---
title: Creating a New Client
description: "### **Adding a New Client** You can add a new client from many areas in YouthCenter. The most direct way is to start in the main menu: ![Screenshot of the main lefthand menu of YouthCenter. Main applications are listed in…"
url: "https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/creating-a-new-client/"
updated: "2026-09-25"
category: Client Basics
tags:
  - New Client
---

# Creating a New Client

### **Adding a New Client**

You can add a new client from many areas in YouthCenter. The most direct way is to start in the main menu:

![Screenshot of the main lefthand menu of YouthCenter. Main applications are listed in white text on a brown background with an accompanying amber icon: Dashboard, Calendar, Files, Contact Manager, Messages, Misc. Apps, Case Manager. Case Manager is highlighted with a seafoam box graphic. The Case Manager is expanded and showing sub-applications New Client, Search, Current Client. the hand shaped cursor is hovering over + New Client.](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-119.png)

- Select the + icon to the right of Case Manager to expand
- Select New Client from the expanded navigation menu

If you have a Search Clients widget on your dashboard, you can also use the green + button here. Alternatively, you can use the Search bar that's anchored in the top menu.

![YouthCenter dashboard with two red box graphics, one around the Search clients bar in the top navigation and one around the add-new button in the Search Clients dashboard widget](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-121-1024x332.png)

Search bar:

- Type in your new client's name to bring up search results
- Use the green + button to add them

Any of these paths will lead you to the New Client form.

#### **The Add a New Client Form**

Before adding a new client, the system will attempt to validate whether they match anyone in YouthCenter.

![Add a New Client form with fields for First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Suffix, Date of Birth, Client #, Client Status, and Notes, and a Search / Next button](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-122-1024x435.png)

**Enter the required fields** (First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth).

**Review the optional fields:**

- **Client #** will auto-generate a unique, sequential number for your Client. If the client number already exists, select the checkbox and enter the client number in the text box to the right.
- **Client Status** drop-down indicates the client's current status within the system. Your administrators can customize these options.
- **Notes** text field allows you to enter general notes about a client.

**Press Search / Next** to see results.

![Add a New Client form filled in with sample First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth values, with a red box graphic around the Search / Next button](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-123-1024x433.png)

If similar results are found in YouthCenter, they'll be listed below the search area. Depending on your settings, you may also see matches from a court information system such as JIS (**see below** for more details). Click on any YouthCenter entry to be taken to that client's Summary, or click on the Create buttons to make a new entry.

![Add a New Client form showing a Similar Clients Were Found warning listing sample matching client records, with a red box graphic around the Create New Client and Create New Client and Next buttons](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-124-1024x645.png)

**Create New Client** allows you to make a basic Client Profile immediately so you can start documenting work right away.

Create New Client & Next is recommended because it will walk you through a guided entry of additional profile, demographic, and association information:

- [**Adding Client Profile Information**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/updating-a-client-profile/)
- [**Adding Demographic Information**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/editing-client-demographics/)
- [**Adding Residency Information**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/editing-or-deleting-residency-information-for-a-client/)
- [**Adding Education Information**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/adding-educational-information-to-a-client/)
- [**Adding Relationship Information**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/adding-a-client-relationship-contact/)

#### **MI JIS Integration**

If your Michigan court uses the JIS system and has an active integration, you may see more options when adding a new client.

![Add a New Client form showing a Similar Clients Were Found list and a Create Client with JIS Information confirmation dialog asking whether to create a new client record from data found in JIS](https://docs.youthcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-125-1024x757.png)

Check out this article for details on that feature: [**Connect Client to Court Information (JIS)**](https://docs.youthcenter.net/docs/connection-client-to-court-information/)

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