ALTERNATIVE HOUSE

THE ABUSED AND HOMELESS CHILDREN'S REFUGE

Community Outreach Program

Street Outreach
Culmore Teen Center
Safe Youth Project
Annandale Neighborhood Center
Franconia Family Resource Center
Walk-in Counseling

Street Outreach

Many young people who join gangs do so to receive the structure and support ideally provided by a family. When stresses--emotional, financial, and/or cultural--take their toll on a family, teenagers are especially vulnerable to defining themselves through drug use and gang membership. It is these high-risk young people Alternative House outreach programs target.

Alternative House's neighborhood outreach programs began in December 1993 to reach out to youth in their own neighborhoods.  Today the program includes a street outreach van stocked with food, clothing, and other survival supplies, and neighborhood-based counselors who go into the streets to find and help young people in need.

Culmore Teen Center

The Culmore Teen Center provides teens with an accessible, safe and welcoming place to spend their free time and get critical support services. Located in space donated by a local apartment complex and administered by Alternative House, the Culmore Teen Center is a collaborative effort among a variety of groups, most notably the Culmore Community Action Committee and the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services.

At the Culmore Teen Center, youth take advantage of a variety of programs and activities including:

• Homework help

• A computer center with internet

• Sports

• Games

• Workshops

Activities are designed to help youth stay in school and steer them away from gang membership, drug abuse, and violence. Teen Center staff provide counseling and crisis intervention, and coordinate with parents, teachers, and guidance counselors to bring a much needed extra level of support to the many high-risk youth who rely on the Teen Center.

Over 300 young people in 7th through 12th grade come to the Teen Center each year, and 90% have stayed in school.
 

Safe Youth Project

Now younger children have a safe place to come after school too.  The Safe Youth Project (SYP) provides much needed after-school support services to 4th, 5th and 6th graders.  SYP provides homework help, recreation activities and life skills workshops to help children improve their grades and make positive decisions.  All of the children in SYP have stayed in school, and 90% have improved their grades.  SYP Culmore opened in September 2004, and SYP Annandale opened in September 2006.  Each program serves 25 young people.

Culmore Safe Youth Project/ Culmore Family Resource Center

3304 B Culmore Court

Falls Church, VA  22041

(703) 820-9039   

Annandale Safe Youth Project

St. Barnabas Church

4801 Ravensworth Road

Annandale, VA  22003

Annandale Neighborhood Center

The Annandale Neighborhood Center opened in September 2007 on the grounds of Annandale High School.  The Neighborhood Center is a community-based resource and referral source that serves as a location for programs, workshops and activities and as a place for community members to meet.

The Neighborhood Center promotes access to services by linking, enhancing and filling gaps in human services and recreational and educational activities.  In doing so it creates safer, more caring neighborhoods, connects people and places, and strengthens the community.

Please take a look at our Google calendar for upcoming events at the Annandale Neighborhood Center!!!

Annandale Neighborhood Center

Grounds of Annandale High School

Medford Drive

Annandale, VA  22003

Franconia Family Resource Center

On Mondays and Wednesdays counselors provide drop-in support to children and teens in the Franconia neighborhood near Springfield Mall.  Young people get homework help and counseling, participate in life skills group and recreation activities, and go on field trips.

Franconia Family Resource Center

7224 Commerce Street

Springfield, VA  22150

Walk-in Counseling

Walk-in, no cost crisis counseling is available at our youth Outreach Programs and at the Franconia Resource Center.  Trained counselors are available to assist during a crisis and provide referrals to other community resources.

Referrals can also be provided through our 24-hour crisis hotline, 1.800.SAY.TEEN.