FAST (Family and Adolescent Services Team)

The FAST program provides individual, group and family counseling to youth and their families in the Greater Wilkes-Barre area. Staff also act as advocates and provide direction and follow-up for the youth and family's behalf on problem areas at home, school or community. Services are provided on a voluntary basis with fees assessed on a sliding fee scale. Parents and teenagers in need of services may come into our office or call for an appointment. Youth ages 12-18 and their families who reside in the Greater Wilkes-Barre Area.

Services available through the following office(s):

Wilkes-Barre

Gabriel Shelter

Gabriel Shelter is a 16 bed, coed, non-secure adolescent residential facility. The primary goal of the program is to provide a safe and stable living environment for youth while a plan is developed regarding their future living arrangements. These plans focus on the best interest of the youth and are formulated in conjunction with the youth, their family, shelter staff, their children and youth caseworker and any other significant individuals. While residing at the shelter all youth (families when applicable) are offered supportive services which include: individual, group and family counseling, life skills education, recreation, tutoring, advocacy and referral. The facility is licensed by Pa. DPW and adheres to all Pa. State Chapter 3800 regulations for adolescent residential facilities.

Youth ages 12 to 18 in the custody of or active with a (contracted) Children and Youth Agency. The Program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Services available through the following office(s):

Wilkes-Barre

Runaway and Homeless Youth

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Program provides comprehensive services to runaway and homeless youth ages 12 to 18 and their families who reside in Luzerne County or find themselves within the county while their "on the run". The primary goal of the program is the reunification of the youth and their family whenever possible and when in the best interest of the youth. Service provision includes: 24 hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transportation, individual, family and group counseling, advocacy and referral. All services are voluntary and free of charge. 

Services available through the following office(s):

Wilkes-Barre

SAAU (Specialized Adolescent Assessment Unit)

SAAU provides assessment and intervention services for the adolescent population and their families who are originally referred into the Child Welfare system. These adolescents, ages 12 through 17, will be viewed by the Children and Youth system as potentially at risk of physical and emotional abuse, dependent by virtue of legal definitions of dependency, or possibly on the verge of being push outs or runaways. Families referred to the program will be experiencing extreme parent/child conflict. However, these families will have no active allegations of abuse or neglect and have no child line number.

Services available through the following office(s):

Wilkes-Barre