The Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Center Program addresses the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. The Basic Center Program provides an alternative for youth to the law enforcement, child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems. The program’s goal is to meet the emergency needs of youth in crisis caused by their runaway or homeless status and to reunify the youth with their families where appropriate. The Basic Center program provides temporary shelter to youth younger than 18 years of age by placement in an agency certified host home or arrangement with other safe, alternative housing until such time as the immediate family conflict can be rectified.

In addition to crisis intervention and counseling, the Basic Center Program includes case management, aftercare services, community linkage, community outreach, and involves the recruitment and training of host families in the array of services provided. Services are coordinated through the Society’s Parkersburg office by two case managers and a supervisor, and extend to eight counties including Wood, Pleasants, Wirt, Jackson, Ritchie, Calhoun, and Gilmer. Case Managers utilize positive youth development tools and rely on Glasser’s Choice Theory to facilitate progressive change in the participant’s behavior and interaction with others.