At Compassion First, we understand the importance of support for youth with autism and other neurodivergences, especially as they prepare for adulthood. Our Youth Program is designed to provide the guidance and resources they need to thrive.

We focus on building important life skills and promoting self-advocacy, helping young individuals gain confidence and make meaningful connections with their peers. One of the great benefits of our program is that as they turn 18, they can smoothly transition into our Adult Day Program. This allows them to continue their journey with familiar faces and friends, making the transition to adulthood much easier and more comfortable. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where every young person can reach their full potential and feel confident as they move forward in life.

Youth Programs

Youth Peer Connections

Our youth program runs from 3-5pm Monday thru Friday. Open to ages 8+, here’s a peek at what our week looks like!

Mondays: Cooking

We use Mondays to learn recipes, kitchen skills and safety, and more! Kids will get an opportunity to try new foods, learn about feeding ourselves well, how to cook and prep food, and of course, eat. They may even come home with a sample of their creations. (If they don’t eat it first!)

Tuesdays: Movement

We’re taking Tuesdays to get moving and have fun! There’s a park right across from our center that will be a popular option, and we also do indoor games and more that keep kids active. Movement is great for better sleep, and better moods!

Wednesdays: Featured Programs

Our Wednesdays focus on special programs we put together, like an eight-week introduction to podcasting that aims to teach the kids how to create, market, and produce a podcast themselves.

Thursdays: Games

We love to learn life skills while having fun! On Thursdays we use tabletop and board games to learn life skills like budgeting, time management, and problem solving, all while having fun and socializing!

Fridays: Creativity and Fun

What better way to end the week than with crafts or a fun social activity? We do movie days with popcorn, get crafty with paint, and whatever else we come up with! The youth are encouraged to let us know what they’d like.