Learn how Connect Cards can help facilitators engage young people and create more interactive group experiences. This video walks through several activities while highlighting how thoughtful facilitation, clear instructions, and intentional reflection can strengthen participation, communication, and group dynamics.  

Explore how Connect Cards can support young people in identifying emotions, expressing themselves, and practicing emotional regulation. This video highlights activities that encourage self-awareness, identity development, and reflection, along with practical adaptations for creating supportive spaces where young people can engage at their own comfort level.  

Explore how Connect Cards can be adapted to fit the real conditions, ages, and needs of different youth programs. This video explores how facilitators can strengthen emotional vocabulary, decision-making, empathy, trust, and relationship skills. Connect Cards are designed to be flexible tools that help programs create intentional moments of connection within the activities they are already leading.

Self-awareness is a foundational professional skill.

This guide teaches practitioners decision-making strategies.

Intentional connections foster trust and growth.

Intelligence and ability grow through effort.

Building agency through goal-setting and persistence.

Practitioner guide for supporting youth emotion regulation.

Guide for navigating youth conflicts using restorative practices.

A guide for fostering youth inclusion.

Explore new findings from the America After 3PM survey highlighting the opportunities and barriers families face during summer. Learn more about affordability challenges, parent priorities, and why access to quality summer programs matters for young people and families.

Prepare for a successful summer with this practical checklist designed to help programs assess readiness across staffing, activities, safety, youth engagement, family partnerships, and more. Use this tool to identify strengths, address gaps, and plan for a strong summer launch.

Guidelines outline steps for partners to align, apply, and gain approval for DPSCD programs.

DPSCD offers monthly family resource distribution at multiple Detroit locations.

Summer learning ideas encourage teens to explore learning at home and in community.

Explore Metro Detroit and beyond with your group of youth, offering a variety of free and paid field trips. Field trip guide lists Detroit educational sites, costs, and contacts for youth visits.

Group Transportation options for field trips, local or long distance, and alternative city route transportation. Guide lists Metro Detroit bus options, pricing, and contacts for student transportation.

Design challenge uses engineering process to build and improve community-focused structures.