The Y-HEP Drop-in Center, located at Broad and Arch Street, provides a comprehensive range of health care and social service supports and life skills development activities for at-risk and street-involved youth who are difficult to reach through traditional youth development programs. The goal of the center is to empower at-risk youth to take control of their health and develop the self- esteem and skills they need to make the transition to healthy adulthood.
The center serves youth ages 14-19 with a special focus on those at risk for homelessness, drug use, unplanned pregnancy and violence.
The center offers a variety of services including:
· Case management: to help uninsured teens register for health insurance, links teens with mental and substance abuse issues to treatment and where appropriate to public benefits such as SSI and SSD. Case managers also mediate communication between youth and their families in an effort to promote whole family solutions to youth problems.
· A health clinic: open two days a week, which provides preventive and ameliorative care including treating general acute complaints such as skin abscesses and respiratory infections, pregnancy testing and options counseling, gynecological exams and chlamydia and gonorrhea screenings, as well as making primary care referrals
· Individual Counseling and Weekly support groups: on issues such as childhood sexual trauma and HIV/STD prevention
· Classes and workshops: including tutoring and GED classes, job readiness workshops, creative workshops and stress management workshops including yoga and meditation classes
Basic needs: including showers, clothing hot meals, SEPTA tokens and condoms.
