About Dynamic Youth Community, Inc.

ABOUT US

Dynamite Youth Center Foundation, Inc. (DYC) was founded in 1970 as a Brooklyn based day treatment program dedicated to the rehabilitation of adolescent drug abusers by drug-free therapeutic means.  Our success can be attributed to a highly trained and committed staff, the participation of parents and friends, and the belief that eliminating drug abuse is essential to the welfare of America's future.  We started serving a handful of youths in 1971 and by 1973 had a comprehensive program, including a residence, serving over 100 hundred families.

DYC has three facilities:  an Outpatient Program servicing 60 clients and a 16-bed Community Residence both located in Brooklyn.  In addition, our Residential Facility located in Fallsburg, New York services 76 clients. Our programs are designed for adolescents and young adults and we provide a variety of services to all our members including group, individual and family counseling and a comprehensive vocational and educational program. 

Our educational program is an important part of a member's treatment.  Every member who does not have a high school diploma or GED attends school on a daily basis.  We have three full-time teachers on site for our residence, and one full time teacher for our outpatient program.  Our teachers are provided by RESTART District 79, part of the NYC Department of Education Alternative High Schools.  

Along with regular high school classes and GED preparation, remedial reading and math is available as well as computer training and extra-curricular activities. In addition to educational services, members are interviewed to determine specific skills, interests and potential goals. Vocational tests provide information on client’s achievements, interests and aptitudes. Our Vocational Specialist provides vocational training, employment counseling and interview preparation and will soon launch a newly developed Life Skills Training Program  to address such things as credit card debt and money management.  In addition to these services, all of our outpatient and residential members are assigned house job functions throughout their treatment.  Through staff supervision, our members are assigned to specific crews for the purpose of such tasks as cooking, construction and clerical skill where they learn positive work ethics, responsible habits and a sense of teamwork.

In our experience working with young people, we are convinced that substance abuse affects not only the individual, but the whole family.  Therefore, approximately 150 parents and family members participate in DYC by attending group meetings every Wednesday evening.  Our parents are an important part of DYC.  They are board members, fundraisers, supporters and friends of Dynamite.
  
DYC is committed to clearing all the obstacles that would stand in the way of the successful rehabilitation of a member.  Therefore, along with education and vocational guidance, we do extensive work in court advocacy giving many young people an alternative to incarceration.

In an effort to "break the cycle" of substance abuse we also provide outreach and substance abuse education services to the members of our community.  We participate in community-wide meetings, conduct speaking engagements and provide referral services to anyone in need of treatment.

Dynamite is dedicated to the rehabilitation of drug abusers by drug-free therapeutic means.  "The Dynamite philosophy is that every person makes his own destiny and can shape that destiny by having convictions, positive values and self respect." In keeping with this philosophy, the graduates of DYC have developed an Alumni Association.  With over 600 graduates, this group meets quarterly, provides support to one another and offers encouragement to our young members.