Homeless youth services in Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, and Roscommon counties of Michigan.

1. Compass
North
Serving Alcona, Alpena,
Crawford, Iosco, and
Montmorency, Ogemaw,
Oscoda, and Roscommon
counties

2. Reasons for Youth Homelessness
• Family Problems: Many youth run away, resulting in
homelessness, due to physical and sexual abuse,
parental neglect, and/or mental health disorders or
substance abuse addiction of a family member. In
other cases, youth may be kicked out because the
family being unable to provide for the youth’s needs.
• Transitions from Foster Care and other Public Systems:
Foster care youth aging out of the system are often
left without or with little income support and housing
options increasing their likelihood for becoming
homeless.
• Economic Problems: Youth that sometimes become
homeless with families due to financial difficulties, are
often separated from families and see themselves
alone and on the streets.

3. Risks Associated
with Being
Homeless
• At great risk for mental, physical, and emotional issues. Severe anxiety and depression, suicide,
poor health and nutrition, and low self-esteem are common issues these youths face on the
streets.
• Sexual exploitation is commonplace on the streets. The likelihood that youth will exchange sex for
food, clothing, and shelter, or resorting to other methods such as dealing drugs to buy basic
needs increase.
• Difficulties for attending school, because a lack of access to necessary paperwork, transportation,
and resources. This causes youth to stay homeless because they cannot graduate and get a job.
• Violence and sex trafficking are huge problems with youth on the streets as victims

4. Our Purpose
• To engage homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth who
are not presently involved in monitored care through
the Foster Care system, or those who have aged out
• The youth we serve often exist in a “gray area” of
child protection laws, in which they may have
elected to leave their home as opposed to being
forced out in abandonment
• Compass North is a program that fully supports and
complies with mandatory reporting. Complaints are
filed with Child Protective Services in instances in
which a parent has forced the youth from the home,
or upon the disclosure of abuse or neglect
experienced by the youth

5. Services
Offered
• Youth and Family Outreach
Services
• Basic Care Center Prevention
Services
• Transitional Living Program
Services

6. Youth and Family Outreach Services
• Youth experience homelessness in many ways. Some are on and off the
streets, in and out of shelters, or couch surfing. Others are staying with
a family other than their own or living independently. Some are in
school, while others are fully disconnected from mainstream life.
• Community-Based Outreach to provide information about service
availability to potential homeless youth, runaways and youth at-risk of
running away.
• Crisis Intervention-short-term immediate response to a youth on the
phone or as a walk-in, who is experiencing a crisis and feel they cannot
cope effectively.

7. Basic Care
Center
Prevention
• Prevention services are targeted toward
youth ages 12 to 17 whose families
voluntarily accept services to reunify the
youth with the family and/or to prevent out-
of-home placement.
• Provide supportive services, documenting
needs of the youth and developing a service
plan, which must be signed by the youth
and/or parent, to assist with ensuring the
youth has safe and stable housing upon
discharge.
• Services may be provided for up to 90 days.

8. Transitional Living Program
• Homeless and runaway youth ages 16-21, who are without housing or appropriate supervision
and care and their families.
• Supportive services including case management, employment support and job placement
assistance, educational assistance, independent living skills, etc. So youth may be successful in
obtaining or remaining in safe, stable, and affordable housing.
• Services available up to 21 months.

9. Host Homes
• Host Homes option available
to Transitional Living Project
youth.
• Background checks required
for Host Home providers.
• Home must pass safety
inspection.
• Monthly in-home visits
required.

10. Community
Engagement
• Compass North looks forward to working with community
partners to help homeless and runaway youth.

11. If you or someone you
know has concern of a
youth who may be in
need of any type of
help and support,
please contact:
• Compass North Youth Services Case
Manager- Brandy Colleran
• (989) 464-0992 or (989) 356-4567 ext. 203
• emergency line: (989) 464-3799
• Email colleranb@cfsnemi.org
• Fax (989) 354-6100