Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets

Geographic areas served: King County Wide

Programs: General programs: psks is unique in that it calls upon the talents and experiences of homeless and formerly homeless youth and young adults to develop service strategies for their peers. Tapping into the talents and insight of homeless youth is acomplished through the core membership program, the foundation of our organizational approach. Core members comprise a voting group of psks participants that have a proven commitment tot he organization and reached established goals to contribute to organizational decision-making. Core members, in collaboration with staff and the psks board, help to sustain the eforts of psks.

lasting employment advancement program (leap): through leap, psks identifies youth who show an ability to meet expectations and hires them to work at psks for a three-month internship. After the initial term, those who have demonstrated a suitable level of work ethic and responsibility will be placed in the community to work.

stepping stones and capitol hill case management: stepping stones is a case management program that works with at-risk youth and young adults not currently served by other agencies. We also provide emergency loans on a case-by-case basis and provide intervention and memorial services. Our case manager program consists of on and off-site case management and referrals to other agencies. Step beyond: step beyond is an "after care" program for youth and young adults who have exited from the streets. Its intent is to prevent the reoccurrences of homlessness. It provides a support group of like-minded individuals who have shared experiences, case management and extracurricular activities.

homeless youth for peace and empowerment (hype): a day program that helps teach young people to advocate for themselves and includes workshops, community meetings, and youth outreach. Participants of hype learn about other opportunities within psks including core membership. It also provides services for the glbtq community. At the hype center, clients have access to nutritional snacks and light lunches, a telephone, computers, and a mailing address. Re-inventing steps to education: rise is an educational program that facilitates students to receive their ged. Additionally, the program prepares and encourages those students to continue their education in a a community college setting in order to receive an aa degree. Psks developed risk to meet the individual needs of young people who have not been successful in the conventional school system.