Seated in a hap hazard circle at Casa Youth Shelter, 10 teenagers appear alternately wary, vulnerable, guarded. Some cross their arms in front of their chests or tap their feet. When a counselor asks what they've learned about themselves, one 15-year-old boy says, "I need more coping skills so I don't end up in the hospital again."

Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos has been giving troubled teenagers a safe place to stay - and a direction to the future - since 1978. In 22 years, it has never closed its doors, providing crisis shelter and counseling for more than 8,500 at risk, runaway, and throwaway youths ages 12 to 17. Its 12 beds are nearly always full.

Casa was founded by Myldred Jones, now 91, who started California's first teen hotline in the 1970s. She still lives next door, acting as unofficial grandmother and confidante.

Over half of the youths who find their way here are victims of physical or sexual abuse. About 80% have alcoholic parents. A growing problem are the "throwaway" teens, who've been kicked out or abandoned by their families - up 300% in eight years.

Casa's dedicated staff works tirelessly to keep their teenage clients off the streets. The shelter places a priority on re-opening lines of communication in families, strongly encouraging parents to come for counseling. It also strives to reunite families, when appropriate, and succeeds in at least 73% of cases.

Upstairs, in the game room, teens who arrived only last night and other residents play pool and work on computers. Most will be here two weeks; some less, some longer.

There are no locked doors, but plenty of structure and support, with individual, group and family counseling, plus classes in art therapy, anger management, values, family life, decision-making, and job-hunting.

A 2,000-square-foot addition, supported by a $50,000 Weingart Foundation grant, has brought much-needed counseling space. Casa, which receives 75% of its funds from private sources, provides aftercare counseling for many families. It is also focusing more and more on prevention, offering community parenting classes and a program in conflict resolution and communication at a local middle school.

"We're like the paramedics, responding to the immediate crisis in each kid's life," says Luciann Maulhardt, executive director. "We can't fix everything, but we can start the process."