Montgomery County Youth Services

That hyper-awareness of the world and their surroundings, coupled with traditional dynamics, such as divorce, drugs and alcohol, and oftentimes abuse and neglect, create a broad range of issues Bracken and the counselors and staff at MCYS work to alleviate in the clients they see.

"Lots of families are struggling out there," Bracken said. "It's hard work raising kids in these days and times. But once [children and families] come in, our experience is, because we make the process easy for them, we can usually get them engaged."

Whether it be through play therapy for younger children with licensed professionals, family and parenting counseling, crisis intervention or a host of other services the organization provides, MCYS' goal is to strengthen families, keep youths in school and prepare them to be productive members of society.

"People just have to take a much more active role in paying attention to what their kids are doing," Bracken said.

In addition to its in-house services at locations throughout Montgomery and Walker counties, MCYS also provides the BridgeWay Youth Shelter, a co-ed shelter that offers 13 beds for short-term stays. The shelter is an option for youth ages 10 to 17 for a 90-day period, Bracken said.

MCYS' Fairway facility is a long-term co-ed foster group home for 12 residents ages 13 to 17, which helps provide youth with transitional living skills to help them live independent lives after high school.

"As adults, we try to foster the good that is in them and the things that are right and okay, and get them to recognize that," Bracken said. "Except they don't have a family to go home to."

Montgomery County Youth Services

Individual and family counseling services offered at no cost at five locations.

The Woodlands, 1600 Lake Front Circle, , Ste. 130 281-292-6471

Magnolia, 31355 Friendship Drive, , Ste. 400 281-259-0440

Conroe, 105 W. Lewis St., 936-756-8682

Huntsville, 7045 Hwy. 75 S., 936-293-1003

Splendora, 16401 First St., 281-689-5104