| Eastern Story County |
Youth & Shelter Services of Eastern Story County
Youth & Shelter Services of Eastern Story County partners with communities to provide comprehensive prevention services that advocate for children, youth, and families and promotes healthy behaviors and choices. The office, located in Nevada, provides residents of Collins, Colo, Maxwell, McCallsburg, Nevada, and Zearing with prevention, youth development, intervention, and counseling services close to home.
The YSS of Eastern Story County Community Advisory Board provides local volunteer citizen support, guidance, and advice. At their monthly meetings, Community Advisory Board members provide future program strategic planning, local fundraising, oversight of quality improvement and outcome measures, and approve and monitor the annual budget. Community teen leaders serving on the Board work to identify local needs, assist with program development and promote the services available to youth and families in Eastern Story County.
Our effective programs and successful outcomes are the result of a combination of dedicated employees and volunteers and strong community support. School personnel, public safety staff, medical professionals, local business leaders and service clubs, city and county officials, other human service providers, and concerned citizens all partner with us to serve the children, youth and families in our communities. School staff and community groups collaborate with various informational and educational presentations support specific prevention strategies and programs. Individuals make referrals on behalf of persons that might benefit from our programs and provide financial support to help insure that our services stay close to home. Virtually everyone in our communities is in the position to help our young people lead healthy and productive lives.
Contact Information
Center Coordinator: Barbara K. Mittman
830 Sixth Street -- Nevada, IA 50201
Phone: 515-382-6874
Fax: 515-382-2256
24-hour Help phone line 1-800-600-2330
Comprehensive Prevention Strategies
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc., provides prevention and early intervention programs throughout Eastern Story County. Comprehensive strategies include:
• Informational media campaigns, interactive displays and speaking engagements
• Prevention education for students and peers in school settings and with parents and others in the community
• Youth development activities that promote skill-building and provide drug-free events for teens
• Mentoring programs
• Collaborative community-based and environmental processes that address the policies and attitudes that influence substance use
• Services with young people and their families that could benefit from early substance use intervention
The YSS Prevention staff is committed to implementing science and evidence-based prevention programs which have met rigorous standards proving their effectiveness. School, family and community-based initiatives bridge transitions between chronological and developmental stages and promote positive behavior. Comprehensive prevention strategies delay the onset of substance use and strengthen families and communities.
School-Based Programs
Talk About Touching is a personal safety curriculum that teaches kindergarten, first and second grade students simple safety rules to guide decision-making in a variety of situations, including those involving touching. The program implements 12-14 lessons and family components at each grade-level
Staff Contact:
Jane Larkin, Community Prevention Coordinator
515-233-3141
Too Good for Drugs is a drug prevention education program designed to equip 3rd-6th grade students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to remain drug-free. The program is based on the latest research about critical risk and protective factors and provides students and their families with proactive support, positive role models and high expectations.
Staff Contact:
Jane Larkin, Community Prevention Coordinator
515-233-3141
Project ALERT is a middle school program (grades 6-8) that focuses on alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Based on the social influence model of prevention, the curriculum is designed to help motivate young people to avoid drug use and reduce the frequency among existing users. The lessons in this two-year program focus on understanding the consequences of drug use, recognizing the benefits of non-use, building peer disapproval norms, and identifying and resisting pro-drug pressures. Homework assignments allow students to demonstrate knowledge and resistance skills to trusted adults and family members.
Staff Contact:
Barb Mittman, Lead Prevention Specialist
515-233-3141
GRIP (Great Relationships with Pairs) Mentoring
The YSS GRIP (Great Relationships with Pairs) Mentoring program has been pairing Eastern Story County children with mentors since 1999. The mentoring relationship is a mutual commitment to a long-term friendship that develops through weekly meetings at school. A mentor has a genuine interest in making a positive difference, supporting the potential of a child and realizing dreams.
GRIP mentors make application, interview and consent to reference checks. Training, resources, regular correspondence and special activities meet all the best practice standards for safe and effective mentoring recommended by MENTOR – The National Mentoring Partnership.
The program matched 75 elementary and middle school children in Nevada and Collins-Maxwell Schools with mentors during the 2008-2009 school year. Those interested in recommending children (grades K-8) or mentor volunteers are encouraged to contact our GRIP Mentoring Facilitator.
Staff Contact:
Erin Mousel, GRIP Mentoring Facilitator
515-233-3141
Youth Development
Youth Development is a process which prepares young people to meet the challenge of adolescence and become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent. Positive youth development addresses the broader developmental needs of young people through coordinated activities and experiences that allow youth to have a say in decisions that impact their life.
Youth Development claims positive goals and outcomes for all youth. Effective youth development activities are:
• YOUTH-CENTERED -- building on the strengths, skills, and interests of young people and involving them in planning and decision-making.
• KNOWLEDGE-CENTERED – rehearsing a range of life skills and constructing a network of positive adult and peer mentors.
• CARE-CENTERED – providing safe environments where youth can build significant relationships
Students at Colo Nesco and Nevada High Schools host Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) groups. At Collins-Maxwell High School, the young people call themselves ChaMps (Collins-Maxwell Celebrating High Achievers Making Positive Stands). These peer leadership organizations empower their members to lead prevention initiatives that reflect the needs of their respective schools and communities. Young people become skilled and educated agents addressing risk and protective factors and promoting safe and healthy decision-making. These teens play a leading role in implementing effective prevention strategies and programming.
Story County Teen Task Force (TTF) take positive youth development and leadership to the next level. Teens from across Story County meet to plan and implement strategies and initiatives that create a positive future for their peers, schools, and communities. Many of the TTF activities address substance abuse issues in and beyond their communities.
Collins-Maxwell Teen Club
Teen Club is a FREE afterschool program for students in 6th-8th grade at Collins-Maxwell Middle School. Teen Club provides a safe and exciting atmosphere where youth can build positive relationships with caring adults and their peers. The program offers many opportunities for Middle School students to explore their interests, expand their abilities, and get active in their community. Teen Club is held in Maxwell, Monday-Thursday afternoons until 5:00 p.m. .
Teen Club participants build leadership skills while giving back to their community though service learning opportunities. Club members also spend time building life skills. Teen Club provides a healthy snack, homework help and offers a chance for young people to play group games, complete craft activities, conduct science experiments, learn from guest speakers, and take field trips.
Staff Contact:
Katrina Lutzow, Collins-Maxwell Teen Club Site Supervisor
515-233-3141
Youth Employment
Our Youth Employment Specialist provides services to young people, enhancing employability and coaching successful transitions to the working world. These services include:
• One-on-one and group educational workshops to increase job readiness skills and practical workplace strengths;
• Assistance with job search skills, including applications, resume and interview preparation;
• Relationships with local business community members; and
• Labor market information.
A monthly employment list is provided to school leadership and human service agencies. Vocational and occupational counseling is available, as well as job maintenance assistance.
Staff Contact:
Laura Bell, Youth Employment Specialist
515-233-3141
Treatment Services
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc., provides treatment services throughout Eastern Story County. Young people have access to integrated substance abuse and mental health resources that are welcoming and responsive to their needs. Our vision is to help children, youth, and families to uphold dignity, build assets, and achieve independence.
When a family recognizes that they could benefit from our services, we bring members together. With respect, we work with an understanding that each family member brings gifts and strengths to the table and can contribute in significant ways to address family conflict. Services include:
• Individual, family and group counseling;
• Functional family therapy;
• Skill building and remedial services;
• Outpatient substance abuse counseling and aftercare;
• Co-occurring treatment services for those who struggle with both mental health and substance abuse issues;
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management;
• Court ordered substance abuse evaluations; and
• Other services, such as: Parenting and Recovery groups, Conflict Resolution, Family Mediation, Depression and Suicide Intervention, and care coordination
The Family Counseling team creates a welcoming environment built on trust and confidentiality. Our team includes Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Independent Social Workers and highly qualified and trained Master's and Bachelor's level counselors from many disciplines. Treatment Services are tailored to meet each family's unique needs and ability to pay.
Referrals may be made by any concerned person, including youth, parents and other family members, school personnel, medical professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, clergy, Juvenile Court and Department of Human Services staff.
Staff Contact:
Andi Olson, Family Counseling Center Coordinator
515-233-3141
If you have any questions or concerns about YSS of Eastern Story County programs, please use the form below to contact us.
