Martha M. Myers
Director, Community Services
(334) 502-0060, Ext. 315

Project Uplift :
Program matches volunteers with over 500 children, pre-teens, and adolescents who reside in the Lee County area. Approximately 300 volunteers, primarily Auburn University students, serve as "big brothers and big sisters" to children referred trough DHR, Juvenile Court, and the local school systems. Administrative office is located at Haley Center on the AU campus. Twenty volunteer trainings are offered through the year.

www.auburn.edu/projectuplift

Visit the Project Uplift website for additional detail, contact information, as well as, information regarding referring children to our program or to learn the steps to become a mentor to a child in our community. 

After School Program :
This program is designed to provide after-school intervention and structure to 12 males ranging in age from 12 to 17. All referrals are provided through Lee County Juvenile Court and East Alabama Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center. Referred youth are provided with an opportunity to improve basic living skills and social skills, as well as educational support. This program is offered after school hours until 9:00 p.m. and summer weekdays until 6:00 p.m.

East Alabama Family Options :
A specialized program that provides intensive placement prevention, reunification assessment and time-limited reunification services to families in Lee, Macon, Russell, Chambers, Tallapoosa, Coosa and Elmore Counties. With a focus on child safety, these services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each family referred by DHR.  All services offered by Family Options are based on the Homebuilders Model that was developed by the Behavioral Sciences Institute of Tacoma, Washington.

In School Prevention :
A five-part  “Home Alone”, “latchkey” safety curriculum offered to 4th graders in the Lee County, Opelika City and Auburn City School Systems.

Abstinence Education :
Provides a multi-component interactive curriculum advocating sexual, drug, alcohol and tobacco abstinence to teens in 7th through 10th grades who are enrolled in the Lee County, Opelika City and Auburn City Schools.

Behavior Aides :
Provides individualized assistance and support services to children on an "as needed" basis. Services may be provided to children receiving LCYDC services in the home, community, school, or placement setting.

TransParenting :
A four-hour educational program mandated by the Lee County Family Court since 1993. This program provides educational information for parents who are divorcing as a means to assist children and families as they transition through the divorce process. Sessions are held monthly at the LCYDC Community Service office. Call (334) 502-0060 for schedule.

Comprehensive Family Services :
A home-based multi-systemic program in which LCYDC staff partner with Lee County DHR social workers to provide wrap-around services to families. CFS therapists and family service workers tailor interventions to meet the needs of families to ensure child safety and preserve or reunify families.

Therapeutic Foster Care :
Provides intensive therapeutic services to infants, children and teens (including sibling groups and teen moms). Length of stay varies as needed. Referrals are accepted from DHR. Program provides supportive intervention and nurturing environment for abused or emotionally conflicted children in the homes of trained foster parents located throughout Lee and adjacent counties. For information on becoming a therapeutic foster parent, please email your request to dhand@lcydc.org.

Step-Down Therapeutic Foster Care:
Children who have progressed sufficiently in TFC and require a reduced level of services in the TFC home, are eligible for Step-Down Therapeutic Care. The recommendation of the child's Family Planning Team is required for the reduced level of care. In the event that the child may indicate the need for intensified services, the child will be stepped up to the more intensive TFC level of care.