Diabetes Youth Services

Camps: dys summer camps are our signature program. These camps served Youth in kindergarten through age 22 and we served 136 kids. These camps provide the foundation for Diabetes management and education in order for the Youth to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle and become self-reliant. In addition, it is a time for the campers, counselors, and staff to connect with each other and create an on-going support network. Each camp is staffed with medical personnel and volunteers. Most of the counselors are dys camp alumni and live with type 1 Diabetes. The alumni love to give back to dys and mentor the campers. While dys costs to administer camp are extensive due to the level of medical expertise and necessary supplies, we subsidize a large portion of the campers' fees with scholarships.

School support: our school support program offers school staff in our 34 county northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan service area with a variety of opportunities through in-person visits, on-demand videos, and webinars to learn the necessary skills to keep dys Youth safe. The education program is available to schools, coaches, after-school programs, Youth correctional facilities, etc. In 2023, dys nurse educators trained 667 staff members in 76 schools through this program.

Family programs: a family who has a child/children living with type 1 Diabetes often feels isolated and overwhelmed. Dys programs are designed to bring families together so they can have fun with each other, learn from each other and understand they are not alone in the challenges of managing type 1 Diabetes. In 2023, 824 people participated in dys programs.