Carolina Youth Development Center

Founded in 1790 as the Charleston Orphan House, Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC)’s mission is to empower and equip our community’s most vulnerable children by providing a safe environment, educational support, and career readiness, in collaboration with families and community partners. Our vision is that all children have loving and stable families and a nurturing community that empowers them to lead successful lives. Today, CYDC provides programs reaching over 900 children, youth and their families locally each year. We care for young people who are victims of physical and sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment, and provide resources and support to Lowcountry families.

Residential Care: While at CYDC, youth live in a cottage environment that nurtures their individual needs in a home-like setting. They also work with Case Managers to identify and achieve educational, career and life skills goals. There are two cottages on CYDC’s North Charleston Campus, and one cottage on its Berkeley County campus (the Callen-Lacey Center for Children). CYDC recently opened a fourth cottage in North Charleston, Nu House, Nu Home. Nu House, Nu Home is an independent living program for youth aging out of foster care. While in the program, young adults ages 18-21 live in a supportive environment that focuses on helping them build the skills and confidence necessary to live on their own. In 2018, 40 of 104 youth served were housed at our Berkeley County campus, with 17 of those youth being referred into care from Berkeley County homes.

Community-Based Prevention Services (CBPS): CYDC’s CBPS program provides in-home assessment and support services to families at risk of DSS intervention. The main goal of the program is to avoid the removal of children from a home. During the in-home visits, CBPS staff members provide education to parents and connect families to much-needed resources. CYDC is the sole provider of CBPS services for Berkeley County, with over 330 Berkeley County families served by the program last year.

Strengthening Families Parenting Program: In 2019, CYDC launched the Strengthening Families program, a 14-week program for adults and children, designed to improve communication skills and reduce family conflict. CYDC is piloting this program in Berkeley County in partnership with Whitesville Elementary School.

Through its continuum of services, CYDC creates a seamless, caring experience for families and children in need of prevention and intervention services. With your support, CYDC will achieve its goal for foster youth in the Lowcountry. For more information about CYDC, you can visit www.cydc.org .