MISSOULA, MT — Jackson Crawford and Kiona Stenerson from two of Missoula’s Rotary clubs turned litter along Mullan Road into something meaningful, organizing a cleanup of the first 11 miles of the upcoming Missoula Marathon route. The effort connects Run Wild Missoula, Rotary’s Epic Day of Service, and a shared mission to support youth at […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
