Casa Youth Shelter's mission is to provide temporary shelter and counseling services to runaways and youth in crisis, enabling them to come through the crisis with increased personal strength and a sense of renewal while in a supportive environment, with family reunification as the primary goal.

• Casa is one of only 2 youth shelters serving the Greater Long Beach Metropolitan area as well as one of only 2 in Orange County.
  
• Casa has 12 beds and provides shelter to approximately 200 youth per year.
  
• Casa provides temporary shelter for up to 2 weeks to adolescents, ages 12-17, who are runaway, homeless, or at risk of becoming runaway or homeless.
  
• Many of the youths who come to Casa have suffered from abuse. Last fiscal year we filed child abuse reports on behalf of kids who were physically abused (50%), sexually abused (17%), and who suffered from neglect or abandonment (20%).
  
• A primary goal at Casa is to help each child reunite with family if such reunification will not threaten the safety of the child. To help accomplish this goal, Casa utilizes an extensive counseling program that includes 3-4 sessions of family therapy each week as well as 2-3 sessions of group counseling and/or educational classes each day.
  
• After Care family counseling is provided, ideally for 2-3 months following a child's departure from the shelter.
  
• Parenting classes are also provided to the parents of residents as well as to the community at large.
  
• Casa hosts a youth leadership program for high school students. This program is called Youth Development Program (YDP).