Huntington has “A Heritage of Caring”

Heritage Days 2025, June 11 through June 15, will celebrate the people of Huntington and how they care for one another with the theme, “A Heritage of Caring.” Over the years many individuals, businesses and organizations have united the community in caring for one another. Each week the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce will highlight one of these entities in this column.

The mission of the Youth Services Bureau of Huntington County is to provide quality, comprehensive, empowering programs and services to assist youth and families as they encounter challenges associated with childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.

The staff of the YSB cares for those needs through these programs at 1344 Maple Drive, Huntington. Michelle Crone is the current executive director following in the footsteps of Jan Williams who retired December 13, 2024 after 30 years of service. Crone began continuing the services of the YSB, many begun by Williams, on December 20, 2024. Crone had been the assistant director since May of 2024, and Williams continues to care for the needs of youth as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator.

The Tools for School Program at the YSB supported over 292 youth in the 2024-2025 school year. It is a year around program that accepts donations at any time, and ensures that Huntington County students begin the school year with needed school supplies. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and summer hours, 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Call the YSB at (260) 356-9681 or email: adm@ysbofhuntingtonco.org for more information or to register a student.

First-time offending youth are cared for through the Teen Court program. It is a diversion program designed to provide first-time offending youth an opportunity to be held accountable in a court setting by a jury of their peers. Teen Court aims to allow youth to learn from their mistakes without jeopardizing their future. Cases are referred by the Probation Department, School Corporation or directly from the Police Department. Hearings are on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Courthouse at 6 p.m. Volunteers hear cases and sit as the jury, defense attorney and prosecuting attorney. Volunteers ages 12 to 18 are welcome after completing a Teen Court application, and can contact Jamie Straley at j.straley@ysbofhuntingtonco.org.

Safety items are available at the YSB through On Your Way Up and Gear Up. Families’ needs are cared for through these programs including car seats, safety locks, smoke alarms and more at no cost. For information, for car seat inspections or to make an appointment, call (260) 356-9681 or email I.bencun@ysbofhuntingtonco.org. The YSB is a designated car seat inspection station.

Families with children ages up to 18 are also cared for through Our Community Partners, a partnership with SCAN. It is support for those who request home-based case management services to connect families to resources to strengthen the family. Case managers help families to work on mutually established goals moving toward economic and family stability.

An eight week, two hours per session, program known as Skills for Life helps to care for young people through tools that lead to success in life. Anger and stress management, communication and conflict resolution, diversity and inclusion, self-esteem, relationship education, planning for the future, drug and alcohol education and suicide prevention/QPR training are included.

The issues of suicide on every level are explained through QPR training. The signs of suicide, how to approach and ask someone thinking about suicide and how to provide help through appropriate referrals are part of the training. Those interested in QPR Training can contact the YSB. For those needing to take the appropriate action, contact can be made at Safe Place, (260) 530-7676; the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, (800) 273-TALK (8255), or New Suicide Hotline, 988.

Project SOS (Students Out of School) cares for middle and high school students who have been suspended or expelled from school or are in need of a modified schedule. New study and time management skills are provided in a smaller classroom setting. With better social skills and effective communication kids are helped to “get back on track.” The program operates daily from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and follows the Huntington County School Corporation’s schedule for closing and delays.

Abused and neglected children are in need of safe, permanent, nurturing homes, and the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program makes sure the abuse and neglect these children originally suffered at home does not continue as abuse and neglect at the hands of the system. As trained advocates, CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for children in court. The result is that a child is placed into a safe, loving home where he/she can thrive. It is the CASA vision to provide a volunteer for each and every abused and neglected child who needs one. For more information, email Tamie Morrison at t.morrison@ysbofhuntingtonco.org.

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a bipartisan effort with public, private and community partnership for juvenile justice system improvement.  The initiative focuses on the reallocation of public resources from mass incarceration toward investment in youth, families and communities. This reinvestment provides an opportunity for lasting improvement to public safety, and promotes positive youth development. The JDAI sites are home to approximately 30 percent of the nation’s youth ages 10 to 17.

The staff of the YSB, under the direction of Crone, include Ashton Pinkerton, Office Coordinator; Ira Bencun, Home Based Provider; Tamie Morrison, CASA Coordinator; Jamie Straley, Teen Court; Carla MacDonald, supervisor; Angela Stratton, Safe Place Host Home Coordinator; Shari, SOS Coordinator and Michelle Vincent, SOS Assistant.

The YSB is overseen by a board of directors that represent a wide array of schools and business in Huntington. The current board president is Charlie Chapman, a Huntington City councilman; treasurer is Adam Fusselman, Bippus State Bank and Tim Vogleman is the secretary. For questions email the YSB at adm@ysbofhuntingtonco.org.