Youth & Family Services of the Upper Perkiomen Valley is dedicated to developing and strengthening healthy relationships and to promoting the well being of children, families, and individuals.

Description:
Youth & Family Services, YFS, offers a broad range of counseling services designed to meet the needs of people in today's complex society. Our counselors are trained to deal with issues such as: depression, anxiety, anger management, behavioral problems, eating disorders, loss and bereavement, self-esteem issues, adolescent development, peer pressure issues, substance abuse, etc. DUI counseling is offered for ARD clients and 1st time offenders. Family counseling services can help family members improve communication, decrease conflict and help improve overall life functioning. Parenting can also be improved and relationships strengthened. Since family counseling is goal oriented - energy is directed toward educating family members about patterns of interaction and in implementing positive change. Referrals are made by individuals, schools, churches, district justices or other social service agencies.

YFS also offers community and school based prevention and education services. Prevention includes our annual Peace & Harmony Fair, a two-day event held for middle school students helping them to grasp a better understanding of kindness, fairness and justice; our Diversity Symposium which encourages cultural sensitivity and diversity understanding.

Youth & Family Services is able to offer the following additional programs to schools and community groups: conflict resolution, adventure-based learning, decision making and team building skills, drug & alcohol resistance, community based collaboration, student assistance, career training, mentoring and the 40 developmental assets.

YFS Parent University offers education for parents and co-parents on topics including communication, discipline, self-esteem, peer pressure, etc. Parenting - The Great Juggling Act, co-sponsored by the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library, consists of parent discussion and children's activities at the same time. Parent Support Groups are offered each month.
SCOH (Services to Children in their Own Home) is a contracted service that YFS offers to families referred from the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth (OCY). Instruction and support to identified families in area of parenting, budgeting and other basic life skills is given to stabilize the family unit and help to prevent the placement of children.

History:
YFS began in June 1973, under the name of Sunshine Awareness House. The agency's original purpose stemmed from a grassroots concern for community youth, which was the impetus for initiation of services and programs.Sunshine Awareness House was one of nine original members of the Montgomery County Confederation of Youth Service Bureaus. In 1978, the name of the agency was changed to the Upper Perkiomen Valley Youth Service Bureau (YSB). Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth began contracting with YSB to provide an early intervention program to identified pre-school children.

From 1978 until 1996, YSB continued to build relationships with community members and expand their services and programs to meet the needs of residents. The staff grew to accommodate the changing needs of the community: a counseling department was formed; a Prevention Program Coordinator position was created and several facilitators were hired to provide a staff to support school based programs. YSB also entered into a joint venture with Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce to establish the Rent-A-Teen Program.

The Upper Perkiomen Valley Youth Service Bureau officially changed its name to convey its broadening scope of service in July 1996. The new name is Youth and Family Services of the Upper Perkiomen Valley.

Contact people:

Vince Bowers, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Lois Wright, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Angela Baker, Clinical Supervisor, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (215) 234-9375

Address:

1494 Gravel Pike Green Lane, PA 18054 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.upperperkyfs.org

Directions:

From Boyertown  Route 100 North to Route 29 South. (See 29 South below) From Pottstown  Route 663 North to Route 29 South. (See 29 South below) From Quakertown  Route 663 South to Route 29 South. (See. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: DNA, DNA minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	Yes