Noblesville Youth Assistance details tutoring, mental health and holiday programs to council

Lindsey Bennett, a board member of Noblesville Youth Assistance, told the Common Council on Sept. 9 that the group uses an annual city grant primarily for after‑school tutoring and direct family supports.

Bennett said the tutoring program served 247 students from East and West Middle Schools during the 2024–25 school year and that 89 Noblesville School staff members served as tutors. She said 74% of the students who participated in the after‑school tutoring program passed the iRead 3 exam in spring; additional session-level results and subgroup figures were presented by Bennett as evidence of program impact.

The group also reported a mental‑health initiative launched after the pandemic; Bennett said the program partnered with Agape therapeutic‑writing resources and supported 22 Noblesville youth this past year. Bennett said the organization maintains a "NYAP CARES" fund for casework such as car repairs or clothing and runs a range of community programs including a "Shining Star" student recognition, a career exploration camp and holiday assistance for 74 youth.

During council questions, Michelle Schmidt, an NYAP advocate, identified housing and transportation as the organization's largest unfunded gaps, and emphasized that much of the grant money goes into programs available across the community rather than solely to the nonprofit's casework clients.

The presentation included a brief roster of NYAP volunteers and officers in the chamber and a request for continued city support; no formal funding vote occurred at the meeting.