Fifteen-year-old Jack was not looking forward to starting school this year. Residents at the YOC have the privilege of attending class without having to leave campus thanks to an on-grounds school administered by Muncie Community Schools. Jack, however, didn’t want any part of it. He...
January was Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Dr. Katrina Mallory, Program Director of TRU Harbor, along with her staff, wanted to do something special. “We asked the TRUpers (a.k.a. clients) what information they thought would be helpful to share with the community." Their answer was...
There is no question that addiction has had a devastating impact on youth throughout Indiana in recent years. “We have seen an increase in the severity of substance use disorders with our clients, and we wanted to ensure our clinicians had the right tools in...
The Youth Opportunity Center is excited to announce the launch of Family Beacon, a new, community-based division of services that will focus on community-based treatment for kids and families across Indiana....
Family participation has long been a staple of the Youth Opportunity Center’s approach to treatment, and is crucial to successful outcomes for the youth we serve. However, through the years, clinical leaders at the YOC have noted an increasing need not just for family therapy,...
The Youth Opportunity Center exists because of our heartfelt belief that all people have immeasurable value, and it is imperative we take action to ensure this belief includes and improves the lives of people of color. Our collective team unifies to do all we can...
If you’ve got a teenager at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, you understand how hard it can be to keep them engaged, keep their spirits up and keep them learning. What about if you had 100 adolescents at home during this pandemic? What if they...
These are trying times. Uncertain times. These are times when—despite our best efforts to put the needs of others before our own—the temptation is to focus inwardly, to focus on what we are having to give up. For many teens, especially those here in Indiana...
We sat down with Debbie Emmons of Muncie to learn about why she gives to the Youth Opportunity Center. She is married to Mike and they have two kids, Courtney and Cameron. Debbie and her family contribute in multiple ways, including volunteering, playing in the...
Clinical treatment is one of the most crucial elements of a child’s time here at the YOC. Mental health staff at the YOC have adopted a trauma-informed approach to their treatment of our residents, but it doesn’t stop there. As part of a multidisciplinary approach...