Rochester Area Youth Assistance

03/25/2026

Oakland County residents may be eligible for emergency relief through the Hardship Assistance Program, offered in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan. See if your family qualifies below. 👇

💧 Need Help with Your Water or Sewer Bill? 💧

Oakland County residents may be eligible for emergency relief through the Hardship Assistance Program, offered in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

✔️ Up to $2,000 in assistance
✔️ Help with current bills, past-due balances, or essential plumbing repairs
✔️ Quick application — 15 minutes or less

You may qualify if you:
• Live in Oakland County
• Use municipal water/sewer services

Examples of hardship include:
• Job loss or temporary unemployment
• Medical expenses due to illness or injury
• Divorce or other unexpected financial challenges

📊 Income guidelines (monthly examples):
• Family of 4: up to $8,000
• 2-person household: up to $5,300
• Single person: up to $3,900

👉 Not sure if you qualify? Apply anyway. Eligibility is flexible.

⏳ Funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📞 Need help? Call 844-211-4994 (Mon–Thurs, 9 AM–4 PM)

This program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through Oakland County.

03/19/2026

Congratulations to Stoney Creek senior Karlina Stemmerich who has been honored with a Rochester Area Youth Assistance (RAYA) Scholarship. Karlina is a high-achieving student and AP Capstone scholar who participates in HOSA, the Psychology Club, Neuroscience Club, Red Cross Club, Rotary, debate and the French National Honor Society. She is also a lacrosse player and volunteers through NHS and Key Club. We applaud Karlina for making a difference in our community!👏

03/18/2026

We have more photos from our wonderful event on Monday!
✨ Celebrating and recognizing students in our community who have positively impacted others. Congratulations to all of our honored RCS students! 🥰

👏 Thank you to our guest speaker, Maria Willet, and to The Rochester High School Sanguine Sax Quartet who performed for us! We appreciated all of the dignitaries who also helped us celebrate: Debbie Jones Rochester City Mayor, Senator Michael Webber, Rochester Hills City Council member Bradley Limburg and Nancy Salvia - Rochester City Council.

A big thank you to our local businesses who sponsored the event:
Nothing Bundt Cakes, Busch's Fresh Food Market, Pixley Funeral Home (Vern Pixley), Cold Stone Creamery and the event space ~ Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.

Photo credit to ~ Darren Pullins 📸

03/17/2026

📣 What a wonderful event we had celebrating and recognizing students in our community who have positively impacted others. Congratulations to all of our honored RCS students!

🎉 Special thanks to David Walker who emceed the event, Nick Russo who shared info about each recipient, and Maria Jean Willett who gave a phenomenal keynote address. 🥰 This event wouldn't be possible without the hard work of several people on the RAYA Board who planned and organized the event (Lindsay Fantini Wood, Debbie Jones Rochester City Mayor, Jennifer Cordon Thor, Laura Bagley, Darrett Pullins, Amy Sullivan, Mihaela Becker, Michelle Bueltel, and everyone else who helped), your work is amazing!
Thank you to all of those who attended! 👏

03/12/2026

Great opportunity for high school students to apply to introduce an author for the Author's in April banquet! Check out all the details below and apply by March 14th. 📖📚

Authors in April is looking for high school students to introduce the authors at this year's banquet. See below for more details.

03/12/2026

Opportunity to hear more about Public Service careers tonight! More information below!

TOMORROW! Lead the way! Students are invited to discover more about careers in public service at a virtual presentation hosted by the Rochester Community PTA Council THIS THURSDAY, March 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Hear from panelists including a Peace Corps volunter, assistant attorney general, nonprofit leader, forensic investigator, state PTA respresentative and more!

Register using the QR code or this link: https://ow.ly/43vP50YrnWG.

This convenient virtual career fair is for middle school and high school students.

03/05/2026

Great local opportunity to check out FREE Prom Dresses, clink the link to register! 👇

03/04/2026

➡️ Rochester Area Youth Assistance (RAYA) is a prevention-based nonprofit organization whose goal is to strengthen youth and families in the Rochester community. Services and programs are available at no cost or a reduced cost to school-age youth and families who reside in the Rochester Community Schools district.

✅ Professional counseling and case-work services are available for youth, ages 5 through 16, and their families who live within the Rochester School District. This assistance is confidential. Referrals are made by school personnel, police, parents, friends, and young people themselves.

Please contact us at 📲248-656-3558 or
📩raya@rochester.k12.mi.us for more information.

02/27/2026

We will be offering our Water and Boating Safety Class again this May with Ashleigh Iserman Boating Safety Foundation! Interested in having your child attend? Keep an eye out here for the upcoming save the date! 🚤🛟

Questions? Contact us here ~ 248-656-3558 📲

02/18/2026

Time to update your Kroger rewards! 👏

Link your Kroger card to RAYA in the Kroger Community Rewards section here: https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards

This program makes fundraising easy by donating to RAYA just for doing your regular shopping! 💯 We appreciate all of you who list RAYA as your community charity!

02/13/2026

If you're worried about someone or need support yourself, you can call, text, or chat with the 988 Lifeline anytime.