Allen County Youth Services Center: What Families Need to Know About Emergency Shelter for Kids in Crisis
Looking for safe, short-term shelter for a child in crisis? Understanding what the Allen County Youth Services Center (YSC) actually does—and doesn't do—can save you time and confusion. Here's how this emergency shelter works, who qualifies, and what to expect from the placement process.
The Allen County Youth Services Center (YSC) is a 25-bed, county-operated residential emergency shelter. Think short-term crisis housing in a non-secure setting - not a locked detention facility. The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) licenses YSC, which means there's state oversight and established program standards.
Mission & standards: YSC’s mission is to provide area youth with a safe, structured, and caring environment. The program also has CARF accreditation.
YSC serves males and females ages 6 through 18, with an IQ of 60 or above. The program is built for youth who've been abused or neglected, as well as status offenders - kids dealing with serious conflict at home or in the community, but not violent criminal behavior. As an emergency shelter, YSC handles a wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral needs during crisis situations.
- ✓ Youth must be able to use the restroom and complete basic hygiene tasks on their own.
- ✓ YSC does not accept youth who have been physically violent to peers or adults.
Admissions availability: YSC accepts admissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
Placements at YSC start with a referral from juvenile probation or the Department of Child Services (DCS). Both agencies also help fund the program, along with Allen County government. For families, this means you can't just show up and self-admit. You'll need to work through the agency that has authority to refer and place a youth.
- ✓ YSC accepts placements from DCS regions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11.
- ✓ All admission referrals must be called into the center before a youth can be accepted.
YSC is short-term by design. Maximum stay is 20 days, unless the Indiana Department of Child Services approves an extension.
Medical care begins immediately. YSC's registered nurse and a contracted physician review medical needs upon admission and provide ongoing treatment. If your child has prescribed medications, bring them - the nurse will monitor and continue those prescriptions.
School continues during a shelter stay. YSC coordinates with your child's home school while providing day-to-day academic support through an on-grounds classroom staffed by a licensed teacher from Northwest Allen County Schools. The goal is keeping kids connected to their regular school while still getting daily instruction onsite.
- Start with the right referring agency - Referrals must come through juvenile probation or DCS, and the referral has to be called into the center before admission can be accepted.
- Confirm basic eligibility early - Make sure the youth can manage restroom use and basic hygiene independently, and that there’s no history of physical violence toward peers or adults.
- Plan around the facility’s intake availability - Admissions are accepted 24/7 (including holidays), which can matter when a crisis happens outside normal business hours.
If you're working with a caseworker or probation officer, ask early whether your situation fits YSC's accepted DCS regions (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11). Also clarify who's coordinating the placement and funding - since YSC runs through DCS and Allen County government, placements typically flow through those systems.
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