St. Paul Youth Services

St. Paul Youth Services Rewriting the Rules of Youth Engagement by pioneering practices, creating tools and sharing resources St.

Paul Youth Services is a leading Twin Cities provider of comprehensive behavioral support services that give young people a safety net, a second chance, and the skills to pursue their dreams. We act as a positive resource for youth whose actions jeopardize their chances at future success or who have fallen prey to systemic injustices, profiling, and low-expectations. We use proven approaches to im

prove young people’s behavior, and shift how adults engage with them, to create safe spaces for young people to grow, be challenged, explore their environment, and gain the skills to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

9 out of 10 young people we serve improve their
behavior, do better in school, don’t get arrested, and peacefully resolve family conflicts. That’s why we’re the trusted partner of dozens of public agencies and youth-serving nonprofits who want to keep kids healthy, hopeful, and free. We use proven strategies and continually improve our services through innovation and to address emerging needs. We are also intentional about improving individual young people’s lives, while working upstream to address the systemic issues of injustice that create the inequitable outcomes. We can choose to give every child the opportunity to succeed academically and thrive socially, and have the tools to pursue their dreams. If you want to better connect with and champion our youth – whether you’re a city resident, parent, educator, police officer, or
community organization - join us!

At SPYS, we believe youth have the power to shape the future, and adults have a responsibility to create the conditions ...
12/18/2025

At SPYS, we believe youth have the power to shape the future, and adults have a responsibility to create the conditions for that power to thrive.

This reflection from a workshop participant reminds us that real change happens when young people are trusted, supported, and given space to lead—with resources, time, and shared hope for what’s possible.🙌🏽

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12/18/2025

St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS) is reimagining how communities engage with and are accountable to youth.

Through our YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute, Black youth are compensated for their intellectual capital, lived experiences, and leadership as they work to improve their communities. YouthPowerMN℠ is an organizing hub where young people gather, reflect, express themselves, build skills, and advocate for meaningful, systems-level change on the issues that impact their lives.

This is what it looks like when youth are trusted, valued, and empowered to lead. ✨

Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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We’re grateful for partners who are willing to do the hard work of learning, unlearning, and growing alongside us.At SPY...
12/16/2025

We’re grateful for partners who are willing to do the hard work of learning, unlearning, and growing alongside us.

At SPYS, we create space for reflection, challenge, and meaningful change in our Trainings and Workshops. Hearing how our work supports teams in their mission is why we do what we do.

Thank you to Katherine Debertin and the Hennepin County Library team for trusting us in this process and for your commitment to youth-centered practice.

✨ Rewriting the Rules® of youth engagement, together.

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Did you know?Long before adulthood, Black and Indigenous youth in Minnesota face harsher law enforcement and juvenile de...
12/14/2025

Did you know?
Long before adulthood, Black and Indigenous youth in Minnesota face harsher law enforcement and juvenile detention outcomes.

St. Paul Youth Services works to address these inequities—shifting from reacting to youth behavior to transforming the systems around them.

The reality:
• Indigenous youth in Minnesota are nearly 12X more likely than white youth to be sent to juvenile detention or treatment facilities.
• Black youth are over 8X more likely to face detention, and Latino youth are 2.7X more likely.
• Nationally, Black youth made up 46% of juvenile arrests in 2020–2021—despite being a minority of the youth population.
• Yet 61% of youth tried as adults were Black.

These numbers reflect systemic inequities—not the actions of young people. Our community must be accountable for creating safer, fairer pathways for every child.

At SPYS, we believe in Kids Changing Systems vs. Systems Changing Kids®

Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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12/13/2025

SPYS’ Know Your Rights Youth-Led, DJ’d Event took place at the Science Museum of Minnesota with students from Como Park Senior High School and Roseville High School.

Know Your Rights empowers young people with critical information about their rights when encountering law enforcement. Too often, youth are placed at risk simply because they haven’t been given this knowledge. By creating spaces that are youth-led, engaging, and informative, we help young people protect themselves, advocate for their safety, and move through the world with confidence.

🎥 Watch more youth-led storytelling and advocacy on our YouTube channel. [link in bio]

✨ Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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Did you know?Black and Indigenous youth in Minnesota face harsher school discipline and inequitable outcomes before even...
12/13/2025

Did you know?
Black and Indigenous youth in Minnesota face harsher school discipline and inequitable outcomes before even reaching adulthood.

St. Paul Youth Services addresses issues that put our young people and our community’s well-being at risk—from criminal justice reform to alternatives to suspension, and combating the deep inequities in the American education system.

The reality:
• Black students are 8X more likely to be suspended or expelled than white students.
• Black students and students with disabilities are referred to law enforcement at nearly double the statewide average.
• Although Black students make up only 18% of the student population, they account for 54% of suspensions and expulsions.
• SPPS 4-year graduation rates: 53% American Indian, 57% African American, 59% Latino, 70% Asian American, 77% White.

These outcomes are not the result of individual behavior—they are the result of systems that treat young people differently based on race, disability, and socioeconomic status.

SPYS is Rewriting the Rules®

Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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12/11/2025

St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS) is reimagining how our community engages with and uplifts youth.

In partnership with Allina Health, we hosted There’s a Career for You in Healthcare—a hands-on career exploration event designed to show BIPOC youth the careers and leadership opportunities they deserve.

At the YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute event on Feb. 13, 2025, youth:
– Explored real healthcare roles inside the Allina Health Sim Lab
– Heard from leaders in the medical field
– Connected with mentors in small-group conversations
– Stepped into three different healthcare jobs in a realistic simulation environment

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PzFod61p16w?si=O5tIEGTvTzIq9gu2

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This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting with gratitude on nearly 50 years of impact at St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS). 🧡SPYS...
11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting with gratitude on nearly 50 years of impact at St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS). 🧡

SPYS began as a response to the growing criminalization of Black, Indigenous, and youth of color. Through early programs like our Behavior Intervention Program (BIP) and Pre-Charge Diversion Program, we created pathways for accountability, second chances, and reconnection with schools, families, and community.

In 2016, we began Rewriting the Rules® of Youth Engagement—shifting from reacting to youth behavior to transforming the systems around them. That work led to the launch of YouthPowerMN℠ in 2017 and YouthPoweredMediaMN® in 2020, expanding our impact through leadership, storytelling, and advocacy.

Today, we are deeply thankful for the youth, families, partners, and supporters who make this work possible. Because of you, SPYS continues building a future where young people are free to dream, lead, and thrive. 💛

✨ Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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Our Smart, Fair & Loving℠ Approach—Show Youth We’ll Protect Them and Help Them Learn.Runaway is a youth-written and yout...
11/25/2025

Our Smart, Fair & Loving℠ Approach—Show Youth We’ll Protect Them and Help Them Learn.

Runaway is a youth-written and youth-produced short created by members of Intermedia Arts’ Media Active team and commissioned by St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS).

This video is part of our Smart, Fair & Loving℠ Approach series—highlighting how we can all create safer, more supportive spaces for youth to grow, learn, and lead.

💛 Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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This youth-written and youth-produced video is part of a series St. Paul Youth Services commissioned from youth on Intermedia Arts' Media Active team. Learn ...

Listen—Youth Have Valuable Insights About How They’re Treated.ProPronouns is a youth-written and youth-produced short cr...
11/24/2025

Listen—Youth Have Valuable Insights About How They’re Treated.

ProPronouns is a youth-written and youth-produced short created by members of Intermedia Arts’ Media Active team and commissioned by St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS).

This video is part of our Smart, Fair & Loving℠ Approach series—highlighting how we can all create safer, more supportive spaces for youth to grow, learn, and lead.

What will your impact be?

💛 Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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This youth-written and youth-produced video is part of a series St. Paul Youth Services commissioned from youth on Intermedia Arts' Media Active team. Learn ...

Our 2021–2025 Strategic Plan reimagined a world where Black youth feel loved, safe, and free—and we’re grateful for ever...
11/23/2025

Our 2021–2025 Strategic Plan reimagined a world where Black youth feel loved, safe, and free—and we’re grateful for every partner who helps move this work forward. We’re excited to continue our mission and implement even more impact-driven work in the years ahead.

Learn more at spys.org [link in bio]

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Address

2100 Wilson Avenue
Saint Paul, MN
55119

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(651) 771-1301

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