THE LEE COUNTY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER was founded in 1973 by two tireless community
leaders, the late Mrs. Jane Walker and the late Mrs. Cecil Moreman. The agency began operation
in response to a growing need for the residential placement and care of abused and
neglected children. Over the course of more than thirty-five years, the scope of
services provided has expanded to include community and home based prevention programs
as well as therapeutic residential care.
The main campus of the agency is located on 15 acres in Opelika, Alabama, on property
donated by the George King Family. Campus Residential programs include Correctional
and Transitional Service Programs, The Chanticleer Learning Center, Outreach Services,
The Psychological Services Clinic and Central Administration.
Off-site satellite locations include the Project Uplift office which is located
on the campus of Auburn University, the Comprehensive Family Services Program located
in the Lee County Department of Human Resources building, our Transitional Living
Home, and our Independent Living Apartments.
As the only social service agency providing a comprehensive continuum of care for
youth and families in this region of the state, Lee County Youth Development Center
strives to maintain the highest standards of quality care, innovative prevention
and treatment programs, and a team of motivated and committed employees. The agency
employs a staff of approximately 200 full-time and part-time employees and additional
contracted staff. LCYDC is a private, non-profit corporation which is governed by
a highly committed board of directors. Our directors and advisors represent a broad spectrum
of diverse community specialities and interests. The agency's management team implements agency policy,
mission and continually evolving goals.
Our Mission Statement:
A place for change...
Working together,
Offering rays of hope for children and families...
Stengthening our community.
Our Core Values:
Building and valuing a committed, compassionate and enthusiastic team.
Honoring tradition while inviting and embracing diversity, change and growth.
Providing a comprehensive range of service designed to improve the quality of life
for children, families and our community.
Our Ethics:
The Lee County Youth Development Center supports, affirms, and expects all agents
of LCYDC to adhere to the principles outlined in the National Assocation of Homes
for Children's Code of Ethics which reads as follows:
We will protect children in our care from abuse or maltreatment, experimentation,
economic exploitation, malnutrition and unsafe environments; and shall bring to
account adults who thwart that purpose.
We will utilize fully our professional skills in striving to obtain for each child
the permanence of a family life.
We will obtain or provide for children who are physically or mentally ill the best
therapeutic care available to us.
We will provide every opportunity for children to learn and develop whatever talents
they may possess.
We will accord children in our care full respsect as individuals, the full rights
guaranteed all citizens of the United States, while teaching them to respect the
rights of others.
We will respect the uniqueness of each child's race, culture and religion while
attempting to instill a sense of self-worth, individuality, and the responsibilities
as well as the privileges of citizenship.
We will nurture in each child the spiritual ethic appropriate to his background
and religious heritage
We will serve only those children for whom our service is appropriate and will plan
carefully and realistically with, and for each child and, when available, with the
family of each child.
We will strive to enhance the talents, techniques and compassion of adults in our
employ.
We will use our knowledge and influence, as advocates for children, to improve social
conditions and develop resources beneficial to children to the strengthening of
American family life.
We will review constantly our services for relevance and effectiveness and shall
strive to provide soceity and the community with child care services appropriate
to their needs.
We will represent our services and intentions honestly and openly.
Copyright 1976 by NAHC
Reproduced with permission of
Alliance for Families & Children
Formally endorsed and Adopted by
LCYDC Board of Directors, October 2002