About StreetWorks Collaborative

Mission
StreetWorks fosters a diverse collaboration of youth, communities and youth-servicing agencies that coordinates street-based outreach and assures access to a broad range of resources and opportunities for homeless youth and youth at risk of becoming homeless.

Vision
All youth have the opportunity to be nurtured, to belong, to be heard, to be valued,
And to have their needs met.

History
Established in 1994 in an effort to bring together a unconnected group of organizations providing services to homeless and runaway youth, StreetWorks is now a national model and the largest youth-serving collaborative in the state of Minnesota.

The StreetWorks Collaborative has provided outreach to homeless and at-risk youth since 1994. StreetWorks was established in an effort to design a collaborative to coordinate outreach to runaway and homeless youth on the streets.

Freeport West, who spearheaded the endeavor, recognized that no single group or program could provide for the global needs of street youth or homeless teens. They had a vision that with greater communication, connection and coordination between community stakeholders, homeless and at-risk youth would be offered a greater chance at success and a pathway out of homelessness.

Outreach Workers
StreetWorks outreach workers are a safe group of youth advocates dedicated to providing services and resources to youth in need. Our goal is to develop trusting relationships in which youth feel genuine care and concern that will hopefully lead them to ask for help in exiting life on the streets. We are not on the streets to change youth; however, we are there to answer questions, provide resources and supplies, and to assist youth in accessing services in a quick and respectful manner. Each member agency provides easy access to their services when youth are referred by an outreach worker or other collaborative members.