History

In September 2000 the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) in Danvers, MA, launched the Youth at Risk (YAR) program. Under the able leadership of the program's founding director, Mike Duda, the program was developed as a response to the need for collaboration and coordination among the many providers of health services to at-risk youth in and around Essex County. The YAR Conference was also launched at Endicott College in Beverly the same year to provide a one-day training and networking opportunity for youth providers and others caring for youth.

In 2006, ECCF transferred management responsibility to the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities (NCHC) in Lawrence while remaining the program’s fiscal agent. This partnership has enabled YAR to further build its capacity to support organizations and individuals that serve and care for youth.