Crisis Intervention & Prevention Programs

Alternative House is an emergency shelter for boys and girls, ages 10 to 20, who are runaways, homeless, abused or neglected and need help to resolve problems and successfully return home or to an alternative, safe living situation.  The maximum state-regulated stay is 20 days.

Alternative House “Promises” is an open residential, long-term care program that offers youth a caring, structured therapeutic environment aimed at a successful transition to their next steps in life, including independence.  

Alternative House programs utilize the evidenced-based clinical models of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT).  All program staff are trained in DBT and the behavior modification program CPI.

Youth receive transportation to and from school, skills training or job, plus case management and support services to prepare them for their next steps in life.  

Promises accept boys and girls, ages 14 to 20, from any Indiana county, may be referred by the Department of Child Services and Department of Justice. 

For admissions please contact us at 

219-938-7070

referrals@crisiscenterysb.org

Businesses cooperate with the Crisis Center to help youth to safety. Businesses display a Safe Place sign indicating they are willing to assist youth. Crisis Center staff retrieve youth from the site and transport to safety at Alternative House.

  Safe Place  is a connection to our Emergency Shelter that provides boys & girls, ages 10 - 18 who are in a threatening situation, homeless, pushed out of home, a runaway, with an unsafe or drunk driver immediate shelter, counseling and resources for individual and/or family services.

In addition to the Crisis Center’s network of local Safe Safe Place sites, TXT 4 HELP provides nationwide 24-hour access to counselors and other support services for youth who need them, even when visiting a Safe Place Site 

isn't an option.

To use TXT 4 HELP, youth text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, the youth will receive a message with the closest Safe Place Site and the Local Youth Safe Place Emergency Shelter.

For admissions please contact us at 

219-938-7070 x 0 

 Safely Home  Prevention Program is a cooperative effort by the Crisis Center, Geminus Community Partners, City of Gary and NWI Police Safety Officers to help youth who are pushed out, left home or on the streets achieve safety and return home. Law Enforcement transports youth to safety at Alternative House.  

 Our treatment staff provides group, individual and family counseling for the Safe Place and Safely Home residents at no cost while the youth is being served at Alternative House.

Safely Home is a referral/connection to our emergency shelter,  Alternative House. 

For admissions, please contact us at 

219-938-7070 x 0. 

 988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number. It offers a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, whether that is thoughts of suicide, anxiety, depression, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.

We are proud to serve as a designated call center for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

Our 988 Crisis Contact Line is    

International Council for Helplines Accredited.

Dial 988

 Get help now.

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, or a mental health or substance use crisis, please call 988 to reach Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist 24/7.

  Nick Christian

Program Director-988/Crisis Contact

(219) 938-707 x2702

nchristian@crisiscenterysb.org

Teen Court helps youth become responsible citizens. It is a prevention and early intervention program for young people who have committed an offense for which they have been referred by their school or local police department. 

Youth appear before a court of their peers who determine the appropriate sentence that may include restitution, essays, apologies, community service or other creative sentences. 

Follow-up continues to assure sentence completion. 

Over 20 years of outcome determination indicates that 87% of youth do not re-offend. 

Teen Court is currently held at the Highland Police Department and Portage City Court.

Sandra Porter-Phillips 

Program Coordinator 

(219) 938-7070  

HOPE Initiative

HOPE: Helping Overcome Painful Experiences

The Crisis Center has launched a new effort to

support individuals and families in the City of Gary who have experienced the traumatic loss of a loved one to suicide or homicide.

What is the HOPE Initiative?

The HOPE Initiative provides grief support packages filled with local resources and self-care items designed to promote healing, resilience, and emotional recovery.

Why it matters:

It bridges the gap between loss survivors and local services, supports mental health and trauma recovery, and strengthens our community’s crisis response network.

Together, we can build a more connected,

and compassionate City of Gary, where no one has to grieve alone.

Jasmine D. Hyatt

HOPE Initiative Coordinator  

 219-938-7070 x 3027 jhyatt@crisiscenterysb.org

*This project is funded in part through a grant from the City of Gary through its Department of Health and Human Services.

Community-Based Services Coming Soon!

We are excited to share that we are expanding our programming to include the following Community-Based Services in Lake and Porter County:

Family Preservation Services

Parent Education

Homemaker/Parent Aid

Truancy Termination

For additional information on our Community-Based Services, please contact us at

info@CrisisCenterysb.org or 219-938-7070 

For information regarding admissions to our residential programs, please email us at referrals@crisiscenterysb.org. For emergency residential placements, please call us at 219-938-7070. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.