Leslie Community Outreach

Breakthrough is a training and development service for businesses, colleges and universities, and school, youth and nonprofit groups. It offers training and development services for businesses and focuses on team development, communication and problem solving. The program also offers services for private, public and charter schools, scouting and church youth groups, as well as provides retreat services. Breakthrough organizes various summer caps for children that assist in recreation and skill building. It additionally administers a team building program for boys and girls football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams from middle schools and universities. The program is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a member of the Association for Experiential Education, Association for Challenge Course Technology, Capital Quality Initiative, and American Society for Training and Development. Breakthrough is located in Onondaga, Mich.

Inspired by Ingham County Probate Judge Robert Drake, a group of private citizens, business people and community leaders concerned about youths at risk founded the original Youth Opportunity Camp in 1963. Designed to be a place where people grow by discovering strong personal values and building life goals around them, youths are given the opportunity to experience positive adult guidance in a disciplined setting. The program has helped hundreds of youths. Its work with troubled youth taught that in order to improve their futures, their families needed help too. It learned that through early intervention, they can resolve problems and keep families together. As a result, Highfields has become a multi-service, early intervention agency serving families and youth in mid-Michigan. It has pioneered the home-based counseling approach where counselors go into the homes and work with families. With its expanded services, Highfields currently serves more than 10,000 people a year.