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| THE TEENS PREVAILED AT THE 22nd ANNUAL SENIOR CENTER v. TEEN CENTER POOL TOURNEY HELD IN APRIL – THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008! IT WAS A CLOSE MATCH IN EACH OF THE FIVE GAMES. |
Nestled in Northgate/Gardenland is a community gem that has helped hundreds of teens over the years.
Since the 1960s, the teen center operated by non-profit Stanford Settlement has been a safe place for young people to gather, connect with each other and adults who counsel and support them.
For most of Stanford Settlement’s 75-year history, its teen programs were operated in an 1,100 square-foot building. That’s until the brand-new, 10,000 square foot Carl T. Hansen Teen Center was opened in November 2009.
“The goal of our teen center is to provide safe environment kids can come to and help them grow into healthier human beings,” said Julie Rhoten, Group Work Coordinator. “The added space allows us to reach more kids.”
The Teen Center is open to youth in 7th through 12th grades who reside in zip codes 95815, 95833, 95834, and 95835. Teens must pick up and return a permission slip to participate in the program. Once the paperwork is complete, teens can participate as little or as much as they want.
More than 100 different young people have come to the new teen center since it opened a year ago. Average daily attendance varies between 25 to 30 teens during the school year, with somewhat higher attendance during the summer months. Many of the teens come from families that are experiencing multiple challenges.
Now that she’s older, former teen center participant Julie Nunes-Ros says she realizes it was a safe place for her to go while growing up.
“If (the center) weren’t there, those kids would be worse off,” said Nunes-Ros. “It helped shape our lives.”
The teen center is staffed by social workers who specialize in group work and deliquency prevention. The social workers visit participating teens at local schools weekly, and also regularly check on the teens’ school attendance, behavior, and grades.
Every day the teen center offers planned group activities in which all teens must participate. While at the center, the young people can also spend time playing pool, video games, basketball, or use of the computer lab for fun or for homework. A substantial snack is provided daily.
Stanford Settlement also offers programs for younger children and seniors.
“Kids want to come where they feel loved and wanted and the staff provide that,” said Rhoten. “It really matters to us when the kids come.”
TEEN CENTER AT A GLANCE:
- 75% participants are male
- 25% are female
- 80% participants are from low-income households
- 50% are 7th & 8th graders, the other 50% are in high school
- open Tuesdays-Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. during school year
- more info can be found here.
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