Avon youth assistance program tells council it served 115 local high-schoolers in 2025; student credits program with turning her life around

Stacy Harbell, director of the Hendricks County Youth Assistance Program (YAP), told the Avon Town Council the program served 115 high-school students in 2025 and focuses on individualized support rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. “In 2025, we were able to serve 115 students,” Harbell said.

Victoria Allen, an early intervention advocate with the program, described a mix of services that YAP connects students to, including tutoring, therapy, mentoring and holiday assistance. She said the program keeps money and services local: “We want to keep our money local in Avon. If something doesn’t happen in Avon, then we keep it within Hendricks County.” Staff also said YAP matched 15 mentor–mentee pairs, launched a teen support group at Avon Christian Church open to all Hendricks County teens, and raised more than $15,000 at a recent trivia-night fundraiser.

A student invited to speak, identified in the meeting as Gwen, described the personal impact of the program. Gwen said she arrived at Avon with a 0.72 GPA, had experienced family homelessness and loss, and credited YAP staff with helping secure her mother’s death benefit, housing support and school resources. “I was ready to drop out,” Gwen said. “They told me about the youth assistance program. They were very open. This is not something I’m forcing you into do. We are on your page.” She added that within about a year and a half she raised roughly $11,000 toward housing and improved her GPA to 2.7; she said she plans to attend Butler Founders College next year.

Council members thanked the presenters for the report and the student’s testimony. No formal action was required; staff said the group would continue partnering with local churches and schools and would use town funds specifically for Avon students.

The presentation highlighted program benchmarks that council members said helped justify continued support: the reported 77% success rate for cases that completed program requirements and a note that all 39 seniors in the program graduated in 2025. Staff emphasized that cases can be closed if students do not meet the program’s participation requirements (for example, failing to turn in nine-week grades).

Council and staff said they would continue to monitor outcomes and maintain the town-specific funding requirement so donation dollars raised for Avon students remain in Avon.