What We Do

The Center for Urban Youth and Family Development works to prevent substance misuse and support the mental health of young people and families on Detroit’s Westside. We serve the 48204, 48235, and 48238 ZIP codes. Our work started with youth in and aging out of foster care, and they remain a priority in every program. All CUYFD programs are free.

CUYFD is a community connector. We deliver prevention, life skills, and workforce programs ourselves. For other needs, we refer families to partners who specialize in treatment, housing, and other services.

Substance Misuse Prevention

We use evidence-based programs to delay and prevent youth use of alcohol, tobacco and vaping, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

  • Botvin LifeSkills Training in partner schools

  • Prevention workshops and seminars for students

  • The Vape Disposal Box Program and Thrive Up Pathways

  • Guiding Good Choices for parents and caregivers of youth ages 9–14

  • Breathe Free Westside, our tobacco and vaping prevention campaign

  • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collection sites

  • Free Narcan training at community events

School Partnerships | Guiding Good Choices

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

We train young people and adults to recognize when someone is struggling and connect them to help.

  • Lifelines suicide prevention workshops for students

  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training for adults

  • Mental Health First Aid–trained staff

  • A licensed social worker on retainer to support referrals

  • Events for families affected by suicide loss, held with DWIHN and the Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition

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Youth Development and Workforce Readiness

We prepare young people for school, work, and adulthood.

  • The Summer Youth Development Program (SYDP) for youth ages 14–21

  • Future Ready Detroit, a four-week career readiness program with Ford Philanthropy volunteers. Graduates leave with a laptop, resume, headshot, professional outfit, and career plan.

  • The Youth Advisory Council (YAC), which meets monthly. Members create prevention campaigns and PSAs, speak at events, and advocate with lawmakers.

SYDP | Future Ready Detroit | Youth Advisory Council

Youth in Foster Care

CUYFD’s founder, Marsialle Arbuckle, Sr., grew up in the foster care system. Youth in foster care and young people who have aged out remain a priority across our programs.

  • Priority enrollment: Youth in or transitioning out of foster care receive priority enrollment in the Summer Youth Development Program.

  • Recruitment: We work with The Children’s Center to recruit foster youth for SYDP, Future Ready Detroit, and other programs.

  • Life skills and planning: Participants write a five-year plan for school, work, and life after foster care. They also learn the life skills they will need as they move toward independence.

  • Mentoring: Mr. Arbuckle shares his own story with youth through his book, I Have a Story to Tell.

  • Faith community support: CUYFD participates in the Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care, which brings congregations together to support children and families in the foster care system.

Do you work with foster youth, or know someone who does? Call (313) 340-3101 to connect a young person with our programs.

Community Events

  • Quarterly community town halls on youth substance use and mental health, held at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church and other Westside locations

  • The annual Men’s Substance Misuse Prevention, Mental Health and Wellness Summit, which offers free health screenings, haircuts, and prevention training

  • The annual Youth and Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Summit, planned and led with our Youth Advisory Council

  • Urban Review TV, our monthly talk show on public television Channel 33 and YouTube

The CUYFD Coalition

CUYFD leads a community coalition with members from 12 sectors, including:

  • Schools and youth-serving organizations

  • Parents

  • Faith-based organizations

  • Healthcare

  • Government

  • Business

The coalition uses SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework to study local data, choose strategies, and measure results.

Learn more and get involved at cuyfdcoalition.org.

Free language assistance available upon request.