How I Can Help At-Risk Teens Where I Live

Jul302026

Illustration of trauma's impact on person, family, and people, emphasizing decontextualization over time.

What can you do to help at-risk teens where you live?

A lot, actually.

We can’t heal every wound or solve every problem alone, but we can show up in practical ways that create safety, dignity, and hope. For at-risk teens, that often means helping connect them to housing, mentoring, education support, trauma-informed care, and adults who refuse to give up on them. Youth mentoring can improve self-esteem, school outcomes, peer relationships, and reduce aggression and delinquency.

One of the strongest ways to help is through volunteer advocacy. CASA and guardian ad litem volunteers are trained to speak up for children and teens who have experienced abuse or neglect, and National CASA/GAL says there are hundreds of local programs across the country that need volunteers. AdoptUSKids also notes that people can help by becoming a CASA, mentoring a child in foster care, becoming a respite care provider, or donating supplies.

If you want to help teens where you live, start with the roles that create consistency: mentoring, tutoring, court advocacy, shelter support, and trauma-informed youth programs. Those are the kinds of relationships that can help a young person feel seen, safe, and less alone.

25 national organizations to explore – research your own local providers and share this list with your circle of influence.

National CASA/GAL Association for Children
Website: https://nationalcasagal.org
Contact: 800-628-3233, Grants@nationalcasagal.org, 100 West Harrison Street, Seattle, WA. National CASA/GAL supports a network of local CASA/GAL programs and says volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children.
AdoptUSKids
Website: https://adoptuskids.org
Contact: Use the site’s contact options. AdoptUSKids lists ways to help including CASA volunteering, mentoring, respite care, fundraising, and donation drives.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Website: https://www.bbbs.org
Contact: Use local affiliate contact pages. BBBS is a common starting point for one-to-one mentoring.
MENTOR National
Website: https://www.mentoring.org
Contact: 617-303-4600, info@mentoring.org. MENTOR is the national network and resource hub for youth mentoring.
National Mentoring Resource Center
Website: https://nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org
Contact: Use the site’s training and support request options. OJJDP describes NMRC as a key research and practice resource for mentoring.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Mentoring Program
Website: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/mentoring
Contact: Use site contact options. OJJDP funds and supports mentoring programs for youth at risk of delinquency and victimization.
Foster Care to Success
Website: https://www.fc2success.org
Contact: Use the website contact form. AdoptUSKids highlights it as a way to help teens in foster care succeed in college.
Silver Lining Mentoring
Website: https://www.silverliningmentoring.org
Contact: Reach out through the site or email listed there. Silver Lining Mentoring focuses on youth impacted by foster care.
Communities In Schools
Website: https://communitiesinschools.org
Contact: Use the site’s local affiliate contact options. Communities In Schools provides mentoring and tutoring support for students. raisingarizonakids
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Website: https://www.bgca.org
Contact: Use local club pages. Boys & Girls Clubs commonly need volunteers for mentoring, homework help, and youth programming.adoptuskids+1
YMCA of the USA
Website: https://www.ymca.org
Contact: Use local YMCA contact pages. YMCA mentoring programs support children and teens facing isolation, family problems, and low self-esteem.
Girls on the Run International
Website: https://www.girlsontherun.org
Contact: Use the site’s volunteer and local council pages. Girls on the Run uses trained volunteers to support girls through mentoring and life-skills programming.
Year Up
Website: https://www.yearup.org
Contact: 703-312-9327, volunteer@yearup.org. Year Up uses mentors, tutors, and guest speakers to support young adults.dcvalues
Family & Youth Initiative
Website: https://www.dcfyi.org
Contact: 202-863-0975, info@dcfyi.org. DCFYI works with teens in foster care and offers volunteer and mentoring roles.
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of DC
Website: http://casadc.org/programs/casa-volunteer-program/
Contact: volunteer@casadc.org, (202) 887-0007. This is a local example of a CASA model program for children in foster care.
Website: https://www.communityofhopedc.org/volunteer/general-volunteer-opportunities
Contact: volunteer@cohdc.org, (202) 407-7757. Volunteers can support shelters, childcare, and mentoring for youth experiencing homelessness.
Website: http://www.playtimeproject.org/get-involved/volunteer/#
Contact: deborah@playtimeproject.org, (202) 329-4481. This group supports children living in temporary housing through play and developmental activities.
Writopia Lab
Website: http://www.writopialab.org/who-we-are/join-the-team#volunteer
Contact: registerDC@writopialab.org, (202) 629-9510. Writopia Lab offers creative-writing mentoring for youth, including older teens.
Reading Partners
Website: http://readingpartners.org
Contact: (202) 701-9110, use local program contact pages. Reading Partners recruits volunteers for one-to-one literacy support.Website: http://www.peteygreene.org/volunteer/
Contact: Use the site’s contact page. The program supports education through tutoring in correctional settings, helping many justice-involved young people.
Black Girls Code
Website: http://www.blackgirlscode.com/volunteer-signup.html
Contact: (510) 398-0880, use the volunteer form online. Volunteers support tech education and mentoring for girls.
Website: https://www.tealsk12.org/volunteers/
Contact: https://www.tealsk12.org/contact/
TEALS pairs industry volunteers with teachers to bring computer science into high schools.
Young Women’s Project
Website: http://www.youngwomensproject.org/volunteer
Contact: nadia.gold-moritz@youngwomensproject.org, (202) 332-3399. The group engages teens and young adults, including youth in foster care.
Crisis Text Line
Website: https://www.crisistextline.org
Contact: Use the volunteer and contact options on the website. Crisis support can be a meaningful way to help teens in emotional distress.
Your local United Way or 2-1-1 network
Website: https://www.unitedway.org
Contact: Use the local chapter directory. United Way often connects volunteers to mentoring, tutoring, housing, and youth-support programs nearby.

If you want to help at-risk teens, you do not need to be perfect. You just need to be steady, respectful, and willing to show up. In a world that often punishes young people for the harm done to them, ordinary adults can become part of a safer path forward. Youth mentoring can reduce aggression, substance misuse, depressive symptoms, and delinquent acts while improving self-esteem and school outcomes.

P.S. Caring adults matter more than most of us realize. For at-risk youth, one steady, compassionate, caring adult can turn a struggling youth into a confident and healthy adult. It’s about interrupting a cycle of fear and trauma to help a young person become open to healing, hope, and a better future.

KIDS AT RISK ACTION / KARA / INVISIBLE CHILDREN

At-risk teens

Youth mentoring

CASA

Foster care

Volunteer opportunities

Trauma-informed care

Community service

Teen support

Post Views: 0

Categories: All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, What You Can DoBy Mike Tikkanen July 30, 2026

Author: Mike Tikkanen

http://invisiblechildren.org

ACES Connection HEALTHY, HAPPY KIDS GROW UP TO CREATE A HEALTHY, HAPPY WORLD. 0
CASA Travis County Blog CASA Travis County Blog 0
Children’s Advocate’s Website Comprehensive and current 0
Dare To See Reality exhibitions on sexual abuse against children and violence on women 0
Dreamcatchers Helping to Perish an Abused Child’s Nightmare 0
Families & Allies of Virginia’s Youth Blog 0
Family Law Professors Blog 0
Grandparents Blog 0
http://guardianadlitem.blogspot.com/ Insightful guardian ad-Litem issues of a Florida guardian 0
http://www.connectforkids.org/ Preserving public space for compelling stories of work that makes a difference: local action, community interventions, youth activism and emerging trends and policies that matter to children and families. Inspiration, action and results. More. 0
I Was A Foster Kid Hard Hitting Foster Child Blog by someone that knows and writes powerfully 0
International Family Law 0
Invisible People Great compilation of video interviews with homeless people in America 0
Judges Mark Ciavarella & Michael Conahan Scandal Sending Innocent Youth to Prison For Cash Powerful Robert May documentary that tells the horrific ‘abuse of power’ story of Pennsylvania Judge’s Mark Ciavarella & Michael Conahan and how they manipulated their privileged positions to personally profit from placing juveniles in prison on mostl 0
Juvenile Justice Reform YouTube Channel 0
Kids Count Data Book – Project by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to track status of children in the United States. 0
laws Laws.com is a website dedicated to upholding the laws of our country, and preventing crime. They also seek to support other charitable organizations in their quest to reduce suffering by upholding the law, raising awareness and donations. 0
Minnesota Adoptive Resource Network 0
National CASA Blog The National Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association—a nationwide network of volunteer advocates changing the lives of abused and neglected children. 0
Parents Rights Blog International Family Law, Social Services, Family Court System, & Parental Rights 0
Rich Gehrman, founder of Safe Passage For Children MN Rich Gehrman Discusses Change Needed In Child Protection (3 minutes) 0
safe homes for special needs children creating a home where your disabled can thrive 0
Safe Passage For Children MN Safe Passage For Children Blog 0
Teacher Resources For Special Needs Teacher Resources for Special needs 0
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: 0
Youth Policy Action Center Preserving public space for compelling stories of work that Makes a Difference: local action, community interventions, youth activism and emerging trends and policies that matter to children and families. 0

Advocacy 4 Kids E-Advocacy Network an e-advocacy network bringing together over 35,000 voices to ensure that every Minnesota child has the best possible start in life. 0
Attorneys Child Protection Issues Legal Resources for Families in Need Of Child Protection Support 0
Best Interests a website for children’s advocates 0
Big Voice Pictures Male survivors of childhood sexual abuse 0
Brookings Center on Children and Families The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America’s children and their parents, especially children in less-advantaged families, and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in 0
California Youth Connection Powerful Youth Organization With Big Ideas for child welfare 0
CASA Minnesota supporting and promoting CASA volunteers to ensure every abused and neglected child in MN has a safe, stable and permanent family AND raising money and operating the CASA Cares grants for foster children program 0
CASA MN CASA Minnesota: Believes that every abused and neglected child in Juvenile Court proceedings should have a volunteer advocate for their best interests Provides continuing education to Minnesota Volunteer Guardians ad Litem Increases public awareness abou 0
CASA Travis County Blog CASA Travis County Blog 0
Center on Children and the Law The ABA Center on Children and the Law, a program of the Young Lawyers Division, aims to improve children’s lives through advances in law, justice, knowledge, practice and public policy. Our areas of expertise include child abuse and neglect, child welfar 0
Child Advocacy 360: an independent, nonprofit service that brings to people’s desktops, mailboxes and conversations the latest news and insights on children’s welfare and rights, with a particular focus on the struggle to conquer abuse and neglect of children in our societ 0
Child Justice We provide pro bono legal services to protect children “lost in the system” after exposure to family violence, physical/sexual abuse, substance addictions or neglect. Legal services are provided directly by Child Justice attorneys and from the generosity 0
Childabuse.com With 27 years of experience and a network of 42 state chapters, Prevent Child Abuse America is the leading organization working at the national, state and local levels to prevent child abuse in all its forms. 0
ChildHelp.org Childhelp® exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. We focus our efforts on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach. 0
Children's Law Center MInnesota Volunteer Attorneys Helping Abused and Neglected Children 0
Children's Action Alliance Helps promote the well-being of children and their families through research, policy development, media campaigns and advocacy. 0
Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children forms alliances of human rights agencies, key individuals and non-governmental organizations against corporal punishmen 0
Invisible Children is a documentary film about the effects of war on the children of Uganda. 0
Minnesota Guardian ad Litem program Becoming a MN Child Advocate in the CASA guardian ad Litem program 0
My Advocate Center Actionable insight to improve the child-custody process to serve the best interest of the child 0
National Association fo Counsel for Children The National Association of Counsel for Children’s mission is to improve the lives of children and families by ensuring that these proceedings produce justice. Specifically, our mission is to: Strengthen the Delivery of Legal Services for Children Enhan 0
National CASA Last year, more than 68,000 CASA volunteers served more than 240,000 abused and neglected children through 1,018 program offices. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977. 0
National Exchange Club: a national organization working to make America a better place to live through the prevention of child abuse and other community service projects. 0
Not On Our Watch Ending Child Sexual Abuse 0
Stand For Children Advocate for improvements to and funding for programs that give every child a fair chance in life. 0
Stop Abuse Campaign Working Together, We Can Stop Abuse 0
Stop Child Abuse Now Blog Talk Radio 6 Nights Weekly 7pm Central Time Click On The Link & Listen In/Participate 0
Youth Law Center The Youth Law Center advocates to transform foster care and juvenile justice systems across the nation so every child and youth can thrive. 0

A Home Within A Home Within seeks to heal the chronic loss experienced by foster children by providing lasting and caring relationships to current and former foster youth. 0
Academy On Violence and Abuse ADVANCING HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 0
ACES INFORMED SCHOOL PRACTICES Teachers often struggle to know how best to motivate and help traumatized students in the classroom, or how to prevent their own burnout. This guide provides information about the statistics of adverse childhood trauma, behaviors that reflect that trauma, 0
Aging Out Institute Resources for foster youth aging out of foster care 0
AIKYA Promoting Collaboration Among Schools, Professionals, & Families To Improve The Lives Of Mentally Challenged Children 0
All About Family (parental alienation) Building communities and helping families do things together 0
American Humane Devoted to preventing cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals. 0
Attorneys Child Protection Issues Legal Resources for Families in Need Of Child Protection Support 0
Bikers Against Child Abuse 0
California Youth Connection Powerful Youth Organization With Big Ideas for child welfare 0
Camellia Network a national network that connects every youth aging out of foster care to the critical resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive in adulthood. 0
CASA Cares Grants For Foster Children in Ramsey and Hennepin County Minnesota 0
CASA Minnesota supporting and promoting CASA volunteers to ensure every abused and neglected child in MN has a safe, stable and permanent family AND raising money and operating the CASA Cares grants for foster children program 0
Center For Effective Parenting Helpful parenting information. 0
Center For Judicial Excellence The Center for Judicial Excellence was established to improve the judiciary’s public accountability and strengthen and maintain the integrity of the courts. 0
Cerebral Palsy Group Free educational information and support to those who have been affected by cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities 0
Child Help CALL 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) then push 1 to talk to a hotline counselor. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline counselors work with translators who speak 140 languages to help people who cal 0
Child Justice We provide pro bono legal services to protect children “lost in the system” after exposure to family violence, physical/sexual abuse, substance addictions or neglect. Legal services are provided directly by Child Justice attorneys and from the generosity 0
Child Protection Training Center Free Webinars Training on line FREE on demand webinars 0
Child Welfare Information Gateway 0
Child Welfare League of America 0
Children’s Defense Fund 0
Children’s medical Archives 0
Children's Law Center MInnesota Volunteer Attorneys Helping Abused and Neglected Children 0
Children's Law Center Mission The Children’s Law Center (CLC) envisions a future for the District of Columbia in which every child has a safe home, a meaningful education and a healthy mind and body. We work toward this vision by providing legal services to at-risk children 0
Children's Rights CHILDREN’S RIGHTS is a national advocacy group working to reform America’s failing child welfare systems on behalf of the abused & neglected children who depend on them for protection. 0
Cord Blood Center (for expectant mothers) Cord Blood saved at birth protects your child in the future (learn more here) 0
Court Appointed Special Advocates (guardian ad-Litems) 0
Directory of all homeless shelters in America directory of all homeless shelters in America 0
Drug Alert.org Information about drugs, abuse, and drug safety 0
Drug Information Keeping An Eye On Pharmaceuticals 0
Every Child Matters 0
FACSA FOUNDATION Family and Friends Fighting Against Child Sexual Assault. Providing support services for families of child sexual assault. We also educate communities on prevention of child sexaul assault. 0
Family Violence Prevention Fund Picturing a World Without Violence 0
freearts minnesota is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the healing powers of artistic expression into the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children and their families. 0
Friends Of Children MN The Friends of Children Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children in foster care in Hennepin County, Minnesota. 0
Friends of the Children 0
Grand Magazine Grandparents Magazine (see our free subscription link www.grandsub.com ) 0
Grief Speaks Giving children, teenagers, and adults permission to grieve 0
GW Medical Publishing a leading clinical and forensic publisher serving the medical, legal, social service, and law enforcement communities with the resources they need to combat child abuse, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, child trafficking, and other 0
Help With Trauma Social Justice Non-Profit Trauma Institute 0
Home Accommodations for Special Needs Home Accommodations for Special Needs 0
Judge Leonard Edwards Support for judges and other professionals working in the juvenile court 0
Judge Leonard Edwards Support for judges and other professionals working in the juvenile court 0
Kids Count Data Center Child Well Being By State 0
Kids Data Points Important Information About Children in the U.S. 0
Legal Resources for Special Needs special needs lawyers nationally 0
Lutheran Social Service of MN extensive programs support children and families in Minnesota via adoption services, crisis nurseries, shelters for at-risk youth, parenting classes, and many other youth-related services. 0
Mentoring Partnership MN Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota’s (MPM) new website reflects our strategic shift to support and build quality mentoring programs to ensure that every child and volunteer has a quality experience. 0
Minnesota Guardian ad Litem program Becoming a MN Child Advocate in the CASA guardian ad Litem program 0
MN Kinship Caregivers Helping Grandparents Help Children 0
MN Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving literacy in the state of Minnesota. They offer literacy services for adults, at-risk children, native-English speakers and recent immigrants. 0
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse NAASCA Addressing the issues of child sex abuse & providing services to adult survivors. 0
National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children 0
National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse NCPCA sends its senior attorneys throughout the country and abroad to lecture and deliver presentations on all aspects of child abuse investigation and prosecution. The federal Children’s Justice Act supports multidisciplinary training on investigation an 0
National Data Archive on Child Abuse Exchange among researched in child maltreatment field. 0
National Institute of Mental Health Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental health through research 0
National Traumatic Stress Network their mission is to raise the stadard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children and their families. 0
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE MN Welcome to the website of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota. We are the Minnesota Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. If you are in immediate need of child abuse information, please call 1-800-CHILDREN. 0
Prevent Child Abuse National Healthy Environments For Children 0
Promising Practices Network 0
Right For Kids How The States Treat Their Children 0
Safe Passage For Children Redesigning The Child Welfare System To Make Children Safe 0
Surviving Spirit – Healing The Heart Through The Creative Arts promoting hope, healing and help for those impacted by trauma, abuse or mental health concerns through the use of the creative arts. 0
The Future of Children The Future of Children seeks to promote effective policies and programs for children by providing policymakers, service providers, and the media with timely, objective information based on the best available research. 0
Together We Rise making life better for foster children 0
Youth Law Center The Youth Law Center advocates to transform foster care and juvenile justice systems across the nation so every child and youth can thrive. 0
Zero Kids Waiting To many people zero means nothing — to us zero means everything. There are 650 kids waiting in the Minnesota foster care system. Our goal is to make that number zero, because every child deserves a family. If you can’t open your home to one of Minnesota’s 0

How I Can Help At-Risk Teens Where I Live

What can you do to help at-risk teens where you live?

A lot, actually.

Author: Mike Tikkanen

Related Posts