Since its inception in 1976, Auburn Youth and Family Services has been dedicated to providing services to meet the needs of Auburn’s youth. The Auburn Project, as it was called at the time, focused on preventing drug/alcohol. Over the years, the programs offered by the grass-roots agency have expanded in response to the changing community needs. In 1991, the agency’s name was changed to reflect the growth in programs and services offered. Programs targeted for children and youth currently include afterschool and summer programs, academic tutoring, leadership training, anger management groups, self-esteem development training and individual and family counseling. Also impacting families of children served are parenting education and support, food and clothing distribution, family counseling services, and community violence prevention activities.

The mission of Auburn Youth and Family Services (AYFS) is “to promote the healthy development of youth and families in Auburn.” The organization strives to provide a variety of the highest quality services to those in need and to improve the overall quality of life for residents of the Auburn community. AYFS believes strongly in collaboration, creating dynamic and fluid partnerships that have helped the organization to grow and adapt to meet the needs of its constituents. Many of the largest programs are operated in conjunction with the public schools.

In addition to direct service provision, AYFS has become a social service point-of-entry for children and families in need who don’t know where to go for help. Information is provided and referrals to other agencies are made to address issues that are not part of the services offered on-site. By providing multiple on-site and off-site programs and services and by connecting people to other social service and municipal agencies, AYFS is responding to the needs of the family as a whole, ensuring that their barriers to success are addressed to promote child and family health and well-being.

Although viewed as a “bedroom community”, Auburn has many families struggling to meet the most basic of needs. The average per capita income in Auburn is $23,802 (US Census 2000), about 37% less than the state’s average per capita income. Program and services are provided on a sliding scale or are provided free-of-charge to those who cannot afford topay. Provision of basic needs such as food and clothing also occurs at the agency.

Statistics show that single mothers lead 3.9 percent of households in Auburn, with 12.8 percent living in poverty as defined by the federal government. Seventy-two percent of families with children under six reporting that both parents are in the labor force. Our youth development programs and services fill the critical need of unsupervised, afterschool time with constructive activities and is able to offer a productive and supportive alternative to children returning home to an empty house. The programs operated by AYFS target a broad range of children and youth in Auburn and surrounding communities. Services are offered primarily to Auburn residents, while some programs also offer services to individuals from neighboring towns. More than 80% of the agency’s resources are used to support our comprehensive, youth development programs.