The Unsheltered, Missing, and Transitional Youth Services (UMTYS) Department provides 24/7/365 community-based outreach, advocacy, and comprehensive support for unsheltered and at-risk youth and young adults ages 11–25, as well as their natural supports. Services are delivered through a trauma-informed, youth-centered lens that prioritizes dignity, safety, and access to care.

UMTYS offers coordinated service navigation and wraparound supports that include harm reduction, gateway services, basic needs assistance, housing resources, mentorship, and life-skills development. This integrated approach is designed to promote stability, resilience, and long-term independence while fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities.

Our vision is to eliminate youth and young adult homelessness in Cuyahoga County through strong partnerships, skill-building, and access to safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed environments.

UMTYS delivers a comprehensive continuum of care that includes:

• Street Outreach
  Proactive engagement with youth who are currently unsheltered, as well as early intervention for those at risk of homelessness.
• 24/7 Crisis Response
  On-call emergency staff available around the clock to respond by phone or in person to youth experiencing homelessness, runaway behaviors, or imminent risk of leaving home.
• Basic Needs and Harm Reduction Supports
  Assistance with food, clothing, hygiene supplies, personal care items, and safe-sex kits, tailored to each young person’s immediate needs.
• Counseling and Family Support
  Ongoing counseling services for youth and families that address behaviors, stressors, and circumstances contributing to youth leaving or being unable to remain at home.
• Intensive Case Management
  Individualized support to secure essential services such as health insurance, coordinate family-based treatment, and connect youth to community-based wraparound supports.
• Linkage and Referral Services
  Connection to culturally responsive, neighborhood-based programs that support youth and families in achieving stability and long-term success.
• Alternative and Transitional Living Arrangements
  Coordination of safe and supportive foster placements, as well as Bellefaire’s Transitional Living Program, which provides housing, therapeutic services, and life-skills support for youth ages 16–18.
• Community Triage and Collaboration
  Rapid response and referral through schools, police departments, peer networks, community partners, and street contacts, including close collaboration with organizations such as the LGBT Center of Cleveland.

For more information, contact:

• 24/7 Homeless and Missing Youth Hotline
  216-570-8010

The Safe Place Program in Cleveland is a coordinated, community-wide partnership among Bellefaire JCB’s Homeless and Missing Youth Program, Cleveland Public Library, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Next Step/Westhaven program. Together, these partners ensure that youth in crisis can access immediate, safe, and reliable help anywhere in the community.

Through this program, a child or teen who feels unsafe or needs assistance can board any Greater Cleveland RTA bus or rapid train and notify the driver that they need help. RTA drivers receive specialized training and follow established protocols to immediately contact either Bellefaire JCB’s Homeless and Missing Youth Program or Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Next Step/Westhaven, based on the geographic location of the bus or train. This rapid-response system ensures youth are connected quickly to professional support and safe next steps.

Safe Place access points are clearly marked with signage displayed on buses and at trusted community locations throughout Cleveland, including sites within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. These placards provide clear information to students and youth about how to recognize a Safe Place location and access help confidentially and without judgment.

Learn more about Safe Place and participating locations.

National Safe Place is a nationally recognized youth outreach and prevention initiative that educates thousands of young people each year about the risks of running away and the importance of seeking help during difficult or threatening situations. Designed to be easily replicated, Safe Place mobilizes entire communities to create visible, trusted access points for youth in crisis.

The program establishes a broad network of Safe Place locations—such as schools, fire stations, libraries, grocery and convenience stores, public transit sites, YMCAs, and other appropriate public buildings—that display the recognizable yellow and black Safe Place diamond sign. These locations extend the reach of local youth-serving agencies and emergency shelters into neighborhoods across the community, ensuring that help is never far away.

By offering immediate connection to trained professionals and supportive services, Safe Place removes barriers to care and ensures that youth can access help wherever they are, whenever they need it.

The Basic Center Program (BCP) at Bellefaire JCB provides short-term, intensive support for youth ages 11–17 who are experiencing family conflict and are at risk of homelessness or already facing housing instability. BCP delivers mediation, clinical therapy, case management, and access to emergency shelter (up to 21 days) with the primary goal of stabilizing youth and strengthening relationships within their natural support systems.

Services are provided throughout Cuyahoga County and may take place in the youth’s home, school, shelter setting, or other community locations, based on individual needs and clinical judgment. BCP is grounded in a trauma-informed, strengths-based model that prioritizes safety, family engagement, and sustainable solutions that allow youth to remain in—or safely return to—their homes whenever possible.

Youth enrolled in BCP actively participate in:

• Individual therapy with a licensed clinician
• At least one hour of case management per week, focused on stabilization, goal-setting, and connection to resources

Family mediation, as clinically indicated, to address conflict, improve communication, and rebuild trust

When emergency shelter is necessary, youth are placed in a safe, supervised environment and are expected to follow shelter guidelines that promote accountability, structure, and well-being. These expectations include respecting others and shared spaces, adhering to established curfews, abstaining from substances and alcohol, and maintaining school or employment attendance when applicable.

Program Eligibility

BCP serves youth who meet the following criteria:

• Ages 11–17
• At risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness
• Experiencing conflict or discord with natural supports in the home
• Open to youth of all genders

Program Goals

• Prevent youth homelessness
• Strengthen and preserve natural family and support relationships
• Promote stability, safety, and long-term well-being
• Reduce the need for out-of-home placement whenever possible

Referrals are completed using Bellefaire JCB’s Universal Referral Form.

Bellefaire JCB’s Street Outreach Program (SOP) provides compassionate, high-quality support for youth ages 11–21 who are experiencing homelessness, running away, or living on the streets. SOP meets youth where they are—on the streets, at school, in their homes, or other community settings—to ensure safety, provide basic necessities, and connect them to vital resources and services.

Our skilled team works not only with youth but also with their natural supports, such as family members or caregivers when appropriate, to create a network of care that promotes stability and long-term well-being. SOP uses a trauma-responsive, evidence-informed approach to deliver brief interventions that protect youth and guide them toward ongoing programs and supports that foster growth, independence, and resilience.

By combining immediate safety support with trusted guidance and resource linkage, SOP reflects Bellefaire JCB’s commitment to excellence, individualized care, and the highest standards of youth service.

A critical component of the Street Outreach program is the Street Outreach van. The van’s high visibility ensures that at-risk youth can easily identify the vehicle and know that it is safe to approach.  Staff on the van are equipped with crisis response skills and can quickly link individuals to needed services. The team on our van also can provide snacks, hygiene products and other items to meet the current needs of youth with unstable housing.

Client Testimonial: “Bellefaire helps me with everything. I have a full and better understanding of myself and my strengths. They also helped me with housing, getting a pair of boots when I didn’t have any, and very easy to work with. They will get you through a lot and make sure you good and straight no matter what. You can talk to them about things that may be hard to open up to anybody else about.”

At Bellefaire JCB, the Community Independence Treatment (CIT) program supports youth and young adults ages 16–25 in building the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to live independently and thrive in their communities. Through individualized counseling, case management, and structured group programming, CIT provides a high-quality, evidence-informed approach tailored to each participant’s unique goals, mental health needs, and transition to adulthood.

Youth without a GED or high school diploma receive support to enroll and attend school, in person or virtually, while participants also work toward gaining and maintaining employment with guidance from our skilled staff. Each participant engages in one hour of individual therapy per week, one hour of individual case management per week, and weekly group programming as appropriate, all designed to promote lasting growth.

CIT serves youth with diverse behavioral health needs, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and mild intellectual or developmental disabilities. Our team of highly trained professionals uses trauma-responsive strategies to ensure every participant receives compassionate, high-quality care that meets them where they are and helps them achieve meaningful outcomes.

Client Testimonial:

“At the beginning of this year, I had a lot of inner struggles and was unable to identify and work through them in a healthy manner, but the past year Kat has taught me a lot about identifying and regulating my emotions and being able to figure out the deeper problems. Helping give me skills to be able to push through life's cruelties and hard endeavors. I'm a much different and better person that I was at the beginning, and this program helped my growth so much.”

For more information, contact:

Katrina Brown, Community Independence Program Supervisor: (216) 320-8338 | rodriguezk@bellefairejcb.org

Rebecca Prather, Clinical Director: (216) 320-8219 | pratherr@bellefairejcb.org

Referral form: G:\DataShare\IndLiv\Universal Referral Form 2.25.2025.docx

The Independent Living Program (ILP) at Bellefaire JCB is an 18-month residential program that helps youth ages 16–20 build the skills, confidence, and stability needed to transition successfully into adulthood. ILP combines safe, supportive housing with individualized counseling, case management, and life-skills education to promote self-sufficiency and long-term independence.

Participants live in their own fully furnished apartments throughout Cuyahoga County, with rent covered by Bellefaire JCB for the duration of the program. Youth also receive a weekly stipend and a bus pass, along with guidance in managing finances, paying bills, and handling daily responsibilities. ILP supports participants in creating a personal savings account to help ensure financial stability after discharge.

Program Expectations:
Participants in ILP are supported in achieving independence while being expected to:

• Enroll in and actively attend school (in person or virtual) if they have not yet earned a GED or high school diploma.
• Obtain and maintain employment with guidance from program staff.
• Participate in:
• One hour of individual therapy per week
• Two hours of individual case management per week
• Weekly group programming (may be adjusted for school or work obligations)
• Follow apartment guidelines, including:
• No pets or overnight guests
• No alcohol or substances in the apartment
• Maintain contact with ILP staff at least every 48 hours
• Demonstrate safe, responsible behavior in the community and not pose a danger to themselves or others

ILP reflects Bellefaire JCB’s commitment to excellence and individualized, trauma-informed care, helping each participant develop the practical skills, emotional resilience, and confidence needed to thrive independently.

Client Testimonial:

“I am incredibly grateful for my experience with Bellefaire, as it has played a major role in shaping my growth and independence. Through their programs, I received not only the support I needed but also the guidance to navigate challenges and build a strong foundation for my future.

Bellefaire provided me development. Whether it was through mentorship, educational support, or life skills training, I always felt empowered to take control of my own journey. The experience has helped me become more confident, self-sufficient, and resilient in ways I never imagined.

Looking back, I can truly say that Bellefaire has been instrumental in helping me transition into adulthood with the tools and mindset needed to succeed. I appreciate the opportunities and support they have provided, and I hope to inspire others who may be in similar situations to take full advantage of the resources available to them.❤”

For more information, please contact Clinical Director Rebecca Prather at (216) 320-8219 or pratherr@bellefairejcb.org.

See Community Crisis Response.