Background

The Child Welfare League Foundation’s (CWLF) Youth Services originated from years of experience in our Missing Children Services. While cases of missing children have significantly declined, there has been a noticeable increase in adolescents who voluntarily run away from home. After the Jiji Earthquake on September 21st, 1999, we initiated our bereavement support services and recognized the need to help bereaved teens build resilience in the face of grief. Since 2013, our Youth Hotline service and various surveys on youth issues have deepened our understanding of the pressures adolescents face and the support they need. In response, we established the Youth Services Division, aiming to support adolescents through diverse programs that help them better cope with challenges, regulate their emotions, and build resilience in the face of adversity.

What We Do

● Youth+ Center (Youth Support Community Service Center)

Coming to Youth+ feels like discovering a hidden treasure. I feel relaxed and safe the moment I arrive here. It’s a place where I can release my worries and stress. Although I have been looking forward to high school and work, I wasn’t sure what qualities I would need. Today’s activity brought me many insights and helped clear up my confusion about my future career.

CWLF established our first Youth+ Center in Taichung City in 2022, which offers well-equipped facilities, diverse activities and courses, and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages positive interaction. Every young person who visits is invited to engage in meaningful social experiences, explore a variety of topics, and discover their own interests and aspirations. Through proactive outreach by social workers or the youth’s initiative to seek support, the center provides a safe space where adolescents can share their challenges and emotions and feel understood and accepted. We also stand with adolescents as they face various life stressors, explore coping strategies, and learn to access available resources.
• Thematic Activities: Each season, Youth+ Center offers themed courses and activities centered on four core areas: mental health, career exploration, interpersonal skills, and social participation. Through expert talks and hands-on experiences, young participants can deepen their understanding of these important topics.
• Winter and Summer Camps: Youth+ Center organizes career-themed camps for adolescents to engage in self-exploration and navigate diverse career paths.
• Empowerment Clubs: Youth+ Center runs various clubs, such as hip-hop dance club, guitar club, fashion and skincare club, and badminton club. These clubs are designed based on the hobbies of youth nowadays and encourage them to develop passions through extracurricular activities.
• Space and Equipment Access: Youth+ Center provides a wide range of free recreational materials and spaces, such as board games, video games, karaoke machines, and cozy hangout areas. These resources support leisure needs and hobby cultivation while also creating opportunities for practicing social interaction and communication.

● Youth Counseling Services:

Hey, social worker… can I talk to you for a moment? I had a conflict with my classmates, and they are all ignoring me now. I feel so bad that I don’t want to go to school tomorrow. What should I do?

At Youth+ Center, we welcome young people to reach out to on-site social workers to talk about any worries, personal struggles, or challenges they may be facing. We will:
• Provide a safe space where they feel understood and accepted
• Support them in exploring coping strategies and discovering their strengths
• Connect them and their families with appropriate resources based on their specific needs

● Educational Outreach Program
In addition to providing services at the Youth+ center, we aim to extend our reach to schools. Based on what we have learned about youth’s interests in self-exploration, we have developed relevant educational materials. Through school talks and outreach events, we share important insights and connect students and teachers with resources available in their communities.

Who We Serve

Adolescents aged from 12 to 18.

---

⬛ Read more:
【Youth Support Community Service Center】A Place Where I Can Feel Relaxed and Safe