Shaker Heights Youth Center outlines 4–6 week high school pilot, cites transportation and funding as barriers to expansion

Karen Carter, executive director of the Shaker Heights Youth Center, and Lydia Ward, regional coordinator for MICOM programming, told the Shaker Heights City Council at a Feb. 10 work session that the center will run a 4–6 week pilot this spring aimed at high school students and will use the results to plan expanded out-of-school-time programming in the fall.

The pilot will test a mix of structured and unstructured activities—cooking, sewing, music, and leadership projects—hosted either at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building or at Christ Episcopal Church depending on the program. "We track every youth that is serviced with any of our programs," Carter said, explaining the center measures participation and outcome goals aligned with national prevention standards.

The youth center described its mission as prevention-focused and holistic. It currently places seven licensed social workers in Shaker Heights schools who provide in-school intervention and prevention services and staff summer programs. Core offerings the presenters described include a student assistance program, a youth leadership council…