Hear about our program
from one of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Members
(fast connections only)
The DreamTree Project uses a holistic approach to combating homelessness among young people. We encourage each young person entering the program to identify their needs and strengths, and to set and work towards personal goals.
Each participant's values, individuality, and dreams for their future will be essential to creating a program fitted to their needs.
Our program design is unique in combining a strength perspective, and a participant centered approach with aspects of Positive Peer Culture. The DreamTree Project will encourage each participant to articulate a positive vision of their future and to support one another in creating a positive home environment where each person's needs are respected and their strengths and aspirations valued.
Participants will be strongly encouraged to complete or further their education or to seek meaningful and gainful employment, and will be given individualized training and support to accomplish these goals. By practicing a full range of independent living skills, learning healthy family dynamics and communication, and improving self esteem, project participants will be able to reestablish family ties or create stable homes of their own and lead fuller, richer lives as part of our community.
Although individuals in the Taos community care about young people, there are still gaps in the system of care available and the present Managed Care system provides limited support. Our Youth Shelter and Transitional Living Center are steps towards providing a comprehensive safety net for the children of our community.
Transitional Living Program
There are few options for older youth who can no longer live at home, but have not yet learned the skills and responsibilities of being an adult. Many of these adolescents end up in abusive relationships and substandard housing. Our Transitional Living Program helps support youth (ages 16-24 years) while they learn life skills and then transitions them to their own housing. Services provided in the transitional program include:
- Staff on-site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Shelter in a comfortable, homelike, eight-bed facility
- Individualized, intensive, case management
- Comprehensive Life Skills training
- Membership on a DreamTree Youth Council
- Individual and Group Counseling, Cycle of Abuse Therapy, Group Family Therapy
- Parents of Adolescents Support Group (open to the Taos community)
- Mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities
- Referrals to other needed services in the area
- Assistance in completing education
- Assistance in securing employment and permanent housing and
- Rigorous
aftercare and follow-up support visits.
If you are, or know of, a young person who would benefit
from our Transitional Living Program, please call our
Case Manager, Maria Bishop, at: (575)758-9595 ex.1010
DreamTree Project's "Tree House"
(Emergency Youth Shelter)
DreamTree is excited to announce that we are growing a new branch of the Tree. Our community needs an Emergency Crisis Shelter for younger children who are in need of a safe place in immediate situations. An Angel has already donated a home adjacent to our current campus for this shelter. Now we must raise the operating funds.
Taos County has no emergency shelter for runaway or homeless youth, yet the need for emergency youth shelter in the County is critical. Homeless and runaway youth are among the most needy and most vulnerable groups in our society. An estimated 80% are victims of some form of physical or sexual abuse. They are vulnerable to hunger, illness, malnutrition, violence, HIV and drug abuse. In 2004-2005, to date, Child Protective Services responded to 272 referrals of youth endangerment. Their staff estimates that at least half would benefit from emergency shelter. Taos County's JPPO estimates that 1/3 of all youth in the JPPO system in any given year would benefit from emergency shelter.
An emergency shelter provides a safe haven for youth in immediate unsafe situations. The Tree House will provide:
- Shelter for up to 14 days
- Assessment of crisis situation
- Assistance with immediate health concerns
- Individual, group and family therapy
- Suicide prevention
- Family reunification when possible
- Referral to other needed services
- Service linkage/case management
Many Taos agencies are encouraging DreamTree to open a shelter. Some of these include: Town of Taos, Taos County, Taos Police Department, Taos Pueblo, Taos CARES, CYFD, Community Corrections, JPPO, District Attorney, Drug Court, Housing Authority, CAV, and Taos Coalition to End Homelessness.
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dtp@laplaza.org
