About Us - The Crittenton Family of Agencies

Youth Service Inc. – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Youth Service, Inc. is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to preventing child abuse, helping at-risk children and teens, and strengthening families. Founded 55 years ago, we help the most vulnerable members of our community with services that evolve in response to changing public needs and policies. Our services include emergency shelter for teens, foster care, nurseries for infants whose families are in crisis, truancy prevention, and programs designed to keep families together in the community, including parenting-education and counseling, services for children living at home, and services for teen mothers and their babies.

Our mission is to offer accessible, responsive, high-quality community-based services that create a future of hope for families by restoring their self-sufficiency so that they can build a secure, nurturing home life for their children. Youth Service, Inc. also acts as an advocate for children, families and the poor, increasing awareness of conditions that constrain our clients’ ability to overcome the pervasive effects of poverty, abuse, inadequate education, medical care, and family support. We pursue practical solutions to challenges such as unavailable and affordable housing, poor access to quality mental and physical health care, and a lack of alternative educational programs for disenfranchised teens.

In fiscal year 2005, Youth Service assisted more than 4,000 children and teens, and more than 850 families and adults.

Programs and Services

Youth Emergency Service Teen Shelter—providing immediate shelter for adolescents, as well as physical and mental health services, and educational and recreational programs.

Foster Family and Kinship Care—emphasizing permanent living arrangements for youth who cannot remain at home but can stay in the community.

Teen Mother/Baby Group Home—offering care, parenting skills, counseling, and case management for teen mothers and pregnant teens.

Crisis Nursery/Respite Care—preventing abuse and severe neglect by providing parents time to resolve situations, free of the stress of parenting.

Services to Children Living In Their Own Home providing—supporting parents and caregivers to create nurturing, safe environments.

Parenting Education, Counseling and Advocacy Groups and Case Management

Truancy Prevention—providing case management to children and families at risk for dropping out of school.

For detailed information about this agency see:
www.ysiphila.org