Success Stories

Youth & Family Services, Inc. (YFS) is proud to celebrate the remarkable transformations and achievements of individuals who have benefited from their programs. Through dedicated support, resources, and guidance, YFS has helped numerous families and young people overcome challenges, build resilience, and create brighter futures. These inspiring success stories serve as a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion, and determination in fostering positive change within communities.

Transitional Living Program

Lucy came to our transitional apartment after a short impatient stay. When she came into our program, sharing was difficult for her. The fear, stress, and sadness of her situation were heavy. Once she was settled in a safe living space, we made appropriate referrals for continued counseling and consultation with a primary care doctor. Over the course of the next 2 months, Lucy was consistently involved in our weekly groups, her counseling sessions, and had a positive plan to address a major health issue. She connected to positive community supports to begin a mentorship and enrolled in our local vocational school. With every chance to connect to an opportunity to learn, she was willing. Soon she became a leader in positive peer development. She helped to pick topics for our groups. She was willing to answer questions for new participants and always happy to let those interested in our program tour her apartment. In 14 months, she was able to graduate from her vocational program, enroll in college classes, obtain a driver’s license, buy a car, and successfully hold down a job for over a year. Lucy is now living independently!

Elijah came in through our street outreach program. After hearing his story, we offered him an opportunity in our emergency apartment. At first, he was resistant, and felt he could handle his situation on his own. After a couple weeks, he returned. His situational needs had increased and he was unable to secure safe housing. He began attending our weekly groups and individual appointments. Not long after moving in, he made the choice to transition into one of our longer-term apartments. While going through the lease process, we helped link him through a local workforce program. He was able to find a job and connect to a secure adult. He also participated in local churches and found many opportunities for community connection. We quickly realized that he was eager to help others in need. Before long, he was giving back by volunteering at a local food pantry. He is continuing in the job he secured over a year ago and was able to successfully transition into his own apartment.

Foster Care Testimonies & Success Story

Testimony 1

We became a YFS foster family in 2022. During our training and approval process with YFS, we made it clear that keeping siblings together was one of our priorities as a foster family. When YFS staff became aware of a sibling set of 3 children who were all placed in different foster homes, they reached out to us about taking placement. In the beginning stages of the placement, our YFS worker advocated significantly for our children to ensure that their needs were met and that they were receiving all the appropriate services available to them. We have loved working with the YFS foster care team. They have always taken great care of our family and the children in our care, even bringing us pull-ups to every monthly home visit – 3 small kids can go through a lot of pull-ups!

Testimony 2

We went through the foster care licensing process with YFS in 2018 and took our first placement in December of that year. The little girl had some significant medical needs that required a lot of doctor’s appointments, some of which were hours long. Our worker helped us with transportation, sitting with her at some appointments, and staying with her for stretches while she was admitted to the hospital and we could not be there for her. We were also very grateful for the YFS on-call line on Christmas Eve when we couldn’t get anyone at DHS to pick up the phone and help us navigate a medical situation.

YFS was an invaluable asset to us at the beginning of our fostering journey. Without their help and expertise, we would not have continued to foster after that first placement.

Not every case has been as involved or stressful as our first was, but over our years of fostering, YFS has been there for us in so many ways. If you’re looking to become a foster family, the YFS foster care team is who you want to have by your side.

The Brown family

The Brown family was certified though YFS and took placement of a sibling set of 4, two sets of twins under 4 years old. YFS helped them navigate doctor’s visits, court hearings, and visits with the biological family. When another older sibling was discovered and brought into custody, and a new baby was also born into the case, YFS helped the Browns’ adult daughter and her spouse get their home approved to take placement of those children.

As the case progressed, termination of the biological parents’ rights occurred, and both homes are adopting the children in their care. Before coming into DHS custody, none of these siblings were living in the same homes, but now they will be able to be raised together as a family.

YFS Client Success Story

Jack came to our Residential Caring Center after being removed from his biological family due to safety concerns. He began working with YFS counselors, who are on-site and able to help meet the behavioral health needs of our clients. They worked with him to stabilize his behavior and regulate his emotional responses so that he could move to a traditional foster home. We were able to connect Jack with one of our YFS foster families – the Smiths.

Our foster care team was able to assess their compatibility with Jack and his needs and determine that he would be a good fit for the Smith’s home. After building trust and expectations over his time in the shelter, we were able to slowly transition Jack into their home just in time for Christmas.

Our Caring Center staff were able to work with Jack and the Smiths to make his transition into their home go smoothly. The Smiths facilitated visits with Jack’s biological family in their home to help support his relationship with his family. YFS worked with Jack’s family to help them find appropriate housing so that reunification would be possible. Now, Jack is back with his biological family, where he belongs, and they have the continued support of both YFS and the Smith’s.

Success Stories

Transitional Living Program

Foster Care Testimonies & Success Story

YFS Client Success Story

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