SUPPORT NH YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN NEED
- SPONSOR A YOUTH $50.00 MONTH
- SPONSOR A YOUTH $600.00 ANNUAL
- SPONSOR A FAMILY $100.00 MONTH
- SPONSOR A FAMILY $1,200.00 ANNUAL
What is the Austin17House?
The Austin17House is a nonprofit youth and family community center that provides mentorship and supportive programming in creative arts, recreation, life skills, leadership development, college and trade school exploration, and suicide and drug prevention for over 50 youth and families on a weekly basis. We offer a safe, and supportive environment for our youth to work with peers and mentors after school, while participating in a program of choice, experiencing the excitement of trying something new, and mastering basic life skills (i.e. cooking, communication skills, driving, job training, etc).
Through mentorship and supportive programming, we have been able to build solid relationships and activities in creative arts, wellness, recreation, life and leadership skills development, college and trade exploration, suicide and drug prevention to over 50 youth and families on a weekly basis, but it is not enough. Our volunteers, mentors and staff have found that our youth and families need constant support, texting, calling and even meeting with youth and families throughout the week.
Many of the youth we serve are often referred to us, or join us from mental health centers, juvenile court diversion and youth service organizations, because there are not enough safe, and supportive places for youth to be themselves, try new things, and get the necessary resources to get through their day. Without this funding, our youth will continue to be caught in the tension between negative activities, and environments, leading to negative outcomes, while expecting to master daily skills, and obtain positive outcomes, without the positive environment to make that happen.
Who does the Austin17House serve?
We are located in Brentwood NH, the center and heart of Rockingham County, and serve youth and families in the Greater Rockingham County Area, including some youth and families that border NH, including Amesbury, Methuen and Beverly MA.
As most rural locations, the youth and families that we serve are impacted by access to healthy foods, transportation and health care services, as well as in-home support for family substance use and mental illness.
As a community center we have found that so many youths today struggle with having confidence, supportive outlets to build creativity, and the protective factors needed to bounce back from adversity. The current youth and families we serve are middle and high school aged youth who have been diagnosed or treated for mental illness, suicidal ideation, attempts, self harming behaviors, isolation, as well as youth living in residential programs, that have been impacted or diagnosed with an emotional or behavioral disorders. More recently, we have seen an increase in youth and families who have been impacted by addiction, homelessness, violence, and adverse childhood experiences.
How can you help?
Through mentorship and supportive programming, we have been able to build solid relationships and activities in creative arts, wellness, recreation, life and leadership skills development, college and trade exploration, suicide and drug prevention to over 50 youth and families on a weekly basis, but it is not enough. Our volunteers, mentors and staff have found that our youth and families need constant support, texting, calling and even meeting with youth and families throughout the week.
Many of the youth we serve are often referred to us, or join us from mental health centers, juvenile court diversion and youth service organizations, because there are not enough safe, and supportive places for youth to be themselves, try new things, and get the necessary resources to get through their day. Without this funding, our youth will continue to be caught in the tension between negative activities, and environments, leading to negative outcomes, while expecting to master daily skills, and obtain positive outcomes, without the positive environment to make that happen.
