“When she first completed an intake with Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Center, she was pregnant and living off financial gifts from her family and friends as she tried to navigate this huge life transition. Through engagement with ADYC, she was able to access a supportive community, often attending our Parent Support Group meetings at Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung, as well as some financial assistance to stabilize her housing. Through continued engagement she is now starting a professional job at a medical clinic, moving into her own apartment, and putting her 18-month-old daughter in a culturally relevant daycare. She has a whole new direction in her life and ADYC can’t wait to see how far she goes!”   

T.B., Family Advocate

It's impossible to live in our community without witnessing the pain of homeless and hungry youth on our streets. The statistics are frightening, of the nearly 5000 youth on Minnesota streets each night, 22% of them are American Indian, while the overall population of American Indians in Minnesota is approximately 2%. Fortunately, the compassionate staff of Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Center and the community of supporters are making an impact in reducing these numbers.

Since 1983 ADYC has provided a healing place within the community for American Indian youth and families to thrive in safety and wholeness. Ain Dah Yung Center provides residential services and support at our Emergency Shelter, Beverly A. Benjamin Youth Lodge, and Mino Oski Ain Dah Yung.

The continuum of care provided by ADYC serves over 3000 youth annually and reaches across seven program areas including:

• Residential Programs – Emergency Shelter, Youth Lodge, and permanent supportive housing 
• Oyate Nawajin Program - providing reunification service to American Indian families
• Nokomis Circle Project – designed to create a bridge between Child Protection and the needs to our Native Families
• Ninijanisag Program – prevention programing to ground youth in Native culture
• Street Outreach – provides services to homeless and precariously housed, highly mobile and at-risk youth
• Children’s Mental Health Case Management – providing culturally specific services to families with children experiencing more challenging mental health needs
• Zhawenimaa - Safe Harbor provides services for sexually exploited youth who have experienced trafficking

Upholding the intentions of these programs requires a great deal of financial support. As a nonprofit organization we receive funding from government, foundation and corporate grants, fee for service, and the generous contributions of individuals in our community. Today, I ask you to reflect on the issues facing Native youth in our community, and then consider the value of the services provided by ADYC.

Sincerely,

Sheri Riemers, Interim Executive Director

White Earth Nation of Ojibwe | Bear Clan

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