About Us
Supporting Resilient Youth. Empowering Families. Strengthening Communities.
Who We Are
Growing up isn’t easy—and no one should face it alone. At Reach For Youth, we walk alongside youth and families during their most vulnerable moments, offering not just services, but a second chance. Whether it’s a teenager navigating big emotions, a parent unsure where to turn, or a teacher seeking support for a student, we are here with solutions rooted in care and compassion.
For over 50 years, Reach For Youth has been a trusted nonprofit resource across Central Indiana. Through mental health counseling, restorative justice, and prevention programs, we help youth and families overcome challenges, rediscover hope, and write a new story for their lives.
We don’t just believe in youth—we invest in them. We empower families. And we create space for communities to grow stronger together.
What We Believe
As a Youth Service Bureau, our core mission is to:
- Support, represent, and protect the rights of young people.
- Prevent juvenile delinquency and repeat offenses.
- Maintain a strong referral network so families access the right resources at the right time.
- Educate our community on the issues facing youth today—and how to be part of the solution.
From first-time offenders finding a path forward through Teen Court to families receiving crucial mental health counseling, Reach For Youth is where change begins.
Our Impact
- Over 2,000 lives touched annually
- More than $300,000 in services provided at no cost to families in need
- 97% of youth successfully complete Teen Court requirements
- 100% report greater confidence to make positive choices
We don’t just measure success in statistics—we measure it in stories. In restored relationships. In futures regained.
Our Team
Behind every changed life is a committed team of professionals. Our passionate and diverse staff brings together decades of experience in mental health, youth justice, nonprofit leadership, and community outreach. Together, we deliver high-impact programs that meet families where they are—and move them forward.
Administrative Leadership Team
Kendee began her service to youth and families over 30 years ago and spent 26 years with the YMCA. She joined the Reach For Youth team in 2015 and believes in the powerful mission - Providing youth second chances through prevention, intervention and counseling. She has previous experience in both annual and capital fundraising, operations, developing board and staff teams and programming. Kendee is a graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Studies.
In joining Reach For Youth in 2022, Mark continues to add to his 15 year history of facilitating mental health and non-profit services in Central Indiana. He has specialized in non-profit operations as well as community program development. Mark has served on various boards and committees in Central Indiana including Marion County Community Corrections, Indiana Council Addictions Committee, Marion County Public Safety, and the Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response.
Due to his active community work Mark is a frequent speaker in the areas of mental health and addictions and has been awarded the Community Service award by Drug Free Marion County. Mark is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago and Indiana Wesleyan University and holds state clinical licensures in marriage and family therapy, mental health and addictions.
Favorite Quote:
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Melissa joined the Reach For Youth family in 2018 as our Director of Operations and in July of 2022 changed to the role of Marketing and Fundraising. She has over 15 years’ experience in fundraising, recruitment, and annual planning with both organizations – Boy Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society. She believes that fundraising is event planning with a purpose.
Melissa graduated from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography and Art History.
Favorite Quote:
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun."
-Mary Poppins
Clinical Staff Team
Denise Senter serves as Director of Mental Health and Clinical Services in support of Reach For Youth’s programs and operations. Denise joined Reach For Youth In December, 2013.
Denise is a licensed clinician trained in Marriage and Family Therapy with nearly 30 years of extensive experience serving families and children in private practice.
Some areas of specialization include mood disorders; behavioral problems in home and/or school; trauma, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and physical abuse; attachment difficulties in children and adults, and cultural awareness and cross-cultural competency. Denise has served as a trainer and consultant to several organizations throughout Indiana, as well as to professional athletes.
Denise is a published author dealing with mental health and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Infancy Onward (formerly, Indiana Association of Infant and Toddler Mental Health).
Favorite Quote:
"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later."
- Og Mandino
Ashlyn N. Douthitt is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical supervisor, and certified family life educator. She has 10 years of experience working with individuals, children, adolescents, and families. Ashlyn’s integrative approach to therapy creates a therapeutic environment that is tailored to each client’s unique worldview, experience, and needs. She is well-versed in addressing mental health concerns from a systemic perspective (e.g., individual, family, community etc.) and acknowledges the societal and systemic factors that contribute to mental, emotional, and relational difficulties.
Ashlyn believes that people do well if they can which underlies her efforts to support and guide clients in lifting constraints that are keeping them stuck in unhealthy ways of being. Ashlyn has extensive training and experience in Family Systems Theory, parent-child relationships, child development, family of origin work, parenting, foster care/child welfare and trauma.
Ashlyn earned a BA in Psychology and a BS in Family Studies from Miami University and a MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Antioch University New England’s Couple and Family Therapy Program. Her research focuses on the impact of parental incarceration on the family system.
Favorite Quote:
"You may not be responsible for the wound but you are responsible for your healing"
- Unknown
Emily has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and is currently accruing hours for licensure. Emily began in this field as a social worker in 2017 and has been providing therapy since 2021.
Through prior experiences, Emily has helped adolescents and children (and their families) with emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, body image concerns, self-esteem, and communicating needs. Emily’s therapeutic style is nonjudgmental and compassionate; while still asking tough questions, that left unanswered, could hinder client’s growth.
Along with the entire team at Reach For Youth, Emily invites her clients into a mutual respectful relationship, where clinician and client collaborate for care and growth..
Favorite Quote:
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination"
- Carl Rogers
Dan Arseneau graduated from Lincoln Christian University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry, and worked as a youth and young adult pastor in the non-denominational church for 9 years before returning to school in order to obtain his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy through Christian Theological Seminary.
Dan began his work with Reach For Youth in 2021 with a focus on delivering social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum to various community partners in Marion and Johnson Counties, and continues to serve the community in this capacity as well as providing mental health therapy services.
Dan is currently working toward licensure, and has experience in working with both children and parents on behavior and communication issues with a nonjudgmental focus on restructuring the relationship that best serves the hopes and goals of the family.
- Favorite quote:
"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious … and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
-Walt Disney
Prevention & Outreach Team
Chris graduated from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Criminal Justice.
After gaining experience working with youth and families at Youth Connections as the Program Assistant, he joined the Reach For Youth team in 2003.
As the Teen Court Director, he also facilitates workshops on topics including shoplifting, conflict resolution, peer pressure and teen dating violence. The Teen Court program allows him to combine his passion for working with youth and supporting them in turning mistakes into opportunities for growth and personal development, while helping youth avoid the negative consequences of being an adjudicated delinquent in an official juvenile court.
Stephen has always believed that every kid has the potential in becoming a success story —that is why he chose to become a family/ community liaison. With 12 years of experience in the public school education system, Stephen has helped hundreds of students and individuals become triumphant in their next career moves. He guides lives in boosting their confidence, developing their skills, and becoming productive adults in the community.
In 2022, Stephen joined the Reach for the Youth team as the Outreach Program Director, his vision is to create opportunities and programs in the community for individuals that do not have the means and connections to do so.
When he's not working in the community, he's coaching high school football and spending time with family and friends. He has always loved sports and believes that sports have some healing power in his life.
Favorite Quote:
"Work with Each Child, Support them Each Day and Watch the Success."
Caroline began her role at Reach For Youth in 2023 as an Administrative Coordinator for the Greenwood office. In 2024, she stepped into the Director of Outreach- South Region role, passionate about connecting the Johnson County community to Reach For Youth’s programs.
Caroline graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University. In spring 2024, she will graduate with her Master’s in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is passionate about building relationships with others and providing tools for youth to be successful. She has been working with youth since 2019 in various settings, such as shelters for families and youth experiencing homelessness, after-school programs, and as a summer camp director. .
She enjoys walking with her dog, baking, and chatting with friends over a good cup of coffee in her free time.
Favorite Quote:
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.."
Helen Keller: