Francis Lauer Youth Services

Our Mission:

To provide services designed to create a safe, supportive and structured environment in which young people and their families may achieve knowledge, skills, personal growth, and individual success. Our philosophy here at Francis Lauer Youth Services is that we believe children are entitled to opportunities to learn, grow, experience success, and be productive. This new program enhances and supports our mission towards children and families. It broadens the continuum of care and the youth that we serve.

Our Goals

• Teach daily living skills
• Prepare residents to live on their own
• Assist residents in completing their high school diploma
• Instill values that are congruent with becoming a valuable employee as well as a productive member of society
• Assist in self-sufficiency
• Promote social skills

Placement
The Department of Human Services and Juvenile Court Services as well as a variety of other agencies may be a referral source for young adults ranging in age from 16–21. We will also accept private pay young adults on an individual basis. These individuals have not been adopted or reunited with their birth families by the time they reach their 18th birthday.

Each resident will enter into a mutually agreed upon written contract with Francis Lauer Youth Services. This contract will specify the responsibilities of Francis Lauer Youth Services and the individual. Contracts will be reviewed quarterly.

Each participant will operate their own apartment. They will be responsible for their rent, which is currently $350.00 per month. They will also be responsible for buying and preparing their own food.

Services Provided
Residents will participate in hands-on assessments in areas of cooking, cleaning and food shopping during their first month in the program. Staff will observe the individual's performance in these areas and will note their strengths and needs for future skill building activities. This process will be ongoing and will continually assess the resident's strengths and needs.

Program staff and/or DHS personnel are responsible for administering all assessment tools, documenting the results of these tools in the resident's permanent file and following through with the appropriate program activities to strengthen areas of need.

Residents participating in the program will do so on a voluntary basis. However, these individuals will be expected to be in school to complete their GED or begin college/trade school. It will be expected that they seek employment and develop work skills.

Curriculum will be based on Preparing Adolescents for Young Adulthood (PAYA). This series was created by Massachusetts Department of Social Services and consists of five modules:

Module 1: Home and Food Management
Module 2: Personal Care, Health, Social Skills and Safety
Module 3: Education, Job Seeking Skills, and Job Maintenance Skills
Module 4: Housing, Transportation, Community Resources, Understanding the Law, and Recreation
Module 5: Young Parents Guide

Men's Stepping Stones Supervised Apartment Living
30 N. Eisenhower Ave.
Mason City, IA 50401
641.423.5479

Women's Stepping Stones Supervised Apartment Living
17162 Kingbird Ave.
Mason City, IA 50401
641.423.2582