The YMCA of the Palm Beaches is helping at-risk young adults build stability and independence through its new ‘Healthy Connections’ program, based at the organization’s Lake Worth location. Launched in late 2025, the pilot program serves more than 50 young adults ages 18 to 25 whose full potential may be limited by circumstances beyond their control.
Participants in the program include those aging out of foster care, experiencing homelessness, or struggling to find employment. Others are recovering from substance use, reentering the community after incarceration, living with disabilities, facing financial hardship, or working to find post-secondary educational opportunities. Healthy Connections provides full YMCA membership and is grounded in the belief that guided support and consistent wellness routines create structure, confidence, and a clear path forward, and as these routines are built, confidence and moving toward a stable future can be achieved.
“When young adults have guidance, mentors, and a supportive environment, they begin to see what is possible and take ownership of their future,” said Zachary Lipson, Healthy Connections Coordinator for YMCA of the Palm Beaches. “This unique program has already made a meaningful difference, and we are incredibly optimistic about its lasting impact.”
Healthy Connections centers on personalized wellness coaching, with participants visiting the YMCA multiple times per week for individualized support. Participants are also connected to specialized resources that focus on career readiness, education, mentorship, job training, mental health services, and transportation. Additionally, essentials like clothing, shoes, and hygiene items are provided at no cost to reduce barriers and support long-term success.
The positive impact has already been clear. A 19-year-old who was previously homeless now has housing support, is re-enrolled in high school, and is building a career path. Another young adult entered without a job, resume, or direction and is now employed, earning multiple sources of income while pursuing cybersecurity studies at Florida Atlantic University.
“What I see every day in these young adults is transformation, said Jeff DeMario of Vita Nova, a Healthy Connections program partner. “They walk through our doors carrying the weight of the world, and over time, they begin to realize they’re capable of more than they ever thought possible.”
By combining personalized coaching with wraparound support and community partnerships, Healthy Connections provides a clear path forward, often giving participants their first real opportunity to build a stable, independent future.
Florida Mentoring Network is another program partner. Tom Rivera, Florida Mentoring Network CEO said, “When you invest in a young person’s life with a program like this, you’re not just changing their story. You’re changing the story of an entire community.”
To learn more about this program, call Zachary Lipson, Healthy Connections Coordinator, at 561.508.4024 or email zlipson@ymcapalmbeaches.
