The Youth Development Network is a comprehensive direct service youth program of the City of Boston, operating under the Boston Public Health Commission. The Youth Development Network is a new initiative with a focus on reaching and serving at-risk youth in Boston neighborhoods. The initiative builds on and expands existing services for Boston youth and coordinates public and private programs to better serve young people.
The Youth Development Network utilizes Youth Development Specialists, a new category of public health worker with a background to offer specialized services to at-risk youth. The initiative relies on Specialist with experience in the areas of youth development, grief and bereavement, counseling, mental health, substance abuse and violence prevention to serve as case workers among high-risk youth in priority neighborhoods. The Youth Development Network provides direct services, referrals to adolescents identified as high-risk or potentially at-risk, and coordinate services and programs.
Typical YDN clients are between the ages of 14-21. Due to YDN’s relationship with existing Boston Public Health Commission programs, the Youth Development Specialists may also work with parents, grandparents, siblings and children of clients if that activity is necessary to enhance and improve the development, life and well-being of the client.
YDN is also a member of the “3B’s”, an initiative comprised of the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF), and the Boston Public Schools. Consistent with that relationship, the bulk of YDN referrals come from directly from BCYF centers, the Boston Streetworker Program, the Boston Public Schools, in addition to self-referrals. The Youth Development Network is located at 774 Albany Street, Boston MA, and its hours of operation are 9am to 10pm, Monday through Friday.