Funding Area: Health
Project 360 provides a safe place where teens can do homework and to meet with volunteers who encourage their efforts to meet academic and life goals through tutoring and support.
There is time for the youth to interact with each other and have a safe place to be without being judged. There will be an active high school equivalency instructors to help those who have already dropped out of high school to study for their HISet Certificate (GED). Transportation to the test site and fees for the test is available to any interested student that has completed their studies.
In addition to encouraging academic achievement, we offer showers, laundry facilities, a hot meal at 5:30 every day, after school snacks, clothing and hygiene items, food bags for weekend consumption, and positive mentoring offered by caring mature volunteers.
Project 360 has the strong support of school leaders, the community, and most importantly Laclede County’s young people. The youth who will enjoy this resource facility are an active part of the planning process and help guide us in making the most thoughtful decisions.
This Project is especially committed to providing services without judgement of life circumstances or choices.
Projects We Support
The Sound House (A Place Where Everyone is heard)
Our community faces numerous challenges that contribute to declining mental well-being, increased delinquent behaviors, and youth homelessness. The young people we serve often come from backgrounds marked by poverty, addiction, violence, and trauma. Research shows that youth homelessness leads to future problems, underscoring the urgency of intervention. Since our inception in 2015, we have successfully focused on getting these youths through high school by providing essential resources like food, toiletries, clothing, and tutoring. However, we recognized the critical need for mental health support. We transitioned from part-time counseling to employing a full-time counselor, offering individual and group therapy for at-risk youths aged 13-21. Despite our successes, our current counselor manages a caseload of 45 youths with a long waiting list. Recent developments allow us to provide emergency housing for young adults aged 18-23, increasing demand for mental health services. We propose funding for an additional counselor to enhance our program’s effectiveness.
Support Dates: March, 2025 – Ongoing
Note: This information comes from Project 360 Youth Services’ website and a brief description comes from their grant proposal.
