Connecting with vulnerable young people requires a very special skill set: consistency, patience, and a hefty dose of humor. For Dot Iriks, outgoing Director of Housing at SAY, these qualities are just a natural part of her personality. Her “kids”, as she lovingly calls the youth in her program, will...
Read MoreToday we want to introduce you to SAY's Data Director, Heather Sweet! Heather joined our team eight years ago as a Program Manager for our Coffee House Teen Shelter, and then soon after spearheaded the development of what is now SAY's data department. She provides integral support to every single branch...
Read MoreWe are so honored to introduce you to our Employee of the Year, Amanda Meza! Amanda has been an integral part of our team for more than five years. As our Bilingual Housing Services Coordinator and our Human Trafficking Liaison, Amanda is the first point of contact for many of the young people who...
Read More“I say put mental health first. Because if you don't, then you're not going to enjoy your sport and you're not going to succeed as much as you want to.” – Simone Biles Mental health has taken center stage this Olympic season, thanks in part to a few brave athletes who...
Read MoreFor many of the staff and youth here at SAY, recognizing Juneteenth as an annual holiday is an important step forward towards creating a more inclusive environment. The decision to add this celebration to our list of scheduled holidays was made in the Fall of 2020 as part of our...
Read MoreOn April 11th, 2016, we welcomed the first youth to stay in our Short-Term shelter, which offers safety and comfort to young people in need of emergency housing. This shelter is the only dedicated ‘transitional aged youth’ (TAY) shelter located between San Francisco and the Oregon border. But what exactly...
Read MoreIt’s an important day in SAY history! Seven years ago, the Santa Rosa City Council “unanimously and enthusiastically approved” plans to transform the vacant Warrack Hospital campus into the Dream Center. This was a pivotal decision for SAY, and one that highlighted our mission to meet the ongoing needs of...
Read MoreYou may already know that SAY operates the John Jordan Foundation Career Hub, a welcoming space for all youth seeking employment or work-readiness skills. But did you know that we have been offering Youth Employment Services since the 1980s? In fact, SAY played a major role in expanding the Youth Employment Center. ...
Read MoreCommunity members often wonder why our emergency teen shelter came to be called ‘The Coffee House’. It’s a slightly confusing moniker for a space that provides critical support to teenagers and where, ironically, we are also prohibited (by licensing) from serving any caffeine! The Coffee House is short for the Dr....
Read MoreEven though spring is far behind us, many families still cringe at the memory of frantically trying to find the right password for that class Zoom meeting (the one that started ten minutes ago!). Many care providers struggled with keeping track of a weekly calendar filled with online assignments and...
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