Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Youth Mental Health Services in Newark
Founded in 1958, the Youth Development Clinic (YDC) has been a trusted provider of comprehensive mental and behavioral health counseling for children aged 0-18 and their families. Our services span outpatient clinic care, school-based programs, and community outreach across Newark, Essex County, and surrounding New Jersey communities. We specialize in evidence-based interventions including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, addressing challenges like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma. Our multidisciplinary team of doctoral and master's-level clinicians, school-certified psychologists, and licensed professionals provides culturally responsive care tailored to diverse populations, including bilingual services in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole. Through partnerships with schools and social service organizations, we deliver school-based mental health clinics, staff training programs, and early childhood mental health initiatives.Our Medicaid-licensed outpatient clinic offers psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and specialized programs for children aged 0-5. We maintain clinical supervision by our Executive Director, a licensed psychologist and Montclair State University faculty member, ensuring adherence to best practices. Our Neighborhood-Based Partnership Program extends services directly to communities, improving access for vulnerable families. We prioritize training opportunities for mental health professionals working with underserved populations. With nearly six decades of experience, we remain committed to fostering social, emotional, and educational well-being through personalized care and community collaboration.
Services
Outpatient Therapy
Psychological Evaluations
Community-Based Services
School Mental Health Clinics
Early Childhood Programs
Psychiatric Evaluations
Bilingual Counseling
Staff Training Workshops
Telehealth Services
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Details
- Year established: 1958
Highlights and features
- Specialized in evidence-based therapies for children since 1958
- Multidisciplinary team of doctoral and master's-level clinicians
- Bilingual services in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole
- School-based clinics and community outreach programs
- Culturally responsive care for diverse populations
Services
Outpatient Therapy
Our Medicaid-licensed outpatient clinic provides individual and family therapy for children aged 0-18. We specialize in evidence-based treatments like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Services address anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral challenges while offering psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Bilingual counseling available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole.
School-Based Services
We partner with schools to establish mental health clinics and provide in-school counseling. Our programs help students with behavioral difficulties remain in-district while meeting Least Restrictive Environment requirements. Services include teacher consultation, 504 plan development, and staff training on classroom management and cultural competence.
Community Programs
Through our Neighborhood-Based Partnership Program, clinicians deliver services directly in communities where families live and children attend school. This approach improves access for vulnerable populations through culturally relevant interventions that build behavioral skills and support academic success in Newark and surrounding areas.
Early Childhood Mental Health
Our Early Childhood Mental Health Program supports children aged 0-5 with developmental challenges. Specially trained clinicians focus on building healthy attachment relationships and foundational emotional skills through parent-child interaction therapy and developmental assessments conducted in our Newark clinic.
Psychological Evaluations
We provide court-ordered psychological evaluations and DCPP-referred assessments to determine treatment needs. Our licensed psychologists conduct comprehensive evaluations for children and families, with services available in both English and Spanish to support accurate diagnosis and intervention planning.
People
Dr. Mark Kitzie
Executive Director
Licensed psychologist and Montclair State University faculty member overseeing clinical operations. Specializes in child mental health and professional training programs. Direct contact for school partnership initiatives.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children from birth through age 18, with specialized programs for infants to 5-year-olds.
Do you accept insurance?
We are Medicaid-licensed and currently only accept Medicaid for our outpatient services.
Are bilingual services available?
Yes, we offer counseling in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole to accommodate diverse families.
How can schools partner with YDC?
Schools can establish mental health clinics through our Medicaid license by providing approved space and documentation.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
We utilize evidence-based methods including TF-CBT, PCIT, DBT, and cognitive-behavioral therapies tailored to each child's needs.
Do you provide staff training programs?
Yes, we offer professional development workshops on child mental health, trauma, classroom management, and cultural competence.
