yolo County Supervisor, District Four

The story you are about to read is not pretty. But it needs to be told. It's a story about Yolo County's children who live on the very edge. For more than 14 years, Woodland Youth Services has provided comprehensive care and shelter to children in Yolo County who have been the victims of abuse, neglect, molestation and abandonment.

A substantial number of children at WYS come from Davis and Woodland. WYS is comprised of two facilities: the Emergency Shelter Home and Crossroads House. Both of these facilities are the only ones of their kind in Yolo County. In 1997, Woodland Youth Services was one of only two agencies in California to pass the State Department of Social Services' CCL group home audit for both of its facilities (the 1998 audit is pending). The Emergency Shelter Home is Yolo County's receiving home for children (newborn to age 18) who have been abandoned or removed from their homes by Yolo County Child Protective Services. These are kids who are so troubled that it's often not possible to find relatives or even foster care to provide a home environment. They are among Yolo County's neediest. The children remain at the Shelter Home until a positive placement can be determined for them.

All of the children at the Shelter Home have suffered traumatic, often appalling, experiences and their needs are diverse and intensive. In addition to the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter, WYS provides a stable environment with a structured, consistent behavior modification program. These children are often in desperate need of medical and dental care, mental health evaluation and treatment, home schooling and one-on-one supervision to prevent them from hurting themselves or others.

Frequently, children arrive at the Shelter Home with no recorded history - whatever medical records, school records, etc. that exist must be tracked, compiled and submitted to the proper authorities. Although the first priority of the Shelter Home is the safety and stability of the children, each child's individual needs are addressed as completely as time and funding will permit.

Crossroads House is a residential facility for troubled teenage girlswho cannot be maintained in foster home placement. The girls at Crossroads House have survived repeated neglect, abandonment and sexual abuse. They have long histories in the child welfare system, have been through multiple placements and have behavioral problems which have escalated with each additional abandonment. They usually have not been in school for a long period of time, are frequently runaways and quite often arrive at Crossroads House struggling with drug addiction and sexually transmitted diseases.

Daily life at Crossroads House is characterized by stability, treatment, life skills training, a structured environment and the strong support of a 24-hour awake staff. The residents stay at Crossroads House until suitable placement can be found for them or, more often, until they are "emancipated" at 18 or 19 years old to pursue employment or higher education. Crossroads House represents positive possibilities for girls who are traveling a dead-end cycle through social services at a very young age.

The purpose of Woodland Youth Services is to first provide intensive emergency, interim care to children in crisis throughout Yolo County. The second, and equally important, part of its mission is to reduce the incidence, prevalence and impact of abuse, neglect, molestation and abandonment of children. WYS works toward this goal by identifying and addressing each child's medical, mental health, educational and social service needs as early and completely as possible to interrupt and reverse the cycle of violence and neglect. Without intervention, the cycle continues and the results are increased juvenile delinquency, adult criminality, homelessness, family violence, substance abuse, medical, educational and mental health problems, promiscuity and broken families.

Studies by the Department of Youth Authority and the Urban Rural Systems Association found strong correlation between abusive childhood experiences and all of these societal problems. WYS provides intervention and treatment as early and completely as possible. Otherwise, the costs to each child and society at large become exorbitant and devastating as the cycle of violence continues and expands over time. Woodland Youth Services offers hope, help and an opportunity for positive outcomes.

The needs of WYS are great. At my request, WYS has prepared a "Needs List" of items which, in increasing sums of money, would provide enormous help to the children served. Can you or your organization consider adopting a project? Here's the list:
WOODLAND YOUTH SERVICES NEEDS LIST
(BOTH FACILITIES)

1. 2 Printers, $700
2. Pots, pans and kitchen utensils, $800
3. New carpet, $1,500
4. Latex gloves and over-the-counter medications and supplies, $5,000 annually
5. Arts and crafts supplies, $5,000 annually
6. Outings, field trips, "out-of-the-house" activities, $7,000 annually
7. Furniture (sofas, dressers, chairs, cribs, etc.), $12,000
8. Therapeutic Recreation Area, $18,000
9. 4 additional staff, $58,000 ($14,400 each)
10. New facility, $150,000

If you feel you (or your organization) can help, please contact me:
Dave Rosenberg, Yolo County Supervisor, 625 Court Street, Room 204, Woodland, California 95695 (or email me at daverose@jps.net). I'll ensure that you are directly connected with WYS and that the assistance you provide goes directly to the children who need it the most.