Our History

• 1896 a farmhouse is built that eventually becomes the Delaware County Children's Home.
• 1900 Sophia Jump and her 4 staff members have 21 orphans aged 4 to 15 at the Delaware County Children's Home .
• 1989 The Muncie Star prints photos revealing sordid condition of the home, and Judge Steven Caldemeyer presents a proposal for a solution.
• 1990 Ball State architecture students under the direction of Robert Taylor present class plans for eight new cottages.
• 1992 Two cottages are built and the Youth Opportunity Center officially comes into existence.
• 1993 The Delaware County Children's Home is torn down.
• 1997 YOC purchases the Colonial Property; currently known as the Juvenile Services Center. 
• 1997 Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center opens on the YOC campus with 24 beds.
• 1999 Merger of the Delaware County Youth Service Bureau with the Youth Opportunity Center to begin solely providing Independent Living Skills. 
• 1999 The Treatment of Adolescents in Secure Care (TASC) Unit opens with 28 beds servicing Sexually Maladaptive Behaviors, Chemical Dependency Issues, and Psychiatric Impairments.
• 2000 Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center expands from 24 to 44 beds.
• 2002 The CAPE grants were implemented on campus beginning with Suspension and Priority Schools programs. This additional Muncie Community Schools program would provide potential for 60 youth being educationally serviced on the YOC campus. 
• 2005 YOC earns accreditation through Council on Accreditation.
• 2005 OMI building is added to main campus to provide office space for Doctoral Internship Program and the Human Resource Department.
• 2006 Outpatient Independent Living Center opens in downtown Muncie.
• 2006 Shafer Giving Plaza created and dedicated
• 2007 YOC completes construction of a 28-bed Emergency Shelter Cottage.
• 2007 Youth Opportunity Center Foundation came into existence to support the YOC mission.
• 2008 Workforce One Counselor assigned to provide necessary skills to YOC youth.
• 2009 The American Psychological Association accredits the doctoral-internship program at the YOC.
• 2009 YOC receives re-accreditation by the Council on Accreditation.