18 South Youth Ministries

SERVING AT-RISK TEENS SINCE 2005

18 South Youth Center is a non-profit, for-impact organization dedicated to serving at-risk teens in the community by providing targeted programming to promote healthy personal, emotional, social, and educational growth in a safe environment designed for their unique needs. 

Open six days a week, 18 South Youth Center offers a safe space for students to connect under the supervision of caringadults who desire to see them succeed. The space itself serves as a proven deterrent from reckless or potentially dangerous behaviors by keeping young people engaged in healthy activities instead of aimlessly wandering the community. The center provides access to educational opportunities, STEAM activities, gaming systems, art supplies and instruction, music instruments and instruction, tabletop & role-playing games, afterschool and cyber school homework assistance, free open Wi-Fi, and access to resources and opportunities uniquely provided by the center, all atno cost to our students. Programs aim to address issues and topics that are specific to the needs of young people. These have included drug and alcohol prevention and intervention, career and college readiness, human trafficking, financial education, leadership, life skills, and much more. 

18 South Youth Center is also the first community youth center in the world to offer Hope Squad, our peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Through this program we teach teenagers QPR, an evidence-based suicide prevention method, encourage mental wellness and mindfulness, advocate for people struggling with mental health issues to get the help needed, promote healthy community, and to be a proponent of anti-bullying online and in the community. As a direct result of this program, 96 students, who were seriously considering suicide and self-harm, were referred to receive help from professionals. As the mental health crisis has dramatically increased over recent years, we emphasize mental wellness, self-care, and healthy habits in students. An astonishing percentage of students struggle with thoughts of suicide and self-harm, in response, a focus of 18 South is promoting the health of the whole student to strengthen them, encourage them, and empower them to help them succeed. 

In response to growing food insecurities and increased poverty rates, each day we are open, the center also serves meals to students. For some students, 18 South provides one of, or in some cases their only, meals for the day. For the past three years, we have served over 10,000meals each year. Over 48% of students in the school district live below the poverty limit and are lacking some basic needs. 18 South has established a basic needs pantry that is accessible to any student in need. These resources are made available to students at no cost and include access to food, clothing, hygiene products, shoes, school supplies, emergency shower and laundry, and more. As one of our staff is a licensed cosmetologist, 18 South also has an in-house hair and makeup salon for students. Free haircuts, stylings, and color are available to our students regularly. During the summer months, we offer a pro

gram, Where We Going Wednesdays, designed to inspire hope through experiences that low-income students may feel are typically out of reach. Past destinations have included New York City/Broadway, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Museums and Science Centers, Sporting Events, Theater Shows, Beaches, and so much more. Many of the students we serve have never left the county they grew up in. We have seen this program transform the way young people see the world and open their minds to possibilities about the future. 

The work at 18South not only improves the quality of life for our students and their families, but it also improves the quality of life for our community and our future as a whole. We believe that every teen has great potential that only needs to be unlocked. Whether we are serving homeless teens, those addicted to drugs, or teens who simply need someone to believe in them, we strive to show compassion to all regardless of their backgrounds. We are advocates for community and strive to be a part of creating a vibrant and thriving community. A prominent local leader has recently written, “18 South Youth Center has quickly become one of Red Lion’s most vital community resources” and we are grateful for the opportunities to continue to invest in young people.