YOUTH FOCUS

Youth FOCUS is Westhab's transitional living program for youth, ages 16 to 21, who are homeless or about to become homeless.

Its opening in August 2003 marked the achievement of a long-term goal of ours to provide a stable, family environment for young people struggling with the burdens of homelessness. Youth FOCUS (Family Operated Community United for Success) provides the supports necessary to achieve the academic, employment, and independent living skills that enable young people to become self-supporting adults.

Youth FOCUS residents share living accommodations with other program participants in spacious apartments located in Yonkers, NY. Youth FOCUS participants are expected to engage in employment training, obtain employment, continue their education, perform community service, and take care of their shared space with each other.

Westhab employs the "normative community" philosophy at FOCUS. This approach empowers both youth and staff to voice their ideas and opinions to establish joint ownership of the program. Together residents and staff develop the program's vision and direction on an ongoing basis. Residents facilitate house meetings and assist in the development of program norms. Normative community values, integrated within the family setting, build trust, teamwork, support, mutual respect, and self-esteem. Both residents and staff continue to reinforce norms while learning to take responsibility for their actions; realizing that their behavior not only affects themselves, but also their peers and the larger community.

Westhab integrates resources from throughout the agency in support of the Youth FOCUS program design. Our Employment Services division provides residents with pre-employment and "soft" skills training, referrals to GED programs, and job-finding assistance; Staff Development provides normative community training; and our Manager of Educational Programs works closely with FOCUS to coordinate academic resources.