Clarkston Area Youth Assistance celebrating 60 years of service

Clarkston Area Youth Assistance celebrating 60 years of service

BY JUDY PARNES
Special to the Clarkston News

During 2021, Clarkston Area Youth Assistance (CAYA) has been celebrating 60 years of providing services and programs focused exclusively on the children, youth, and families in the Clarkston community.
CAYA is a community nonprofit organization that is dedicated to strengthening youth and families through community involvement and is committed to the long-term growth and development of all Clarkston-area children and youth through prevention, support, community education, and celebration.
The power of a long-term commitment

Tutor Chris Jewell and student RaQuan Thomas working on homework at the Homework Club before COVID.

Since 1961, the “CAYA Angel” has been the diagram that outlines CAYA’s unique local structure. There are five permanent local sponsors: Clarkston Community Schools, Independence Township, Springfield Township, City of the Village of Clarkston, and Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division that is the original permanent sponsor, providing a full-time caseworker, through Oakland County Youth Assistance that oversees all 26 local youth assistance offices.
The “CAYA Angel” includes the CAYA programs and services, all of which promote growth, development, health, and well-being of children, youth, and families.
All of CAYA leading with our hearts
Casework services include short-term confidential services that are focused on strengthening individual youth and families, meeting their unique needs while aiming to prevent future issues. CAYA programs are implemented with volunteers:
— Family Education – Workshops for parents and/or youth
— Homework Club – After-school tutoring program for grades 3-5 in a home-like setting
— Camp Scholarships – Day camp or overnight camp for income qualifying families
— Skill Building Scholarships – For learning, music, art, sports, etc., for income-qualifying families
— Mentors Plus – A mentor is paired with a child or youth, meeting once a week for one year
— Youth Recognition – Honors and celebrates children and youth for working on well-being
— Pinwheel for Prevention – Nationwide and local campaign to prevent and mitigate adversity, developing community well-being where everyone flourishes.
Joining our hands together
CAYA is grateful for the support and generosity of businesses, residents, the faith-based community, Clarkston Area Optimists, Clarkston Coalition of Youth, Clarkston Rotary Club, Clarkston Women’s Club, Clarkston Independence District Library, Bridgewater Park Apartments, The Clarkston News, Easterseals Michigan, CARE House of Oakland County, Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, Clarkston Community Schools administrators and staff, David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation, and secret admirers.
For more information, call the CAYA office at 248-623-4313 and leave a message for Jan Scislowicz, Judy Parnes, or Lauren Klos.

TOP PHOTO: The last in-person CAYA Youth Recognition Ceremony and Dessert Reception was held in 2019, honoring and celebrating students for their contributions to the well-being of their class, school, and/or the community. Photos provided

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