Mission Statement
Our House, Inc, is a youth agency that provides immediate help to youth (ages 11 to 17) in need, and assists homeless young adults (18 to 21) to achieve financial independence and self-reliance.
Philosophy
Prevention/intervention oriented, Our House, Inc. strives to provide immediate help to youth in need before they feel desperate or hopeless. Once the crisis has been addressed and the youth is stabilized, the staff and youth will jointly determine which services are most appropriate to meet the need. The agency offers shelter, counseling, tutoring, life skills, recreational activities, referral when needed, and aftercare. Our House is the only early intervention, 24/7 availability, self-referring program serving youth in northeast Louisiana.
The goal for boys and girls ages 11 to 17 in the short term shelter program usually is continuation in school, and family reunification or obtaining an alternative placement when necessary. However, for the homeless young adults in a 21 month program, the goals center on completing one’s education and working to obtain financial independence and self-reliance.
Because Our House is geared to help troubled non-offenders, youth (11-17) are encouraged to self-refer. Counselors, school personnel, law enforcement officers, and relatives also refer youth who need help. Unless the youth is placed at Our House in the custody of a state agency, he/she must consent to come.
In 1999 in an effort to help youth initiate assistance, the Our House administration advocated for the passage of a “72 hour Safe Harbor Law,” that provides a 72 hour break for youth running to a licensed shelter for help. A youth may leave any time during the 72 hour period with parental or guardian’s permission. This period provides time and space for the youth to assess his situation and with professional help consider solutions to the problems. The youth and family are encouraged to receive counseling to expedite their reunification.
Our House provides a comfortable homelike atmosphere where teens can share in the household responsibilities and in decision making. Our House establishes a structured yet flexible routine that allows youth to voice their opinions and make choices affecting their care at the shelter and other aspects of their lives. In an effort to improve the quality of life for the youth and his/her family, the staff help the teens to develop alternatives to non-productive cycles of behavior. These alternatives may reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system, prevent future runaway episodes, and assist positive family functioning.
Unlike the teens, the young adults live in apartments supplied by the agency, and many of them work to pay the rent and maintain their own apartment before they complete the program. The Transitional Living Program staff supervise and guide the young adults as they learn social skills, parenting skills, and life skills necessary for independent living.
Congruent with a youth development philosophy, the staff and youth design a highly individualized plan of care addressing the youth or young adult’s immediate needs and goals. The core philosophy of Our House reflects the principles of positive youth development as follows:
The goal for boys and girls ages 11 to 17 in the short term shelter program usually is continuation in school, and family reunification or obtaining an alternative placement when necessary. However, for the homeless young adults in a 21 month program, the goals center on completing one’s education and working to obtain financial independence and self-reliance.
Because Our House is geared to help troubled non-offenders, youth (11-17) are encouraged to self-refer. Counselors, school personnel, law enforcement officers, and relatives also refer youth who need help. Unless the youth is placed at Our House in the custody of a state agency, he/she must consent to come.
In 1999 in an effort to help youth initiate assistance, the Our House administration advocated for the passage of a “72 hour Safe Harbor Law,” that provides a 72 hour break for youth running to a licensed shelter for help. A youth may leave any time during the 72 hour period with parental or guardian’s permission. This period provides time and space for the youth to assess his situation and with professional help consider solutions to the problems. The youth and family are encouraged to receive counseling to expedite their reunification.
Our House provides a comfortable homelike atmosphere where teens can share in the household responsibilities and in decision making. Our House establishes a structured yet flexible routine that allows youth to voice their opinions and make choices affecting their care at the shelter and other aspects of their lives. In an effort to improve the quality of life for the youth and his/her family, the staff help the teens to develop alternatives to non-productive cycles of behavior. These alternatives may reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system, prevent future runaway episodes, and assist positive family functioning.
Unlike the teens, the young adults live in apartments supplied by the agency, and many of them work to pay the rent and maintain their own apartment before they complete the program. The Transitional Living Program staff supervise and guide the young adults as they learn social skills, parenting skills, and life skills necessary for independent living.
Congruent with a youth development philosophy, the staff and youth design a highly individualized plan of care addressing the youth or young adult’s immediate needs and goals. The core philosophy of Our House reflects the principles of positive youth development as follows:
Youth are valued
Youth are capable of initiating and obtaining help
Youth are encouraged to develop competency
Youth should have a sense of usefulness
Youth are helpful and useful members of society
Youth are entitled to a sense of belonging
Youth are encouraged to develop a sense of power and control over their lives.
In this ongoing process of life, everyone regardless of age, education, intelligence, or finances, is always learning, striving, seeking new solutions to new problems.
That is why it is so important to affirm youth, and provide them with the opportunities and encouragement to grow and utilize their talents in a safe, structured, supportive environment. No matter how short the stay, hopefully each youth who seeks help through Our House will discover at least one new one idea, attitude, or behavior that will impact his/her life in a positive manner. The message to youth and young adults is that you may give up on Our House, but Our House will never give up on you.
That is why it is so important to affirm youth, and provide them with the opportunities and encouragement to grow and utilize their talents in a safe, structured, supportive environment. No matter how short the stay, hopefully each youth who seeks help through Our House will discover at least one new one idea, attitude, or behavior that will impact his/her life in a positive manner. The message to youth and young adults is that you may give up on Our House, but Our House will never give up on you.
Our House Objectives
To treat each child as an individual, who with proper treatment and care can be re-habilitated through the use of individualized care (treatment) plans.
To approximate an effective family setting at Our House.
To prepare the youth and his/her family for productive, useful existence
In society after the youth returns home.
To offer services to those most in need.
To offer the highest standards of quality possible within the limits of available funding.
To work closely with related agencies in an effort to assist the youth in every way possible.
