History of SAY
Until 1974, running away from home was a crime. Youth who fled to escape physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect could be arrested and housed in the county juvenile detention facility, with no interventions to address the issues. In 1971, a group of local leaders established Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) to provide counseling services as an alternative to incarceration. This group included Judge John Moskowitz, Chief Probation Officer Bill Mulligan, Tadini Bacigalupi (lawyer), Andy Wahlstrom (high school teacher), and Henry Trione (philanthropist), who continued to advocate for new laws that would better care for young people. Three years later, the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was passed, which decriminalized runaway youth and established sources of federal funding for shelter and crisis services.
Since opening our doors
SAY has provided life-changing services to more than 60,000 children, youth, and families.
SAY Today
SAY continues to push for change where young people are underserved, and is Sonoma County’s leading provider of services for homeless, disconnected, and at-risk youth. Our programs are based on four foundational pillars: Youth Crisis Services (YCS), Housing, Careers, and Counseling.
Core Values
We Love People
We Are There For Youth When They Need It The Most
We Are In It Together
We Are Youthful
We Are Our Best Selves
We Are Committed To Service
We Are Resilient
We Celebrate Diversity
We Are Bold