About Us

The Youth Protection Council is one agency that does so much.  We are the lead shelter provider for runaway and homeless youth and young headed families in Saginaw County, provide rapid re-housing case management and rental assistance as part of our homeless services continuum of care for, and promote health and wellness for school age youth as part of our substance abuse prevention services.

We are also the designated Youth Tobacco Act compliance entity for Saginaw County, which includes retailer education and testing compliance with the Youth Tobacco Act using youth decoys that are trained and supervised by staff. Annually we provided over 7,000 days of shelter care and housing for homeless youth and teen parents. We provide substance abuse prevention services for over 600 school age youth and provide tobacco and alcohol vendor education for over 200 retailers annually.

Welcome from the President

Welcome from the President

Sarah and her two small children have been moving from place to place and the children are displaying signs of distress. Mike’s family has been without a home of their own for several years and he is struggling to keep up with high school. Andrea’s mother is worried because she was caught at school with marijuana and she is in ninth grade. Our organization, the Youth Protection Council, is working with these families, and hundreds of others, providing housing and parenting and drug abuse prevention education.

The Youth Protection Council serves our community like no other organization with highly trained staff and high quality programs that increase the family’s capacity to become self-sufficient.

Our dedicated Board of Directors ensures sound practices, accountability and impact. They choose to serve because they care about the future of children in the communities we serve.

Our staffs make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable children, youth and families on a daily basis.

Browse our website, contact us for more information and let’s talk about how you can partner with us to save lives and create futures.

All the best,

Mary Ellen Johnson
President/CEO

Mission

To empower and support children and families in reaching their full potential and becoming self-sufficient, saving lives and creating futures through education and shelter services.

Vision

Our organization strengthens the relationship and lives of children and families within the communities we serve.

Funding

The Youth Protection Council is supported with federal, state, local and
private funding:

Private, tax-deductible donations DONATE NOW

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
FEMA

Michigan State Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Mid-State Health Network
City of Saginaw Community Block Grant Funding and Emergency Shelter Grant funding
United Way of Saginaw County
United Way of Tuscola County

Board of Directors

Marc Cesere

Chair

Smallwood Holoman, Jr.

Vice Chair

Herbert Herd

Secretary

Terry Pruitt

Treasurer

Eric Hinojosa

Steve Hocquard

Peggy Maine

Linda Sims

Smriti Pant

Mary Ellen Johnson

President/CEO

Leadership Team

Pam Saunders

HR and Payroll Director

(989) 755-0937

Harrison Gloss

Innerlink for Runaway and Homeless Youth Division Director

(989) 753-3431

Stacey Crosby

Innerlink for Runaway and Homeless Youth Office Manager

(989) 753-3431

Liz Aikin

Teen Parent Services Supervisor

(989) 399-0006

Jacoba Lumbreras

Office Manager, Administrative Office

 (989) 755-0937

Chris Hool

Innerlink for Runaway and Homeless Youth Supervisor

 (989) 753-3431