Stopover began in 1970 through the efforts of concerned citizens and the leadership of Reverend Stewart Wood. Volunteer homes were recruited to house youth that had run away from their homes. The purpose of this effort was to provide a safe and supportive environment for youth in crisis. Although the past years have provided the opportunity to learn much more about runaway youth, the mission of Stopover has remained the same. In addition, Stopover provides home-based and family centered counseling for our clients and advocacy for adolescents in general.
Youth have the greatest opportunity for security and growth within their own families.
It is Stopover's mission to serve and support families to enhance their ability to care for and to be the primary emotional and physical guardians of their adolescent youth. Stopover provides emergency shelter in a group home residence for adolescent youth that are involved in a family crisis. The youth that come to the program are 13 to 17 years old, male and female, in a crisis. The group home program is voluntary, the young person must be willing to come, the parent must give permission for them to come, and they both must be willing to participate in the counseling program. Intense, home-based, family centered counseling is provided to all group home clients and their families.