Youth and Family Services was established May 28, 1976.
Our Mission
"To serve and strengthen youth and families."
At Youth and Family Services, our mission is to empower youth (ages 5+), adults, and families through a comprehensive range of counseling, educational, residential, and support services. We are dedicated to helping our clients build resilience and thrive in their personal lives, relationships, and communities—whether at home, school, work, or other social environments. Through targeted interventions, we aim to strengthen emotional, psychological, and behavioral well-being, guiding individuals towards lasting positive change.
Our commitment to service reflects a deep, genuine concern for the needs of those we serve, ensuring that all our policies and practices are client-centered. "To strengthen" means we will always offer the highest standard of care, using skilled interventions and proven approaches that achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to create a world where every youth and family has access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to heal, grow, and thrive. We envision a future where mental health and substance abuse challenges are met with compassion, understanding, and empowerment, and where young people are equipped with the resilience and skills to lead fulfilling, healthy lives. Through our programs, we aim to strengthen communities by nurturing hope, fostering connection, and promoting lasting positive change for individuals and families in crisis.
Promoting Equity and Inclusivity at Youth and Family Service
We are committed to promoting equity and inclusivity both within our organization and in the services we provide to the communities we serve. We understand that true equity means ensuring all individuals, regardless of their background, have access to the support and resources they need to thrive. Our approach to equity and inclusivity is reflected in our organizational practices, policies, and the way we engage with the diverse populations we serve.
Internally, we prioritize creating an inclusive and equitable workplace that values diversity at all levels. This includes fostering a culture where all staff feel respected, heard, and empowered, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or background. We actively engage in ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training to ensure our team members are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally competent care. Additionally, we promote a hiring process that seeks to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve, ensuring a range of perspectives are represented in our decision-making.
Externally, we work to ensure that our services are accessible to all individuals, particularly those from historically marginalized or underserved populations. Our programs are designed to be culturally responsive, recognizing the unique needs of different communities and providing tailored services that honor their backgrounds and experiences. We actively seek feedback from the populations we serve to better understand their needs and continuously improve our services. By building strong community partnerships, we ensure that we are addressing barriers to access, such as language, transportation, and socioeconomic factors, and that we are creating an environment where all feel welcome and supported.
Through these ongoing efforts, we strive to create a more just and inclusive environment for all, both within our organization and in the broader community. By promoting equity and inclusivity, we aim to not only provide quality services but also to help dismantle systemic barriers that contribute to inequality.
Our History
Youth & Family Services of Washington County has been serving youth and families in our community since May 28, 1976. What began in an old home on Osage Avenue in Bartlesville has grown over the past 50 years into an organization providing a wide range of services to youth and families throughout the area.
From the beginning, YFS has continued to grow and adapt to meet the changing needs of our community. By 1978, Big Brothers Big Sisters was among the programs offered through YFS. In March 1989, the Youth Shelter was established, providing a safe place for youth who needed temporary care. More than 130 kids passed through its doors during the shelter's first year.
Throughout the 1990s, YFS continued expanding its programs and services. The First Time Offender Program was added in 1995, followed by parenting classes in 1996. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in July 1997 for an expansion of the Youth Shelter, and educational services expanded into Washington and Nowata counties in 1998. That same year, the shelter provided care for 157 children.
In September 2001, the YFS Counseling Center moved to its current location, providing additional space for the agency's growing services. Over the years, community members, businesses, civic organizations and volunteers have continued to support YFS through fundraisers, partnerships, donations and countless hours of service.
That community support has remained an important part of our story. From early events like the "Do Your Own Thing" arts and crafts show to Celebrity Sing, community benefit events, Give Back events and many others, generations of people have helped YFS continue its mission.
In 2026, Youth & Family Services celebrated 50 years of serving and strengthening youth and families. The milestone was celebrated with the first annual Light the Way 5K Glow Run on June 27, 2026.
While much has changed since YFS first opened its doors in 1976, our purpose has remained the same: To Serve and Strengthen Youth & Families.
As we look toward the next 50 years, we remain committed to providing a safe place, needed services, and opportunities for youth and families in our community to grow, heal, and move forward.
