Youth Emergency Service

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Contact
Sherrell Slaffey
​(215) 787-0633 x3102
[email protected]

General inquiries: 215-787-0633

HopePHL offers several Youth Emergency Services to assist youth ages 9-17 who are housing insecure, or who face a risk of child abuse or neglect.

Youth Emergency Shelter

​Providing boys and girls, ages 12-17, with a safe alternative to the street and potentially abusive home environments. The shelter provides on-site medical care, counseling, educational services, recreation, clothing, food, and a safe place to sleep. Staff are trained to support youth’s mental health and overall wellness in a more effective and long-lasting way. YES is also a National Safe Place site – a nationwide network of agencies designed to keep teens safe.

Basic Center  Runaway/Homeless Youth

The Basic Center Program (RHY) addresses the immediate crisis needs of youth ages 12-17 who are not in the child welfare system. Many are without a permanent home. The goal of this program is to get the youth the supports and attention they need so that they can establish stability in housing and connect them to other critical supports, i.e., medical care, counseling, food. Youth do not have to reside at YES to benefit from these services.

Family Reunification

​HopePHL promotes timely family reunification for youth ages 9-17 entering out-of-home placement for the first time due to well-being issues, such as parent/child conflict, truancy, domestic violence, behavioral health, etc. The goal is to reunify the youth and family within six months of placement. Our service coordinators navigate and advocate for the youth and families to receive appropriate services from community-based providers.

Services for Youth Detained on Summary Offenses

HopePHL provides transportation services from midnight to 8am for youth ages 12-17 who have been detained by Philadelphia police for minor offenses, also known as status offenses such as shoplifting, trespassing, and curfew violation, where youth are deemed releasable to a parent or guardian.

Staff transports status offenders from police district to their homes or YES when called by Philadelphia police. Youth who cannot be returned home (the parent does not answer the phone or the door) are escorted to YES, where they will spend the remainder of the night and be taken to Philadelphia Department of Human Services in the morning. We also offer intervention and referral services to youth and their parents, as needed.