4. Lakes Center for Youth & Famillies_Scandia City Council Presentation May 2020
Lakes Center for Youth & Families
20 Lake Street North, Suite 103
Forest Lake MN 55025
651-464-3685
lc4yf.org
Organizational History
In 1976, a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement officers and educators came together to
create the Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau, a diversion service to keep first time young
offenders from re-offending. In 2016 the agency changed its name to Lakes Center for Youth and
Families (LC4YF) to better encompass who is served and how programming and services have
evolved. Three years ago, the LC4YF board set out the main areas of programming that focus on
meeting the needs of the community: enrichment, intervention and counseling.
Who We Serve
One of our main geographic service area is the Forest Lake Area School District #831 which
encompasses over 200 square miles, portions of three counties and includes 12 communities. We
also serve other school districts/schools and communities in the area.
In 2019, over 550 clients were served with many of these clients seen multiple times. Originally,
youth age 12 -18 were the primary focus of programming and services. Today, children as young
as 3 and adults into their 70’s and 80’s, and everyone in-between, are utilizing the services and
programming available.
Staff
LC4YF employs nine full-time employees and approximately 20 part-time employees. We utilize
contracts/consultants for marketing, supervision of counselors not fully licensed, cleaning
services, counseling/insurance processes and procedures and grant writing. Staff members have
worked at LC4YF from 1 month to 28 years.
Partners
LC4YF partners with law enforcement, school districts, businesses, municipalities, civic
organizations, government organizations, churches and other non-profits and human service
organizations serving youth and families. LC4YF also connects with other youth intervention
programs or organizations providing similar services in other communities throughout
Minnesota.
Enrichment
In partnership with the Forest Lake Area High School, LC4YF offers workforce readiness
programs for youth in grades 9-12 that creates opportunities to explore careers in a variety of
fields, allowing them to set up a clear path for a successful future. On-site internships are
arranged to provide real, long term, engaging experiences in the workplace coupled with
extensive classroom preparation and supervision at the worksite.
Another enrichment program is Tried and True and is a youth social enterprise model where
youth learn how to repair small engines under an experienced mechanic along with learning
skills of running a small business and customer service.
Youth First is an enrichment program that is an after school program for youth in grades 4-6 at
four different schools. The program is free to participants and meets once a week. It is designed
to use skill development and utilize community partners to help the youth learn strong decision
making skills. LC4YF inherited this program in 2018 from another organization and is in the
process of clearly defining the specific program needs to meet the focus of LC4YF. Support and
expansion of this program is made possible through a grant.
Safety Camp is offered each summer in conjunction with the Forest Lake Police Department,
Forest Lake Fire Department and civic organizations and volunteers. Elementary aged
participants learn safety considerations in various aspects of life.
Intervention
LC4YF offers classes, individual programs and groups to encourage and help youth develop
healthy, positive decision-making skills and interrupt a pattern or potential pattern of behavior
which could result in negative outcomes. Intervention work involves law enforcement and
county staff referring youth to LC4YF for intake and then possible next steps such as counseling,
classes, or other options. This referral bypasses interaction with the court/legal system for
behaviors such as tobacco or alcohol use.
LC4YF is currently discussing the expansion of intervention services with the Forest Lake Area
school district as an alternative to suspension, as well as a proactive approach to providing skills
and options before a crisis arises for those youth who need extra support in making positive
decisions. Local law enforcement will also be part of these discussions.
New this year is a parent offering – Love and Logic. This is being coordinated with Chisago
County staff.
Counseling
LC4YF offers individual, group, couples and family counseling for all ages and cover a wide
array of different types of issues. Our staff focuses on guiding individuals, couples, families and
groups to give them the tools to change their lives.
Our methodology to build and strengthen our community includes:
• School linked mental health services provides on-site counseling to support social,
emotion, behavioral, and academic wellness
• Individual therapy addresses a variety of mental health symptoms through collaborative
and client-centered treatment for children, adolescents, and adults
• Family therapy focuses on reducing conflict, enhancing communication, understanding
generational family patterns, and building healthy boundaries
• Couples counseling includes strengthening connections, relationship discernment, co-
parenting, and uncoupling
• Group therapy provides healthy coping and communication skills. This can occur in
office and in Forest Lake Area Schools and other schools as well.
LC4YF uses evidence based approaches and therapy to treat a variety of conditions related to
mental health, life transitions and difficult circumstances such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and
trauma related disorders. We now serve not only youth, but also offer services for ages 3 to
adults in their 70’s and 80’s including individuals, couples, families and groups.
To meet the expanded need for therapists, two years ago, the LC4YF board made a decision to
change the therapist positions from part time to full time, including benefits. This decision
attracted quality staff and provided more consistency to our clients. The need for mental health
services is great and our staff is expanding to meet the need.
Our newest counselor was hired in November 2019 and already has a full case load. We have
posted for a fourth counselor and believe the need will be there for a fifth before the end of the
calendar year should we be able to secure adequate funding.
(As of April 2020 – We were ready to offer a position to a candidate on March 16. Due to the
COVID 19 closures and uncertainty, we have postponed adding this position.)