By: Degale Cooper, CEO
Dear Community,
I want to share some important updates to our services at YouthCare’s University District Youth Center. To be clear, UDYC is not closing. I can assure you of this. However, there are changes I want to share with you.
As announced in June, drop-in services at UDYC are now consolidated to the Orion Center as of this week. In partnership with other service providers in the community (e.g., The Doorway Project, Ryther, SYM, and Teen Feed), we have come together to ensure young people still have access to support and essential resources without interruption. These new collaborations will provide more flexible, responsive services for youth who rely on them.
What’s Changing
- Hours of Operation: UDYC will be open for breakfast service from 8:30 to 9:30 AM and case management services and programming Monday through Friday between 9:30 and 3 PM by appointment (except for Wednesdays, when the space will close at 1 PM).
- SYM, in conjunction with Teen Feed, will host a daily Breakfast Program at UDYC from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM (Monday through Friday) To provide youth and young adults with a nutritious start to the day and a safe space to go after Roots closes and before Drop-In services open at SYM, SYM, and Teen Feed will partner up to host a morning breakfast program at UDYC.
- Through December 31st, 2024, YouthCare will have transportation available from UDYC to the Orion Center (YouthCare van departs UDYC at 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM)
- Case Management Support @ UDYC: Although Drop-in services are now consolidated at the Orion Center, UDYC remains a place where young people can access important services. We’re working on a centralized case management hub model to give young people better access to support. Organizations like Ryther and YouthCare will offer case management, therapy, and MAT services by appointment at UDYC to help young people navigate housing, employment, and other resources.
- YouthCare will continue to see the clients already on their caseload at UDYC (also by appointment).
- The Doorway Project will remain at UDYC. Between October 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, Doorway will expand its role to support and coordinate youth service partners wishing to operate out of UDYC, facilitate communication amongst the community, and provide general site management at UDYC.
- YouthCare will maintain a Housing Navigator available at UDYC Monday through Friday from 10 to 6 p.m. (by appointment only). General and specialized case managers will also be available by appointment Monday through Friday.
- Programming will be introduced at UDYC: Youth service providers and partners in the U district are working to offer meaningful programming at UDYC. Each month, Doorway will post a calendar of events and flyers outside of UDYC and in other spaces where young people may spend time (e.g., Food bank, Library, Orion Center, Roots, SYM, etc.) to let everyone know the who, what, where, and when of these offerings hosted by different agencies at UDYC.
- SYM will host extended Drop-In Hours at SYM between 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Services include snacks, drinks, coffee, hot lunch, showers, laundry, clothing area, phone charging station, hygiene, and cold-weather gear. Beginning October 1, 2024, Drop-In hours at SYM will be from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- To-Go Lunches: SYM in partnership with Teen Feed will provide lunches at SYM during their Drop-in. A sack lunch or box lunch can also be provided at UDYC for case management appointments, so young people will still have a reliable place to grab a nutritious meal.
The changes are designed to ensure all essential services are running and meet the needs of our community while working with young people and our stakeholders to shape the future of UDYC.
Moving Forward Together – The Future of UDYC
In the coming months, together with the Doorway Project and others, we will work with youth who use UDYC and other services to shape future programs created by and for the communities we aim to serve. Your input will help us build something stronger, more sustainable, and more responsive to the evolving needs of our community’s most vulnerable young people.
Thank you for understanding and patience during this time. I am committed to maintaining transparent communication and will continue to update you on our progress.
If you have any questions, contact Jose Pizarro, YouthCare’s Director of Engagement Services UDYC, at (206) 696-6919 or Aaron Davis, Doorway Project Operation Specialist/UDYC Site Manager, at (206) 580-3493.
With gratitude,
Degale Cooper
CEO, YouthCare
