Closing of Youth Emergency Services (YES) Leaves a Gaping Hole in Central Indiana’s Early Intervention & Prevention Efforts

By Shanna Malott

On December 31, 2009 a valuable service in Marion County will be closing its doors; what will happen to the children, youth and families who will no longer be able to walk through those doors?

Youth Emergency Services (YES) provides what YES Program Director John Kennedy calls, "pre-system, in person, crisis care, twenty-four/seven, without an appointment, adjudication or diagnosis!" These services are available to provide comfort and safety to children and families during crisis or to intervene before the situation becomes a crisis. Now who will provide these services? Department of Child Services (DCS) Director James Payne is adamant that DCS will pick up the ball and step in to provide the services that have been provided by YES for the past 11 years. What Director Payne fails to recognize is that YES equals Early Intervention and Prevention while DCS equals Treatment. YES is there to prevent children and families from entering the child welfare system or to minimize their involvement with the system as much as possible. DCS IS the system and is meant to provide treatment after the crisis. Children and families historically do not trust the system... but they trust YES! Read full article.

Video a video about how Youth Emergency Services works in the lives of children in our community.

If you would like to contact DCS about these changes, you can write to: Indiana Department of Child Services, Attn, James Payne, Director,402 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Go to the DCS website for addition contact info.