The Nest Foundation

The Human Soul Is Not For Sale

Shelter

Nest will continue to extend resources to youth throughout the United States, by developing plans for an art based, sustainable shelter in Dallas, Houston, Portland, Atlanta, Chicago & New York.

These shelters will have 8-10 beds, and are currently being designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture. The Nest shelters will provide a therapeutic home and studio arts program for up to 4 months, while allowing each youth to transition into appropriate long-term placement after being properly assessed.

SERVICES

  • Emergency Shelter Care & Intake Assessment Unit: 24 hour
  • Substance Abuse Program Therapy (residential & non-residential): individual, group & family
  • Alternative therapy: acupuncture, acupressure, art therapy
  • Casework: assessment, placement assistance and referral
  • Foster Care Program: Court ordered foster placement in local homes for youths return home, long-term placement, or emancipation.
  • Peer Counseling/Art Therapy
  • Nutrition/Health
  • Life Skills

STUDIO ARTS

One floor of the shelter will be designated as an art studio. The studio manager will collaborate with each visiting artist to create a rotating curriculum.

RECEPTION CENTER

The Reception Center is the prevention component of the shelter. Partnering with local law enforcement & other outreach services agencies, the reception center identifies youth in need of social services and refers them to the appropriate agency. By providing immediate intervention services on a 24-hour basis, the reception center has become the first line of defense in keeping at-risk children from becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

  • Referral to Community Resources
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Family Counseling
  • Public Speaking to schools and civic groups

EDUCATION/SKILL BUILDING

The shelter will offer tutoring, computer training and assistance in preparing youths for high school equivalency exams (the G.E.D.). Critical to developing self-sufficiency among youth is skill building and on-the-job training programs.

Skill Building programs include: alternative school, school–to–work, college exploration, career exploration, life skills.

When appropriate, we will match youth with a job training program, to prepare them for employment.

STABILIZATION

All residents will engage in counseling and support services. A case manager is paired with each youth to stabilize his or her situation and find acceptable alternatives to living on the street or unsafe home.

COMMUNITY

In each community, a Community Coordinator will serve as the community liaison with the shelter. The Community Coordinator, usually a staff person from a community based organization in the target community, receives both monetary and technical support from the Nest Foundation to create a culturally and linguistically specific and appropriate public education and awareness campaign about commercial sexual exploitation of children and how it affects the community. The Community Coordinator along with local law enforcement will also help to identify problem areas, and drive those who are at risk, as well as the already abused population, to the shelter.