About Us

The Youth Development Clinic is a 49 year old 501(c)3 professional service agency which offers a range of behavioral health-prevention and treatment services for children and families in the greater Newark, New Jersey area.

Our Mission

Our mission at YDC is to achieve effective personal, family, and community functioning by establishing healthy interactions among family members, in whatever form the family exists. The evidence has shown that early intervention with at-risk children is pivotal to their achievements as adults, and we have made it our goal to provide this opportunity for the children of Newark and beyond.

The Challenges

In a city where 40% of all children under the age of 18 are living below the poverty level ($14,800 for a family of four), accomplishing this mission is no easy task. In order to meet such challenges, YDC was founded in 1958 by a consortium of Newark residents, the Prudential Insurance Company of America, and the Newark Board of Education to address the need for basic mental health care in New Jersey’s largest city.