OUR STORY

"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say “It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.” Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero." - Mr. Fred Rodgers

At Brookline Teen Outreach, we believe in maximizing youth potential and building the community. We have adopted a holistic approach to serving youth by offering high-quality and modern, licensed counseling services, free tutoring, community service opportunities, and dynamic programming. The center’s innovative and comprehensive programming provides something for everyone who walks through our doors.

The founders, Caitlin and Diana, established Brookline Teen Outreach in 2015, because of a pressing need to do more for the youth of South Pittsburgh. Brookline, and its surrounding neighborhoods, have the highest percentage of youth within the city of Pittsburgh, but they do not have facilities or resources that cater to the enrichment of teens outside of the school setting.  We hope to make improvements for our students and their families that reach beyond the walls of our center and change our city for the better.

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​Brookline Teen Outreach is a Pittsburgh nonprofit offering free opportunities and resources for youth ages 10-18. Our programming is founded in education and counseling theories focused on developing the social emotional learning of students while also engaging them in activities and their community. Social programming includes pool, air hockey, fooseball, video games and field trips. Educational art and STEM programming are centered around expanding knowledge and experience and foster self-awareness and appreciation. Staff, interns and volunteers all have extensive experience as educators, social workers, counselors, or coaches, which is critical to the function of our model. Every activity, group and experience, including after school snack and nightly dinner, is an opportunity to connect with our students and help them to develop as individuals. Our dedication to serving all aspects of an individual, to create a holistic experience, includes community service opportunities and free access to mental health services through our partnership with Compassionate Counseling.  We are dedicated to serving youth and our community, so our work doesn’t stop there. Our counseling provider serves  people of all ages. Our building is home to groups and organizations that serve the neighborhood and can be rented for affordable prices by individuals. Our partnerships with other area non-profits, such as ASWP, 412 Food Rescue, Tickets for Kids, Fine Art Miracles, and many more gives our students access to unique, interesting, and hard to access experiences. Most importantly, we work with youth to create a safe space full of equal opportunity for all.