Why We Are Here

"Some families live in communities that lack the resources or the will to offer prevention or intervention programs."

Residents of the Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Orono, St. Louis Park, and Wayzata school districts are fortunate to live in communities that have demonstrated the will to offer a prevention and intervention program for youth and families in crisis or conflict.

The program is called Teens Alone.

Teens Alone's Mission

Teens Alone is a non-profit, community based organization that provides free crisis, counseling, and referral services to youth and families in partnership with five school districts and their communities in the western suburbs of Minneapolis.

Teens Alone's Vision

To create a community where young people and families in need will receive support and services whenever and wherever they need them.

The "typical" Teens Alone youth client is:
A 16 year old (25%), Caucasian (67%), female (57%), referred by a concerned adult at school (76%). The majority of young people are referred to Teens Alone because of family conflict. More than one-third of the young people we meet have mentioned running away (or they have already run away or are homeless). She is currently living at home with both parents (37%). One-third of our youth live with their mother.

At their first meeting with a Teens Alone counselor, young people mentioned the following problems most often:

82% Experiencing poor communication and/or conflict with their parents.
35% Having problems with peers.
32% Admit using chemicals* (and almost one-fourth are concerned with parent's chemical use).
32% Dealing with parent's separation or divorce.
24% Have problems expressing anger.
17% Failing grades.
16% Truant.
11% In trouble with the law.

*Once Teens Alone counselors have gotten to know a young person better, we find well more than half of our youth clients are using chemicals
Answered crisis calls Counseled

Teens Alone counselors:	TOTAL	# YOUTH	# ADULTS
473*	40	433
398**	331	67

*a 28% increase over the year before
** a 17% increase over the year before

Evaluation:

After working with Teens Alone, clients told us:

88% said Teens Alone counselors helped them learn different ways to resolve family problems.
76% saw an improved family relationship.
99% of youth remained at home.
91% of parents report that their child was still enrolled in school and that Teens Alone helped their child stay in school.
Everyone surveyed said his/her crisis call was returned within 24 hours.
96% of Teens Alone clients ranked the service "good" or "excellent"

A Teens Alone "alum" recently contacted us looking for employment. He said,

"I was once well served by Teens Alone as a student at (a local high school). A Teens Alone counselor helped us start a GLBT support group in the school. Because of services like this I was able to finish high school, and just now, college. I have just moved back to Minneapolis and I am now seeking employment in the youth service world which did so much for me. Teens Alone was one of those agencies.

No other organization in Minneapolis' western suburbs provides the kind of service free, confidential, in-home or at-school counseling Teens Alone provides.

Teens Alone Makes a Difference! Please contribute!