SAFY Behavioral Health's Innovative Youth Drop-In Center in Lima, Ohio, Just in Time for Back-to-School
Lima, OH – The Youth Drop-In Center (YDC) at Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Ohio’s (SAFY® of OH) Lima Behavioral Health (LBH), conveniently located at 658 West Market Street, Suite 112 in downtown Lima, Ohio, provides a safe and supportive environment for youth aged 12 to 17. Through a partnership with Ohio’s Attorney General’s Victims of Crime Assistance program, the YDC offers a wide range of services to empower and guide youth as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, especially during the difficult back-to-school transition.
Designed as a haven for local youth, the SAFY YDC is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This extended access ensures that adolescents can utilize its services after school hours, offering an ideal space for homework, peer interactions, and valuable skill-building activities. The center offers a quiet and conducive study environment, enabling students to focus on their academic pursuits and excel in their studies. To address the diverse needs of adolescents, the center also offers a range of support groups that tackle various topics, including mental health, self-esteem, and peer relationships. These support groups aim to foster a sense of community and connection among the youth, enabling them to share experiences and learn from one another.
Recognizing that basic needs are crucial for effective learning and development, the SAFY YDC provides meals and essential resources to ensure that no young person goes without the necessities they require to thrive. Furthermore, the center offers instruction in independent living skills, equipping teenagers with the tools they need to become self-sufficient and responsible individuals as they transition into adulthood.
As the new school year begins, the center acknowledges the increased stressors that adolescents often face. Treatment Director Michelle Stockwell shares, “To address these challenges, the SAFY YDC places a strong emphasis on coping and social skills development. Through engaging groups and activities, youth will learn effective strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and fostering healthy relationships.” The Center also provides youth peer mentoring, allowing youth to engage with positive role models who can guide them through the challenges they encounter. All services offered at the SAFY YDC are conducted under the careful supervision and guidance of trained staff members who are dedicated to the well-being and success of the youth. This ensures that all activities are safe, supportive, and aligned with the center's mission of nurturing personal growth and positive development. For more information about the SAFY Youth Drop-In Center in Lima, Ohio, and its range of services, please visit www.safy.org or contact one of the YDC staff at 419-695-3050.
About SAFY of OH – At Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Ohio (SAFY® of OH), we work with youth and families to reach their full potential, building the foundation of well-being we all need to contribute to our communities. For nearly 40 years, SAFY of OH has been driven by our mission of Preserving Families and Securing Futures, offering a blueprint of services based on research addressing the roots of trauma while effecting lasting change. Our model of care includes behavioral health, family preservation & reunification, and when needed, foster care. This solid structure offers the tools to develop and maintain stable mental, physical, and emotional foundations to weather the storms where they are – home, school, work, or community.
This release was supported by grant number 2023-VOCA-135103875 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Victims of federal crimes will be served.
