About Us

Youth & Family Services, Inc. is a 501(c)3 private, non-profit, community-based charitable organization. Originally formed in 1974 to meet a critical community need for emergency shelter for children removed from their homes, YFS has grown to encompass a continuum of care to support families and children in the community.

Care. Hope. Mend.

Our History

YFS’s Beginnings

We have been providing hope for children with broken hearts for almost 50 years. Our humble beginning began in downtown El Reno. The need was great and the emergency shelter filled up quickly. YFS relocated into the only space available, an abandoned nursing home. During these days, our minds were focused not only on caring for children but on our significant needs for better facilities. Although small, our Shelter was a safe place that provided children with security and hope, mending their physical and emotional wounds. YFS continued to grow to meet the needs of the community, adding program after program.

New Beginnings

YFS is awarded a generous grant from the Donald W. Reynold Foundation, allowing for the construction of the Donald W. Reynolds Caring Center to begin.

The Donald W. Reynolds Caring Center is Born

The Caring Center consists of two buildings, a family services center and an emergency shelter - transforming our agency into the largest social services nonprofit in the community.

Donations Make a Difference

The Spot, a recreational meeting place for the youth of Watonga and the surrounding areas, started by a youth group in Blaine County from community donations.

Caring. Hoping. Mending.

Today YFS has over 10 programs serving Canadian, Blaine, Kingfisher and Oklahoma counties as well as other surrounding counties. In addition, to our emergency youth shelter, programs include: counseling, school consultation, Youth GED/educational services, mentoring, tutoring, independent living, youth employment services, parent training courses, drug and alcohol education and first-offender programs. The programs available through Youth & Family Services are here to serve the community providing care, facilitating hope and mending broken lives.

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Today

To provide, promote, assist and facilitate a community-based, structured process of counseling, socialization, recreation, educational assistance, and in emergency youth shelter for youth and their families who have been identified as in need of assistance in adjusting to current life situations.

At Youth & Family Services our motto is “Caring today for better tomorrows”. We strive to assist every child and youth we serve with the overall goal of creating a better future.

Kids are important and their opinions matter.
The kids have rights and they matter.
We will respect them as individuals.
Our services should have a positive impact on kids.
The convenience of the staff will not be put before the benefit of the kids.
Keep it simple.
Kids are in better shape when we support the family unit.
Set and consistently enforce high expectations.
Provide all children we serve with care and support.
Our services will promote and contribute to healthy development.
We will encourage and help provide to our children serious fun on a regular basis.
It’s the quality not the quantity