Honoree: Youth & Family Services, Inc

Youth & Family Services, Inc (YFS) began in 1965 as a Girls Club of Rapid City. Over the years YFS added programs to meet the community needs and changed their name to Youth & Family Services. Now, YFS offers a Head Start, Counseling Center, Youth Trauma Center, Child Development Center, Health Advocacy Program, Stronger Families Program, Stronger Youth Program, Connect Program, Wester Prevention Resource Center, Nutrition Services, Middle School Program, and Garden Education Project. Through these programs, YFS provide evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive education, prevention, and recreation programs, health-care services, case management; trauma-informed counseling, mentoring, healthy relationships education, nutritious meals, training and technical assistances, and other support services. Up to 80% of families supported by YFS live in poverty; 60% are people of color; and at least 65% are from single-parent households, live with a relative, or are in foster care. YFS works to achieve positive outcomes, despite challenges children and families face.