As 2025 comes to a close, we remain committed to our legacy of working in solidarity with young people and their families to advance their personal growth and social equity. Our program outcomes from this past year illustrate how we work with families and empower young people through services that bring them closer to the lives they want to live, the people they want to be, and to the community we are building together.
Our mission is focused on thematic areas of safety, health, justice, and education:
- Promoting safety in times of crisis — providing immediate support when youth need it most
- Physical and emotional well-being — addressing the whole person
- Social justice in communities facing inequity — working toward systemic change
- Educational success — opening doors to future opportunities
Program Outcomes: Measuring Success
We are proud of the progress we’ve made together. Here are some recent program results, hard-won through evidence-based programs rooted in communities and grounded in approaches that work for young people.
Huckleberry House: Shelter in Times of Crisis
Our crisis intervention and shelter services made a critical difference for hundreds of youth this year:
- 250 more youth received crisis intervention counseling and overnight shelter
- 87% of sheltered youth transferred to safe housing
- 89% of sheltered clients with safe families were reunited
- 96% of sheltered clients received aftercare services
Counseling: Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being
Mental health support remained a cornerstone of our work:
- 516 young people received mental health services
- 63% of clients demonstrated improvement in well-being, as measured by an evidence-based tool (using an Outcomes Rating Scale)
Sexual and Reproductive Health: Comprehensive Care and Education
We continued to provide essential health services and education:
- 2,619 young people participated in our health education workshops
- 91% of surveyed workshop participants reported learning something new, and 75% said they would change their behavior as a result
- 295 young people received primary, sexual, or reproductive medical care
- 96% of clinic clients reported being satisfied with our services and felt their values, beliefs, and cultures were respected during service delivery
HART: Crisis Intervention and Case Management
Our Huckleberry Advocacy & Responses Team (HART) program provided crucial support to young people to prevent commercial sexual exploitation:
- 92 vulnerable youth received services, with 58 receiving ongoing crisis intervention and/or case management
- 95% of youth who completed an intake assessment continued to engage in services for at least one month
CARC: Breaking the Cycle
Community Assessment and Referral Center (CARC), our community-based diversion program, helped youth navigate the justice system:
- 356 more youth received services
- 79% of case management clients were not rearrested within the year following program completion
- 89% of case management clients completed their probation requirements
ACE: Investing in Educational Success
Access to College Equity (ACE), our college and career access program for first-generation college students, demonstrated the power of intensive educational support:
- 110 youth spanning high school and early college received intensive services
- 100% of senior participants graduated from high school
- 100% of senior graduates enrolled in a post-secondary institution this fall
How We Achieve These Results
Trauma-Informed Care Makes All the Difference
Our trauma-informed approach utilizes strengths-based, person-centered methods that prioritize client safety, trust, and empowerment, rather than judgment. This approach increases engagement, reduces re-traumatization, and improves health outcomes.
This type of care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
The benefits are clear:
- Creates safety
- Builds trust
- Empowers clients
- Reduces stigma
- Improves engagement and outcomes
Harm Reduction: Meeting People Where They Are
Harm reduction is a practical, compassionate, and evidence-based approach that meets people “where they are at,” focusing on minimizing negative health and social consequences.
Why harm reduction works:
- The approach saves lives
- Reduces further harm
- No judgmental approach
- Creates pathways and accessibility to treatments
- Addresses the root cause
The Power of Integration
When combined, trauma-informed care and harm reduction services offer a comprehensive, integrated approach that addresses both the root causes (trauma) and the immediate risks (harm from substance use or other behaviors).
This approach:
- Avoids re-traumatization
- Builds resilience
- Improves overall health and well-being
Looking Forward
These outcomes represent more than statistics—they represent real young people who benefit from evidence-based care. As we move into the next year, we remain committed to this work and to the youth and families who trust us to walk alongside them on their journeys.
Thank you to our dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we’re building a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
