March 2001

You Saved My Life:
A letter from the heart of a child.

United Way supports Street Outreach, an enhanced service program created to help reduce sexual abuse and trauma among runaway, homeless and street youth in the Sedgwick County area.

The following letter was written by a teen who benefited from this United Way-funded program.

"I was living under a bridge, in ditches, and also in gas station bathrooms. [Street Outreach] would help me anyway that they could – 24 hours a day seven days a week they are always on call to help anyone. I always feel safe with them so when I was in a bind or need them for something like if I was stranded they would come and get me. It is a great program to help kids in need. They will drop anything to help anyone.

We need Street Outreach because when I was homeless I saw lots more homeless people who could use this place. There is a high rate of teen runaways and they are quick to help teens in trouble who need someone to help or just talk to. These people are really here to help someone and not just in it for a pay check.

Since I have been in the Wichita Children’s Home they have had a lot of runaways and [this program] helps them in any way possible.

I am a teen who has made a drastic change in my life. [This program] has helped me out in so many ways and I am thankful and I hope they do the same for all the other teens in need.

So please take my words to your heart and let the Street Outreach do what they do and that is to help others who are in need."

Street Outreach is a United Way-funded program started by the Wichita Children’s Home five years ago. The program is open to youth up to 18 years of age who qualify as homeless or runaway. If self admitted, the youth may remain anonymous and stay for a 24-hour time period before parents are involved. Once parents are contacted, counselors decide if the environment is safe for the teen’s return or if police need to be contacted.

The program is also able to offer help for teens who are at-risk runaways before they end up in a situation beyond their control.

The team is able to take teens directly for emergency care if needed. [Payment for services rendered is partially funded by United Way of the Plains.] If no immediate medical care is needed, the youth is taken to the Wichita Children’s Home for a temporary safe haven.

Call United Way of the Plains at 267-1321 to find out more about how your money is helping our community.