Youth & Family Services

Youth and Family Services (YFS) is a program of Neighborhood House, Inc.

YFS is committed to building a stronger community. We work with youth, their families, the schools, and community groups to provide support and encouragement as people make positive changes in their lives because:

Strong Families = Better Communities

Services:

YFS offers a variety of services for youth and families (please click on the services that you are interested in):

Information & Referral
SUN Community Schools (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods)
Mentorship Programs
Youth Career Exploration Project and Case Management
Recreation/Summer Camp

Getting Involved:

Throughout the year YFS hosts several Community Events.

Our programs are funded by Multnomah County, United Way, City of Portland and private grants.

There are many opportunities to be a part of YFS. Your positive input and energies are always cherished and welcomed! Below are some YFS opportunities...

Volunteer Participation - Tutoring & Mentoring
Donations

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SUN Community School

Neighborhood House is the lead agency for five SUN Community Schools in Southwest and North Portland:

Robert Gray Middle School

Jackson Middle School (funded by the Children's Investment Fund - City of Portland)

Markham Elementary

Clarendon-Portsmouth K-8

Roosevelt High School

At SUN Schools, we coordinate and provide educational, recreational and social services, creating full-service community centers that help youth and families succeed.
SUN Community School activities include:

• Homework help, tutoring, academic classes, art, sports, music and other activities.
• Mentoring
• Safe, supportive places before and after school
• Educational classes for adults (parent education)
• Cultural and community events
• Access to social services/basic needs such as food boxes, energy assistance, counseling, etc.

We also offer summer camps at most SUN Community School sites!
For more information, contact:

Linda White, Robert Gray SUN School Coordinator - (503) 452-3765 or lwhite@nhweb.org

Emily Neve, Markham SUN School Coordinator- (503) 544-6433 or eneve@nhweb.org

John Mashek, Jackson SUN School Coordinator - (503) 544-6009 or jmashek@nhweb.org

Mentoring Program
Our overall purpose is to assist young people in reaching their full potential through one-to-one relationships with positive role models. To this end, we offer three different mentoring program options:

West Side Connections is a community-based mentoring program serving young people ages 7 through 14 who attend selected schools in SW Portland. Youth are individually matched with carefully screened adult volunteers, usually of the same gender. Volunteer mentors get together with their matched young person for at least 8 to 12 hours per month for a minimum of one year. The volunteer shares low or no cost activities with the youth while offering friendship, support and guidance. The program coordinator supervises and supports each mentoring relationship, maintaining regular contact with the mentor and the youth's family.

Lunch Buddies matches elementary aged students, one-to-one, with caring volunteers (16 years of age and older) for weekly visits during the child's lunch and recess period at school. The volunteer talks, listens and shares activities with the student on the playground, in the library or in a designated classroom. The goal is to provide friendship, support and encouragement toward enhancing the child's self-esteem, social skills and overall school performance. Participating schools are located in Southwest and North Portland neighborhoods. 

For more information about these programs, or to receive an application packet, please contact John Grueschow, Mentoring & SUN CS Specialist at 503-869-8623 or jgrueschow@nhweb.org.

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Youth Career Exploration Project and Case Management

The Youth Career Exploration Project is a program for middle school students from immigrant families residing in southwest Portland and attending Robert Gray or Jackson Middle Schools. The program is aimed at helping students: 1) discover career options, 2) focus their interests and establish realistic goals, and 3) begin drawing connections between school and employment success. The Career Explorations Project includes career discovery activities that will increase student's real-life understanding of the job world, Career Day events at the middle schools, and work site and university tours for the youth. The Career Exploration Project also provides intensive case management services to students and their families to increase academic performance, attendance and family involvement.

If you are interested in hosting a group of students at your work site, or would like more program information, please contact Cassie Sorensen, Youth Advocate/Career Explorations Coordinator at 503-781-7890, or csorensen@nhweb.org.


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