We’re excited to share that Didi Hirsch’s new transitional age youth facility, “Our Third Place,” will be opening in early 2024! The state-of-the-art center is a 2,500 square foot space housed in the Glendale site with amenities including a kitchen, laundry services, showers, and even a digital recording studio. Our Third Place is designed to be a safe place for youth ages 15-25 that are transitioning out of the foster care system, without stable housing, or youth that are at-risk. Youth in need will have the opportunity to receive mental health support, get their basic needs met, as well as cultivate community.
The name, Our Third Place, supports the program’s vision to create a place where youth can connect outside of home and school. A Youth Advisory Council, comprised of seven individuals with lived experience, helped to identify a name that reflects the new center’s purpose while appealing to the TAY population in a non-stigmatizing way. The council also provided guidance around program development as well as new facility features.
The concept for Our Third Place originated in 2013 when Heather Sardella, Program Director for Didi Hirsch’s Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program, and Kristine Santoro, COO, worked together in the Child & Family Division in Glendale.
“I came to Didi Hirsch knowing I wanted to work with adolescents,” expressed Heather. “I was running groups for teens, and mentioned to Kristine that one day it would be nice to have a safe space for teens to go after school to participate in art groups and collaborative projects.”
Our Third Place is the first facility of its kind in the Glendale area. Expanding beyond helping transitional youth get their basic needs met, the center allows youth to receive assistance with higher level needs – such as case management services, finding educational/vocational programs, housing, and employment. Mental health services will also be provided onsite and via telehealth, including individual and group therapy sessions to help youth grow and thrive into adulthood.
Exciting Update!
As of February 2024, Our Third Place is now open! For more information about the center and how to access services, visit ourthirdplace.org or reach out to [email protected].
