Laura (Street) Westra isn’t afraid to share her story, especially if it’s going to help others deal with the same demons she dealt with growing up right here in Northville.

The Northville High School graduate (Class of 2009) began drinking alcohol when she was a 14-year-old freshman and received a referral to what was then called Northville Youth Assistance when she was 15, after getting in trouble and experiencing occasional black outs from drinking too much.

She received counseling, was put into a mentorship program and was educated on the effects of drugs and alcohol. To curb her anxiety, she continued to seek solace in a bottle – alcohol and prescription drugs until she was 21.

Now a pre-licensed clinical psychologist and grad student at Madonna University, Westra says the Northville Youth Network (NYN) helped save her life and put her on an amazing road to success. Since becoming sober, she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, which included an internship with NYN, is working on her master’s degree in clinical psychology, became a certified alcohol and drug counselor at Brighton Center for Recovery, and recently returned to NYN to counsel teens about substance abuse.

“Being in the Northville Youth Assistance program gave me the foundation for bettering myself, developing coping mechanisms, and knowing that asking for help was okay,” she said.

This full-circle moment allows Westra to give back to the community in which she was raised and helped her recover.

NYN has been serving Northville youth and their families in the city and township for three decades. The organization empowers youth through healthy lifestyle programs and serves as a bridge to services provided by other agencies and businesses. NYN’s vision is “a community where all Northville youth are supported and encouraged to develop resiliency and a positive sense of self.”

Funded by taxes in the city, a millage in the township and from Wayne County, NYN’s five-year plan, launched in spring 2019, focuses on seven areas of support: Education and Awareness; Mentoring; Leadership Development; School Connection and Transition program; Youth Assistance Program; Referral services; and Casework services.

Education and awareness guide youth in life skills, such as decision-making, goal setting, recognizing abuse in relationships and learning how to eat nutritiously and exercise regularly.

“One aspect of education awareness involves the ability to identify areas of difficulty that youth are facing, such as anxiety, depression, mental and emotional health issues, and substance abuse, and then apply the right preventive approach,” said Amy Prevo, director of the program. “We want to offer our educational series to teachers, counselors, kids and parents.”

Youth have an initial assessment done at the center by a social worker who serves as a case manager. Some youths are then referred to counselors or other support services offered in the community by nonprofits or professional service practices. Core services include a mentor program, diversion program, Peer-2-Peer sessions at Meads Mill, and the summer CAMP program at Hillside and Meads Mill for fifth-grade students heading into sixth grade at Northville Public Schools.

With limited resources, the organization relies on volunteers to spearhead workshops and presentations while drawing on community resources, such as local health systems, to provide extended services. For more information or to volunteer, please contact the director.

Visit the township website for more information about NYN.