Youth Empowerment Services

Youth Empowerment Services (YES) is a collaboration dedicated to building a system of care to effectively and efficiently serve families and children 21 and under regardless of need or diagnosis. The primary goal of YES is to develop, implement and sustain this collaboration for increased services and overall well-being of children and youth. This includes education and prevention for all ages, early intervention across all service sectors, and intensive interventions and supports for those children and families with severe, chronic behavioral health needs.

The target population includes:

• children and youth with or at-risk of serious emotional disorders involved with at least one of five major child-serving agencies and exhibiting difficulties in functioning in at least two areas of daily living

• children and youth who are at risk for or experiencing multiple out-of-home placements
• high-risk children in out-of-home placement being served by multiple member agencies
• transitional-aged youth (16 to 21) requiring more intensive supports than are available

YES is a spectrum of effective, community-based services and supports for children and youth with or at risk for mental health or other challenges and their families, that is organized into a coordinated network, builds meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and addresses their culture and linguistic needs, in order to help them to function better at home, in school, in the community, and throughout life.