StandUp For Kids is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit, all volunteer organization formed in 1990 to recruit, train, and
organize the work of community leaders and volunteers to end the exploitation
of homeless youth who survive on the streets. StandUp For Kids relies solely on
an all-volunteer workforce of caring adults to improve the safety, well-being,
and futures of homeless and street youth and at-risk youth through hands-on
direct support and relationship building. The Miami chapter is one of 43 independently
funded and maintained local programs and has been working on the streets of
Miami since 2004.
StandUp For Kids provides a variety of programs
and resources for youth. In addition to Street Outreach, their mentoring
program at a youth shelter offers kids basic life skills and social skills.
Their Don’t Run Away program teaches elementary and middle school students how
to safely remove themselves from abusive situations. Outside of the classroom,
they organize drives to collect food, clothing, and funding to better serve the
diverse needs of homeless youth.
In some cities, StandUp For Kids also operates
Outreach Centers, giving youth the chance to drop-in to a safe environment and
receive comprehensive services under one roof. The Miami program hopes to
establish its own center in the near future.
