Youth Villages serves emotionally and behaviorally troubled youth, the majority between ages 6 and 22, with in-home and residential programs that help them improve academic achievement, make a successful transition to employment, and avoid criminal activity. Most youth served have cycled in and out of foster care and/or are involved in the juvenile justice system.

Evaluation Status: Proven Effective

Youth Villages utilizes research-based programs, including intensive in-home services to youth and families that are designed to teach young people how to function successfully in school, at home, and with peers. These programs are far less costly and much more effective than traditional services to youth in the child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems. (Multi-Systemic Therapy is one of the models Youth Villages utilizes at several sites, including Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and Texas.) Since 1994, 82% of youth served have remained home successfully two years after discharge. A remarkable 83% have had no trouble with the law, and 82% are either still in school, have graduated, or are getting their GED at 24 months post discharge. Just 13% had been placed at any point in highly restrictive residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, or juvenile facilities. Compared with traditional child-welfare services, Youth Villages’ in-home program offers a 38% lower average monthly cost, a 71% shorter average length of stay, and a long-term success rate twice the national average (80% vs. 40%). Furthermore, Washington State Institute for Public Policy estimated that utilizing MST rather than traditional services saves taxpayers from $31,000 to $130,000 per participant.

EMCF Investment

Since 2004, the Foundation has invested $21.25 million in Youth Villages to develop and implement its business plan. During this period, Youth Villages expanded into two new states (North Carolina and Massachusetts) and Washington, DC; doubled its capacity in Mississippi; tripled its capacity in Alabama; and deepened its influence and impact in its home state of Tennessee.

In 2007, Youth Villages began participating in the Foundation’s Growth Capital Aggregation Pilot. Six other funders and Youth Villages’ board of directors joined EMCF in this successful initiative to raise up-front $40 million in growth capital to help the organization implement an ambitious business plan to expand dramatically, serve greater numbers of low-income youth, and achieve financial sustainability. 

For more information, visit Youth Villages’ website at www.youthvillages.org.