Updated: Dec. 7, 2021

Our update on COVID-19

To the Metro Detroit Youth Clubs community:

Throughout the past eighteen months of the COVID pandemic, Metro Detroit Youth Clubs has prioritized the health and safety of our Club members and their families. During this time, MDYC has been innovative and creative in delivering programs and services designed to meet our Club members’ needs. The MDYC professional team has been focused on academic assistance, social emotional support, mentoring and meeting basic needs throughout this most challenging time. The return to in-person programming this summer underscored the importance and impact of our in-person programming. And while that is true, we also know that our Club families have been hit hard by this pandemic. The loss of grandparents, parents and direct caregivers of our Club members will have a lasting impact on our MDYC families.

As we look forward, currently we are seeing COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to be a growing concern in Southeastern Michigan. Today, Michigan is experiencing record hospitalizations, averaging over 7,000 cases per day, and maintaining over 200,000 active cases of COVID-19. All together, these statistics are a greater concern than they were when MDYC first determined that it would be necessary to delay a return to in-person programming this fall. However, over the last few weeks, we have seen the authorization of vaccines for youth ages 5-11 and vaccine boosters approved for all MDYC parents, guardians and grandparents. These are significant steps forward for those seeking protection from COVID and will help us collectively move forward in reducing the amount of virus in the community.

Relevant Links

Weekly, we continue to review the health data and consult with our partners at the local, county, state and federal levels to determine when a return to in-person will be considered safe. We have established the following criteria that will lead to our ability to return to in-person programming. First, the seven-day, county COVID transmission level, as reported by the State of Michigan and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), must be in the moderate (yellow) to low (green) range for community spread. Second, the decision to return to in-person programming will need to be in alignment with guidance from the CDC, the State of Michigan Health Department, the county health department and the local municipality. We will provide two weeks notice by email and here on our website prior to returning to in-person programming.

MDYC also believes the return to in-person school instruction for our Club members is critically important. The MDYC criteria for a return to in-person programming limits the risk of MDYC contributing to COVID outbreaks and school shutdowns within the communities we serve.

These decisions continue to be reached with the health and safety of the MDYC Club members, staff and volunteers and their families first in mind. We will continue to provide updates as our decision-making continues to evolve. We will share any potential updates as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding. If your Club member is in need of immediate support in any way, please email rachel.frank@miclubs.org

Download This Update As A PDF

What Can You Do?

COVID-19 has caused disruption, suffering, and prolonged uncertainty for so many of our Club families. As we navigate a dangerous variant, our main priority is to keep you and your families safe. To that end, we recommend families continue to engage in the following:

Wash your hands

Wash your hands often with soap and water (20 seconds of scrubbing). Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Monitor symptoms

Avoid close contact with others who are sick. If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others, including parties, meetings, and events. We are all in this together.

Wear a mask

Masks help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Given the amount of spread in our communities, we recommend following the CDC mask guidance for all ages.

Get vaccinated

Vaccines greatly reduce one’s risk of infection, hospitalization and death, and they are safe, effective and free. They are our tool back to a full capacity experience.

Email
the Club

Find a
Vaccine

Visit the
CDC

Visit MI
Gov Site

We are guided by MDYC’s Core Values. Our values inspire us to Innovate Through Mission.

At Metro Detroit Youth Clubs, our North Star is our youth. We provide quality programs serving the youth that need us most. Our promise as an organization is to provide a safe and accessible space where transformation can occur. Building on mission, our Core Values highlight 9 core areas of focus that differentiate and define what we do.

Serving youth in Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Southfield and Washington Township, MDYC’s approach is to help our members learn, grow, lead, and succeed.

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