Muncie, IN— The Henry County Community Foundation (HCCF) presented a check for $49,023.00 to representatives of the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) on June 29, 2016 to expand its services in New Castle, Ind.
The HCCF grant will assist the YOC with start-up costs to remodel the former Henry County Youth Center into a residential treatment program for victims of human trafficking, specifically Commercially/Sexually Exploited Children.
Human trafficking is a $150 billion criminal industry that is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, second only to drug trafficking. It is estimated that up to 300,000 children are sexually exploited in the US each year.
The YOC’s residential CSEC Program will provide integrative treatment for young females (ages 9-18) who have experienced emotional, physical and sexual trauma. These youth have very specific treatment needs that are better served in a designated, stand-alone facility – like the former Henry County Youth Center (HCYC) – that will provide a safe, secure, and private therapeutic environment. The facility will include separate private counseling areas, gymnasium for recreational activities, large activity room for independent living skills training, classrooms to be used for public on-site school, and a dining area where meals will be served family style.
According to David Dickerson, YOC Director of Alternative Programs, “The grant we received from the Henry County Community Foundation will help the YOC provide quality treatment for the girls in this new program. We are excited about being able to utilize the HCYC for what it was designed – helping kids.”
Polly Craig, Executive Director of the YOC Foundation said, “The YOC is honored to receive funding from the Henry County Community Foundation to expand our programs and services into New Castle. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Foundation and other community partners to empower young women to break the cycle of abuse and to create and maintain a successful and promise-filled future.”
About the YOC
The Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit, juvenile behavioral treatment center serving children and youth from throughout Indiana. Founded in 1992, the YOC, in partnership with area agencies, offers a complementary range of services on its 75-acre campus including residential and outpatient counseling, on-grounds accredited school, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), juvenile court, day treatment program, and juvenile detention. The YOC is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
About the Henry County Community Foundation
The Henry County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter. The Foundation has given over $18M back to the community. Visit http://www.henrycountycf.org/ or call 765.529.2235 for more information.
