Youth & Family Services Inc.

Our Foster Care program started 3 years ago and has been a huge success. While it is common for children in the system to be moved to multiple homes,Youth & Family Services has a 93% success rate, which includes no disruptions for children until reunited with a family member or adopted. 
And 100% of our foster families say they feel supported and are happy with the services they receive. Our vision is that all children who leave our shelter are matched with a loving family and feel loved and supported throughout their experience. Our groundbreaking continuum model serves homeless, neglected and abused children. Foster Parents are given the opportunity to volunteer in our Emergency Shelter or provide a traditional, respite or shelter host home. Our success is a result of the seamless connections we make between the shelter and the loving environment provided by our foster families. Families are recruited from within a 40 mile radius of our agency.

82% of our clients report an improved ability to deal with problems more effectively and 88% say life has been better since beginning services at YFS. This department provides person-centered counseling and mentoring for ages 3 through 21. The focus is on individual and family strengths and addresses co-occurring disorders, trauma, crisis intervention, substance abuse, social skills and relationships. The goal is to improve parent/child relationships and problem resolution.Services include:Outpatient CounselingOutreach School based counseling, with behavior management also available for school personnel.Family CounselingDrug and Alcohol Education – Support Groups are free and assessments are available for a nominal fee. Since 2010, over 600 students have been served and 98% were successfully integrated back into schools.Community At-Risk (CARS)Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)First Offender Program

We provide tutoring, study skills and job training, mentoring, leadership development and follow-up services for low-income youth ages 14 to 21 in Canadian, Blaine, Oklahoma and Kingfisher Counties.Programs include:Bridge to Independence Network - serves rural homeless and runaway youth 16 to 21 years old with few/no connections to a supportive family. “The Spot” – a recreational meeting place in Watonga started in 2010 by local youth based on the concept of spotting while lifting weights - has a focus of overall health, wellness and being a “place of positivity”. Each room serves a purpose. Computer – educational opportunities and tutoring; Fitness – physical health and self-esteem; Dining/Game – Foosball, Air Hockey and Pool tables; Full Kitchen – cooking classes and healthy snacks; and Laundry. Street OutreachTransitional Living