How can we help?

Youth Attention Center offers different programs to help fit the needs of runaway and homeless youth, and those deemed to be at-risk. Qualified and compassionate case workers meet with youth to identify challenges in their lives, and assist in building basic life management skills to deal with those issues.  Youth may receive guidance in attaining communication skills and building peer and family relationships. There is also assistance with academic/truancy problems and mentoring to foster skills in anger management and coping with difficult life situations.

What are our goals?

  • Prevent youth from running away
  • Prevent youth from becoming homeless in the future
  • Help build strong and healthy family relationships
  • Reunite youth and their family
  • Divert youth from the formal court system
  • Help find safe and stable living situations
  • Provide resources
  • Provide referrals​​​

Programs and Services

Basic Care Center (BCC)  and Transitional Living Program (TLP)
YAC offers two programs, each having a residential or nonresidential category. Programs are voluntary, free of charge and confidential.* Parental consent is required for paperwork purposes and also to support treatment plan/goals. If 18+, can sign own paperwork. Basic Care Center or BCC is for youth from ages 12-17. Youth who are 17  up to  their 21st birthday and homeless or at-risk, are qualified for  the Transitional Living Program or TLP.  

​What does these programs offer?
  • Case management
  • Outreach services
  • Supportive services
  • Ensuring safe housing
  • Helping youth who are homeless identify housing
  • Goal setting towards identified needs
  • Goal setting towards family reunification
  • Help and support to achieve goals
  • 90 and 180 day follow-ups after services are ended 
  • ​After care plan

 How many referrals received 2018/19
419 total
Mecosta: 197
Osceola: 112
Newaygo: 98
Other: 12

How many served in 2018/19
Mecosta: 45 cases opened
Osceola: 36 cases opened
Newaygo: 44 cases opened

YAC Brochure

*We are mandated reporters by law. If abuse and/or neglect is suspected or reported- we report it!