MISSION
Youth Crossroads supports youth and their families, guiding them through life’s challenges, and inspiring them to discover new opportunities for personal development, healthy relationships, and positive community involvement.
VISION
Youth Crossroads envisions a future where equitable outcomes are not just a goal, but a reality. We seek to remove barriers that prevent youth from reaching their fullest potential and envision a society where all youth thrive.
VALUES
1 – EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE
Equity is a process of eliminating disparities by changing policies, practices, systems, and structures.
Racial Justice is the product: a transformation of society when people of color have dignity, resources, power, and self-determination.
2 – TRAUMA INFORMED
YC approaches Trauma Informed Care as an organizational structure and treatment framework where all individuals within the organization work to build physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both the people we work with and for each other by:
– Learning about what trauma is and the affects it can have on individuals, families, and communities,
– Learning the signs and symptoms of trauma and being able to provide a trauma informed approach to all services and interactions,
– And resisting re-traumatization by actively working towards practices and policies that avoid compounding the impact of trauma.
3 – YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Empowerment means providing youth, families, and the community with the guidance, support, and inspiration they need to achieve success in school, at home, and in life.
We help others build solid support structures in their lives to foster emotional resiliency, sound decision making skills, social responsibility, and leadership to maximize personal growth, healthy relationships, and positive community involvement.
4. BELONGING AND CONNECTION
Creating safe spaces for the youth and families we serve to access the help and support they need regardless of their race, gender, identity, life experiences or financial circumstances.
5. ADAPTABILITY, COLLABORATION, AND INNOVATION
Adaptability and innovation is having the capacity to anticipate and respond quickly and effectively to individual and community needs, including public health issues, the economy, social change, and community violence and trauma.
We define collaboration as maximizing opportunities for youth and family development through strong, effective partnerships with community resources.
