Youth Crisis Center leader: Celebrating 50 years of making a difference in Jacksonville

There’s an inspirational quote (often attributed to prominent anthropologist Margaret Mead) that states: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

Those words resonate with me as Northeast Florida’s Youth Crisis Center Inc. celebrates 50 years of working to create a stronger community through stronger families. In fact, it was Jacksonville City Councilwoman Gwen Yates who secured a city grant in 1974 to open Florida’s first runaway shelter, the Transient Youth Center. Its impact has been recognized and replicated throughout the state.

Fast forward five decades later and the Youth Crisis Center is stronger than ever, providing critically needed services to more than 2,500 youth, young adults and families throughout the region. Its services include short-term residential services, outpatient mental health counseling, psychiatric care and supportive mental health care in Head Start schools.

Overall, our goal is to provide more than a safety net for those in need by embracing families and transforming lives across Northeast Florida.

But we know the world is a very different place now than when the center was established. When a child or family is in need, time is of the essence to begin the critical care that often has plagued families for some time before making the first connection. Free of waitlists, Youth Crisis Center can immediately assist our community in time of need.

With the increase in the prevalence of human trafficking, domestic violence and presence of extreme behaviors, these crises have forced the need for a range of emergent programs and services to address them directly.

This includes:

• Family Link Community Counseling program, which provides outpatient counseling services to children ages 6-17 who are experiencing concerns with truancy, behavior, homelessness and mental health;

• House of Hope, which provides emergency housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 experiencing homelessness;

• Touchstone Village transitional living program to help homeless or housing insecure young adults with limited self-sufficiency successfully make the transition into responsible, independent adults; and

• SNAP (Stop Now and Plan), an evidence-based program designed for children ages 6 to 11 engaging in aggressive, ungovernable behavior just to name a few.

Some of these services are so important they have even been codified in Chapter 984, Florida Statutes as Children and Families in Need of Services. Funding is provided by the state, through the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and administered by the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit organization representing 27 member agencies across the state, including Youth Crisis Center.

As a result of our affiliation with the Florida Network, the center has determined that our impact extends far beyond Northeast Florida and significantly benefits the entire state. In fact, a January 2024 report, conducted by Analytic Initiatives Inc., found there’s a $9.19 return on investment for every $1 the state invests in the Florida Network’s programs.

Additionally, nearly $410 million in cost savings were generated for the state, as a direct result of these services, from January 2022 through June 2023.

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I am excited for what the next 50 years will bring. As we begin construction of a maternity independent living program in Jacksonville and continue the expansion of our office in St. Augustine, I am so thankful to the community for their outpouring of support, advocacy and generosity.

Our amazing team of dedicated employees and board of directors gives their time, service and devotion to ensure Florida’s families have the best resources to aid in their time of healing. So, yes: That small group of thoughtful people has — indeed — changed the world.

Kim Sirdevan, president and CEO, Youth Crisis Center Inc., Jacksonville

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Impact of Youth Crisis Center extends far beyond Jacksonville