Image"YCC provides critical intervention services at the earliest stages of truancy, which helps to reduce school drop-out rates and delinquent behavior.  YCC plays a unique and vital role in our community in intervening with those youths who are most at risk of entering the juvenile justice and child welfare systems."

 Harry Shorstein
former State Attorney,
Fourth Judicial Circuit

Welcome

Youth Crisis Center is a remarkable success story about changed lives and reunited families.  In 1974, Gwen Yates, former Jacksonville City Councilwoman, founded YCC as Florida's first runaway youth shelter.  YCC soon emerged as Florida's busiest runaway program, and it is now one of the busiest in the country, housing more than 1,600 youth each year. In 1975, the CBS crew of 60 Minutes identified our organization as an exemplary program worthy of being highlighted on their Sunday evening broadcast.

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Touchstone Village

Image JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 26, 2008) — Youth Crisis Center (YCC) President Tom Patania, developer Greg Matovina and YCC Board Chairman Kevin Hyde unveil the name and logo as part of a ceremony marking the beginning of construction for Touchstone Village, a $6 million, 40-unit residential and support community for young people between the ages of 16 and 21 who are disconnected from family, foster care or other assistance. Matovina has spearheaded organizing building community participation in the project, which is being developed by YCC.


Image JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 26, 2008) — 17-year-old Ayak Roll shares her personal story with the audience at ceremonies marking the beginning of construction for Touchstone Village, a $6 million, 40-unit residential and support community for young people between the ages of 16 and 21 who are disconnected from family, foster care or other assistance. Ayak and other family members fled religious persecution in Sudan, but her father couldn’t leave with them and was murdered before making it to the United States. The family became destitute and Ayak ended up on the streets.