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In the News

Check out these stories covering Youth Home’s work, the youth we serve, and some of the bigger issues impacting youth in crisis.

New Missoula youth shelter to provide more bed space

Kids living in abusive homes or who are going through the court system sometimes don’t have anywhere to stay. When that happens, specialized youth shelters care for them, but beds can be full. There are currently seven youth shelter facilities statewide. They serve kids who have nowhere to go, said Amy Schaer, CEO of Youth […]

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A shelter, a legacy and a life devoted to kids

Last week, I had the honor of attending and speaking at a campaign kickoff event for Youth Homes to raise the final funds needed to complete a new therapeutic crisis shelter for kids. Geoff Birnbaum, my dad, served for 42 years as executive director of Youth Homes. Even after his retirement, he remained deeply involved—attending […]

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Youth organization fundraising for new crisis shelter

Teens in crisis in Missoula have limited places to go beyond the emergency room and juvenile detention, said Amy Schaer, CEO of Youth Homes. “An alternative is needed to best serve those kids in a way that can help get the crisis resolved but also support set up for those next steps,” Schaer told Montana […]

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Missoula Youth Homes shelter nears goal for kids in crisis

MISSOULA, Mont. — A new therapeutic shelter for kids in crisis in Missoula moved closer to opening as Youth Homes launched a capital campaign and honored a longtime leader tied to the project. The new building is called the Birnbaum Youth Home. It is named for former executive director Geoff Birnbaum. Organizers reported the project […]

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Youth Homes kicks off fundraising campaign for new Missoula youth crisis shelter

About 50 people gathered in the sunshine outside the Youth Homes office Monday afternoon for a kick-off event launching the public phase of a capital campaign for a new therapeutic youth crisis shelter. Youth Homes provides support services and group homes to youth and families in Missoula, Helena, Kalispell and Polson. In 2023, its first-ever […]

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New Missoula Youth Crisis Shelter Named After Beloved Community Member

MISSOULA — A new home is being built in Missoula to help youth in crisis, and it is named after a well-known community member who devoted his life to helping young people. On Monday, the organization Youth Homes launched a fundraising campaign for the new therapeutic crisis shelter, located on a one-acre lot in the […]

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Help Provide Holiday Memories!

The holidays can be especially challenging for the youth in our care. Their lives often look very different from their peers’, and they face hardships and stigmas that no child should have to endure. That’s why we go above and beyond to ensure they feel safe, loved, and cherished during Christmastime – just as every […]

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Reflecting on 2025

Happy holidays! To close out 2025, I’ve spent time reflecting on my first full year as Montana Free Press’ local Missoula reporter. The last year has brought no shortage of interesting stories, and while plenty of those appeared in this newsletter, some of my most memorable assignments were stories Missoula This Week readers may have […]

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Former Youth Homes child donates $100,000 to help kids in crisis

A record-breaking fundraising event for Youth Homes will help ensure more kids in crisis will get the help and support they need. The amazing part of this story is that a former Youth Home child went on to have a wonderful life and donated $100,000 in matching funds during the Oct. 4 fundraiser. He wants […]

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Missoula nonprofit seeking donations for back-to-school season

Missoula nonprofit Youth Homes is looking for donations to help kids in their group home setting prepare to go back to school. The organization is asking for gift cards to local businesses to help finance getting new clothes for kids in their care, many of whom are facing abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, or substance abuse […]

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Press Releases

Press Release: Youth Homes Partners with The Peak for Annual Giving Trees

This season, members of Peak Health and Wellness have already given 355 individual gifts to children at Youth Homes, with two weeks remaining until Christmas. Every year, the Peak hosts four individual trees at their Blue Mountain, Tennis, Pickleball, and Downtown facilities, where members select tags of wishes from those in Youth Home care of […]

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