Youth Pride Inc

Programs: Support services: youth pride, inc. (ypi) provides its clients with a variety of support services at its drop-in center, including: - basic needs pantry: with the help of rhode island foundation, hasbro children's fund, and drives from local schools and businesses, ypi runs a basic needs (food, clothing, school supplies, and toiletries) pantry for low-income youth in need. Last year, over 350 youth accessed the pantry. - one-on-one counseling: ypi employs two fee-for-service counselors who provide professional clinical psychological services to young people in need. Ypi's counselors assess youth for depression, suicidality, substance abuse, and other mental health issues. 32 youth attended one-on-one counseling last year. - support groups: ypi runs three different support groups designed to meet the needs of specific sub-groups of youth who participate in ypi activities. The way out is a peer led support-group, monitored by one of our licensed clinicians for all youth. Gender spectrum is a support group for young people addressing their gender identity and/or expression. Transgender spectrum gives transgender youth a safe forum for them to address issues among peers with the supervision of a transgender adult staff person. 76 youth regularly attended a support group last year. Finally, a new group formed this year called 13+under, which supports children ages 9-13 in similar ways that the way out does, only more appropriate for the younger age range. - personal advocacy and case management: through personal advocacy and case management, ypi staff are able to link young people with the resources they need to address their needs. Ypi staff work with youth to help them obtain the services they need from government agencies, the judicial system, educational institutions, other not-for-profit agencies, and health and mental health service providers. Over 90 youth served last year received some personal advocacy and case management services, based on their needs.