About Us
Novi Youth Assistance
A local branch of
Oakland County Youth Assistance, Novi Youth Assistance is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, made up of a community of volunteers, assisted by a professional staff, whose main goal is providing early intervention programs that offer support and education to families in our community.
Mission
To strengthen youth and families and to prevent and reduce the incidence of delinquency, neglect, and abuse through community involvement.
Sponsorship
Novi Youth Assistance is supported by a unique tri-sponsorship agreement between Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division, the
City of Novi , and the
Novi Community School District .
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NYA Executive Committee
Tom Smith, Chair
Andrea Smith, Chair
Sandy Fisher, Treasurer
Priya Gurumurthy, Secretary
NYA General Citizens Committee
Linda Cianferra
Kayley Dahring
Gayathri Ilango
Michael Kuzila
David Law
John O’Brien
Ratna Rao
Travis Reeds
Karina Reynoso
Kathy Smith-Roy
Bob Steeh
Camille Straham
Julie Warren
NYA Office Staff
Lisa Shields, Caseworker
Maria Nadeau, Office Administrator
Youth Assistance History
Youth Assistance (YA) began in 1953 with a group of Hazel Park citizens and Juvenile Court Judge Arthur E. Moore. Together they developed a program to assist troubled youth within their own communities rather than referring them to Juvenile Court. The YA program has expanded over the past 60+ years and is now a unit of the Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division with caseworkers placed in 26 offices throughout Oakland County school districts to provide counseling sources to youth and their families. These programs exist due to a unique tri-sponsorship with the local government, the local school district and the Oakland County Circuit Court.
Investing in Prevention - Youth Assistance Now, Or Pay More Later!
$475 buys you one day at a state juvenile facility
(Average stay is 660 days, for a total cost of $313,500)*
$315 buys you one day at a private institution/residential
(Average stay is 180 days, for a total cost of $56,700)*
$169 buys you one day at Children’s Village
(Average stay is 180 days, for a total of $30,420)*
$15 buys you one day of Intensive Probation
(Average probation period is 180 days, for a total of $2,700)*
$9 buys you one day of Standard Probation
(Average probation period is 240 days, for a total of $2,160)*
*None of the above figures includes the cost of processing a case from complaint through disposition that typically costs between $3,000 -$5,000 dollars.
For $2.50, you buy one day of Youth Assistance Casework Services.
(Average service period is 120 days for a total of $300)
Which one will it be, a long weekend at Children’s Village or four months of family-focused counseling services with a 92% success rate of preventing involvement with any of the above?
Youth Assistance does not Cost . . . . it Pays!
FAQ
What does NYA stand for?
Novi Youth Assistance.
How are the sponsors connected?
All local offices of Oakland County Youth Assistance were formed with a unique tri-sponsorship agreement between the municipalities, the Board of Education contained within the school district, and the Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division. Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division provides council, consultation, and our local caseworker to provide professional counseling and referral services and to work with the volunteers. The City of Novi and the Novi Community School District are responsible for NYA operation and programmatic expenses, and both entities are also represented on our Board of Directors.
Are your programs free?
Participation in the vast majority of our programs is free. We do not collect money in the office for any of our programs or services. There is a one-time $25 processing fee for casework services, which is paid after the first appointment through the Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Division over the phone or by mail. Our summer teen center requires a registration fee to help cover the cost of staffing, field trips, transportation, supplies, snacks, and vendors.
What ages do you serve?
There are different age/grade restrictions for each of our programs. Programs that are not listed below do not have specific age restrictions.
- Casework services: ages 5-16
- Scholarships: ages 5-18
- Summer Teen Center: 6th-10th grade
- Youth Recognition: 7th-12th grade
- Silver Lining Mentoring: Kindergarten and up
- Mentors Plus Mentoring: ages 5-15
Do you have to live in Novi to receive services or participate in programs?
Casework service eligibility is determined based on school district boundaries, as opposed to city address. Students must be a Novi Community School District student in order to receive casework services.
All other NYA programs solely serve families based on residency in the city of Novi.
Why do you have to collect documentation to verify my income?
Some of our programs, such as the Scholarship program, require the collection of income information in order to verify the need for assistance. Some programs are grant funded, and we must ensure compliance with the guidelines set by the funder. Please be aware that any personal information received by NYA is always kept confidential.
What is the casework referral process?
A student is referred to NYA through submission of a referral form to the caseworker. Once a student is referred to our office, the caseworker contacts the student’s parent through an appointment letter to set up an initial meeting. Casework services are completely voluntary for families, so the family determines their participation in the process. The caseworker updates the referral source periodically by copying them on correspondence with the family, indicating program completion, case closures, etc.
What are your hours of operation?
General office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. While efforts are made to ensure that someone is always in the office during these hours, on rare occasion, office staff may need to step out for outside meetings or community events. You are always welcome to call the office before you plan to stop in to make sure someone will be here to assist you.
Is there an after-hours/emergency number?
If you need immediate counseling services, please contact Common Ground at (800) 231-1127. Otherwise, please feel free to leave us a message on our office phone (248) 347-0410 or email our general mailbox at nya@cityofnovi.org and we will get back to you during office hours as soon as we can.
How do I attend a meeting?
Board meetings are generally held at 6:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Novi Civic Center and are open to the public. Date and time may vary based on the school calendar. You can always call the office to confirm the date and time of the next board meeting. Board meetings are not held in June, July, November, or December.
How can I volunteer?
Visit our volunteer page to learn about the importance our volunteers have on our program structure, as well as current volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering with NYA, please contact the office to set up a meeting with our case worker. Thank you for your interest in making a difference to the youth of the Novi community!
How do I donate?
Monetary donations are graciously accepted through PayPal or by check mailed to or dropped off at our office at 45175 Ten Mile Rd, Novi, MI 48375. We also accept in-kind donations for programs, special events, raffles, and prizes. You will receive a receipt for documentation purposes. Click here to learn more about ways to help support NYA’s mission. Thank you for your generosity!