Ting, a Young Girl Seeking a Place of Safety

Ting, a teenage girl who has been accompanied for over a year by a social worker from the Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF), is a thoughtful youth with a deep need to be heard. Past experiences within her family have left her feeling that her emotions were often dismissed, making her hesitant to express her thoughts to family members. Her relationship with her parents is distant, and she often argues with her younger brother. For her, “home” is both a place she longs for and a place she wants to escape—a space where safety and comfort are hard to find.

During their time together, the social worker helped Ting explore her emotions and gave her room to voice her mixed feelings of wanting closeness with her family while fearing further hurt. The goal was to help her gradually rediscover a sense of safety.

One day, the social worker invited Ting to visit the Youth Support Community Service Center. Her first impression was of a warm and welcoming environment, with bright spaces and inviting facilities. When she saw the karaoke machine and couches in the media room, her eyes lit up. A little shyly, she admitted she wanted to sing there, since she rarely had the chance to go out for karaoke with friends. After their counseling session, the social worker encouraged her to stay and sing, giving her a moment of personal relaxation.

Before leaving that day, Ting told the social worker, “This place is amazing! I feel like I really got some rest today. I definitely want to come back again!” Seeing her happiness brought joy to the social worker as well. The hope is that the center not only helps Ting relieve stress but also allows her to rebuild a sense of inner safety.

Who Catches the Falling Youth?

CWLF’s research on youth mental health has shown that young people need support from family, peers, and society to grow. For those with adverse experiences, however, challenges often remain hidden and complex.

Our work with rural youth, families facing challenges, and runaway adolescents at CWLF has shown that young people have a strong desire for recognition and support. When such support is lacking at home or school, or when peer relationships fail, they often seek validation online or from friends in the community. Yet these searches for connection may expose them to risk.

For youth struggling with emotional distress, it can feel like being lost in the dark without light. The reasons may include family dysfunction, developmental difficulties, or hurtful treatment from others. While social workers often feel both compassion and helplessness in these moments, they know that adolescence is a period of profound change, when both body and mind are still developing and adapting. On this journey of identity formation, social workers are committed to walking alongside them.

Helping Youth Find Themselves Without Losing Their Way

In response, CWLF created the Youth Support Community Service Center, a safe environment where youth in difficult circumstances can have a place to relax after school and reduce their exposure to high-risk settings. Through long-term accompaniment and observation, social workers can reach out to youth who carry emotional wounds or self-harm scars, understand their needs, and provide timely services to prevent further harm. 

At the center, young people can also take part in club activities—such as guitar, dance, singing, and personal care—where they explore interests with like-minded peers and build supportive networks. Through these activities, they not only develop diverse hobbies and discover new possibilities, but also receive companionship from peers and professionals, strengthening their social support.

CWLF hopes that, through the Youth Support Community Service Center, young people’s vulnerabilities can be gently caught in time, their needs recognized, and appropriate support provided—helping them move forward with strength and resilience.

◼︎ More information for the Youth Support Community Service Center: https://www.children.org.tw/english/service/youth
◼︎ More CWLF stories: 
【Community Coalition and Empowerment Program】Supporting the Vietnam Story House for New Generation
【Family in Adversity Services】From Storm to Strength: How Fang-Fang's Family Found Hope Again
【Children in Rural Areas Services】Quan: The Boy Who Builds a Wall Around His Heart