Our Programs

Behavioral Health Services (All Ages)

​Licensed therapists, registered associates, and student therapists provide solution-focused therapy, trauma therapy, play therapy, and family reunification services.

• Mental Health Assessments
• Individual Assessments
• Individual Mental Health Counseling
• Family Counseling​

Our staff is trained in evidence-based strategies to provide ​prevention, intervention services to adults and youth.

Call us to learn more:
South Lake Tahoe, CA: 530-541-2445

24 Hour Crisis Line • 1-800-870-8937

Drop-In Center Services

Our Drop-In Center offers a safe, welcoming space where youth can access essential resources and supportive services. We provide necessities such as food, clothing, hygiene supplies, hot showers, laundry facilities, and assistance with obtaining IDs.

This program is designed to offer positive alternatives for runaway, homeless, and street-involved youth. By meeting immediate needs and providing ongoing support, we help youth improve their safety, well-being, self-sufficiency, and long-term stability through meaningful and lasting connections.

Visit Our Drop-In Center
​1021 Fremont Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Have questions or need support?
Contact Carrie Chapman, Supportive Services Manager
(530) 539-4849
Hours: Monday–Friday, 1 PM–5 PM

Transitional Living & Rapid Rehousing Programs

​Tahoe Youth and Family Services Transitional Living and Rapid Rehousing Program’s purpose is to connect transitional aged youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness to permanent housing through a tailored package of assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services.

These programs help homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness solve the practical and immediate challenges to obtaining permanent housing while reducing the amount of time they experience homelessness, avoiding a near-term return to homelessness, and linking to community resources that enable them to achieve long-term housing stability.

Transitional Living Program (TLP)
The Transitional Living Program (TLP) is an 18-month program designed to support youth ages 16 to 21 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, including young parents and youth with dependent children. The TLP provides a safe place to live while helping young people build the skills, confidence, and stability needed to move toward independent living.

At Tahoe Youth and Family Services, we believe every young person deserves support, respect, and the opportunity to succeed. Through the TLP, youth are connected with caring adults, supported in reaching their education and employment goals, and provided with stable, nurturing housing. We work alongside youth to help them strengthen life skills, build healthy relationships, and create a future they feel proud of. Our goal is to empower young people to take the next steps toward independence and long-term success.

Transitional Living Program Plus (TLP+)
Transitional Living Program Plus (TLP+) is a 12-month housing program for young adults ages 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. The program follows a Housing First approach, which means the focus is on helping young adults get into housing as quickly as possible—without unnecessary barriers—so they can start feeling safe and stable.

Once housed, participants are offered flexible, respectful, and individual-centered supportive services. TLP+ uses a harm reduction, client-centered approach, meeting young adults where they are and focusing on what matters most to them in the moment. By combining housing with supportive services, TLP+ helps young adults in South Lake Tahoe build stability, access resources, and take steps toward a more secure future.

Rapid Rehousing (RRH)
RRH is a youth homeless prevention and diversion initiative designed to support young adults ages 18 to 24 who are at immediate risk of homelessness. The program helps reduce barriers to housing by offering support with housing navigation and tenancy, assistance with paying deposits, and short-term rental assistance for up to three months.

In addition to housing support, RRH provides case management and ongoing guidance focused on building stability and confidence in maintaining housing over time. Aftercare services are available for up to 6 months, offering continued support as participants transition from short-term assistance to long-term housing stability.

Winter Shelter
Winter Shelter is a seasonal youth homelessness prevention and crisis response program in South Lake Tahoe for young adults ages 18 to 26. The program operates from November 1 through April 30 and provides immediate, safe shelter during the winter months.

The program offers rapid access to shelter through hotel vouchers, along with essential support services and responsive case management. Winter Shelter focuses on meeting immediate safety needs while working with participants to identify next steps and connect to more stable housing options. The goal is to provide short-term support that helps prevent prolonged homelessness and helps youth move toward safer, more stable living arrangements.

Have questions or need support?
Contact Carrie Chapman, Supportive Services Manager
(530) 539-4849
Hours: Monday–Friday, 1 PM–5 PM

Download the TLP Application Packet

Download the Rapid Rehousing Packet

About the Program

Our program provides children with focused, caring attention from a nonjudgmental and trusted adult—right within a safe and supportive school environment. In a specially equipped playroom, trained aides use non-directive play techniques to help children build confidence, express themselves, and grow.

Who Runs the Program

​Our program is facilitated by trained aides who specialize in non-directive play techniques. These professionals build positive, meaningful relationships with each child, creating a supportive environment that encourages emotional expression and personal growth. Through these sessions, aides help children navigate school-related challenges and other adjustment difficulties with greater confidence and resilience.​

How the Program Works

Referrals to the program are made by a child’s teacher or school psychologist, with parental consent required. Once enrolled, each child is paired with a trained aide who meets with them once a week for a 30–40 minute session, typically over the course of 8–12 weeks.

Sessions take place in a dedicated playroom designed to encourage exploration and self-expression. Children can choose from a variety of activities—such as drawing, painting, imaginative play, and games—allowing them to engage in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to them.

​How Non-Directive Play Works

​Non-directive play is a child-led approach in which the adult participates in the play but allows the child to guide every activity. Instead of giving instructions or suggesting what to do, the adult follows the child’s lead and offers steady support and understanding.

This empowering method helps children:

• Express thoughts and emotions freely
• Explore their experiences at their own pace
• Build problem-solving and self-regulation skills
• Develop confidence and personal resilience

By giving children the freedom to lead, the program strengthens their capacity for self-direction, emotional exploration, and meaningful personal growth.

Elevate Youth Tahoe is a partner program of Elevate Youth California, funded through a statewide grant focused on addressing substance use disorder by investing in youth leadership and civic engagement. The program serves youth ages 12–26, with an intentional focus on youth of color and 2S/LGBTQ+ young people in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

Elevate Youth Tahoe delivers authentic, youth-driven programming that builds leadership, confidence, and real-world skills through mentorship, peer-led workshops, and meaningful community connections. By centering youth voice and lived experience, the program empowers young people to grow with purpose, step into leadership, and develop the power to create healthier, more equitable communities.

Get Involved
Support youth leadership and substance use prevention initiatives in our community. Consider Volunteering as a mentor, collaborating with our organization, or connecting with our team to learn more.

📍 Location
1021 Fremont Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 

📞 Contact
Chris Cocores, Youth Leadership Manager
(530) 541-2445

@elevateyouthtahoe

Human Trafficking is Modern-Day Slavery

This includes but is not limited to labor trafficking, sex trafficking, forced marriages, child soldiers, drug smuggling, and forced gang affiliation. Human trafficking is a complex issue that primarily revolves around three critical elements: force, fraud, and coercion. Traffickers often employ manipulative tactics aimed at exploiting individuals’ vulnerabilities. This can involve the use of threats to force victims into situations against their will, as well as deceitful recruitment practices.

We provide our community with clear and comprehensive prevention and education programs designed to raise awareness of human trafficking among both youth and adults. This detailed and informative program is crucial due to the significant risks present in Eldorado and Douglas County. It is important to note that California and Nevada have been identified as two of the top five states with the highest number of reported human trafficking cases.

To combat this issue, it is crucial to understand the nuances of human trafficking, including its warning signs and the appropriate channels for reporting it. We provide age-appropriate presentations and individualized peer education through the Best Life Curriculum, a program developed by survivors of human trafficking, to empower individuals with knowledge and resources.

The most powerful weapon against all forms of human trafficking is education, for education is the key to prevention.

Human Trafficking Prevention, Education & Awareness
​To learn more about the programs and efforts supporting prevention, education, and awareness in our community

Contact
Cheyanne Lane, Executive Director
Phone: (530) 541-2445