Youth Villages

09/04/2026

When nearly half of eligible young people say they never learned about extended foster care, it raises an important question:

Are we communicating support in ways that truly reach young people?

A new national report examines how awareness, re-entry options, housing flexibility and life-skills support can help more young people succeed.

Read how young people and child welfare leaders are shaping recommendations for changes in extended foster care programs nationwide and how Oklahoma is building its new EFC program.

https://youthvillages.org/keeping-the-door-to-extended-foster-care-open/

09/03/2026

For Su***de Prevention Month, we’re challenging schools to think beyond awareness and take action.

For many students, the classroom is where early warning signs surface — and where the right response can save a life. When equipped with practical tools and ensuring every young person knows they are not alone, schools can become powerful partners in prevention.

Share these tools with your network, so more students have the support they need.

09/02/2026

ACH Child and Family Services is celebrating one year of providing Youth Villages’ Intercept® model to families in Tarrant County.

For the past year, ACH has provided intensive, in-home support to help families navigate challenges, strengthen relationships and build a stronger foundation together.

The Fort Worth Report recently explored how ACH is putting the Intercept approach into action and what it means for the families they serve.

As ACH Program Manager Stacey Ladd shared, “It doesn’t matter how beautiful of a life a child has — if they’re in foster care or with a relative — they’re always going to long to return to their parents, and you can never fill that. So I see the value in us strengthening families.”

Youth Villages is proud to partner with Our Community Our Kids and ACH Child and Family Services to bring Intercept to more families in Texas.

Read the full story in the Fort Worth Report.

The Fort Worth nonprofit began implementing Intercept in summer of 2025. The program gets caseworkers more involved with the families.

08/26/2026

Thank you, Dolly, for supporting so many children across Tennessee! You will be missed. 💝

Tennessee has lost one of its greatest treasures.

Dolly Parton carried Tennessee with her everywhere she went. Through her music and her unmistakable spirit, she made our state proud for generations.

But perhaps the most meaningful part of Dolly’s legacy is the way she used her extraordinary talents to make life better for children.

Through the Imagination Library, she put millions of books into the hands of young children and gave families the gift of reading together. She understood that a book could open a door, spark a dream, and help a child imagine a future bigger than the one they could see in front of them.

At DCS, we have also been fortunate to see her generosity touch the lives of children in foster care. Through our partnership with Dollywood, hundreds of foster families have had the chance to experience the joy of Dolly's beloved theme park.

There will never be another Dolly Parton.

We are incredibly grateful for the joy she gave to generations of children who will continue to dream a little bigger because of her.

Rest in peace, Dolly.

08/24/2026

We couldn't be prouder of our Youth Villages Scholars and all they're accomplishing as they continue pursuing their goals.

To every student heading back to the classroom this year, we're cheering you on! Here's to a successful, rewarding and inspiring school year.

To learn more about LifeSet and our Youth Villages Scholars program, visit: https://youthvillages.org/services/lifeset/

08/21/2026

To celebrate the reunification of more than 70 children with their families over the past year, DCBS leadership and representatives from New AlIies -- a capacity-building and support initiative of national nonprofit organization Youth Villages -- recently gathered with the DCBS Hopkins County Ongoing Services Team for a celebratory lunch to honor the staff's dedication to permanency-focused practice.

As a technical assistant and consulting organization, New Allies serves as a valued strategic partner in the region, driving scalable child welfare transformation through a practice-first approach rather than top-down policy redesign. Working directly alongside leaders, supervisors, frontline staff, and courts, New Allies provided on-the-ground coaching and individual support to help teams navigate complex casework, reshape decision-making processes, and think differently about risk, safety, and family-centered care.

The ongoing team’s engagement and collaboration was a key driver in strengthening reunification planning, pointing directly to the hard work and commitment of frontline staff who have successfully turned strategy into action, reflecting a team where workers are driving a true cultural shift to support families more effectively. Thank you for all you do, DCBS Hopkins County Ongoing Services Team!

Pictured, left to right, are Lisa Thacker of New Allies; Esmerelda Maya, Teresa Hall, Kerri Scisney, and Rebecca White, all of the Hopkins County Ongoing Services Team; The Lakes Service Region (TLSR) Service Region Administrator Renee Buckingham; Susan Rudd, also of TLSR, and Leah Weber of New Allies.

08/20/2026

When Z**i was younger, she often felt like she had to face life challenges on her own. Today, she knows she doesn't have to, thanks to the support of her LifeSet specialist and Youth Villages Scholars initiative. With them by her side, Z**i graduated from college, gained valuable internship experience and is taking the next step toward her dream of becoming a nurse.

See how having the right people in your corner can make all the difference:
Read her story:

Throughout her life, Z**i has had to learn to stand up for herself. With the help of her LifeSet specialist, she now has people in her corner.

08/18/2026

For 10 years, the Living Reel Project has connected our Nashville girls' group home with professional singer/songwriters, producers and editors to give them an opportunity to express themselves through music. The teens participate in a therapeutic songwriting session, then move to a studio to record the track and hear it come to life.

Big thanks to Moraine Music Group, Blue Room Studios, Kyshona Music
and Erin Kirby for volunteering your time and talent with us and to Forrest Saunders with NewsChannel 5 Nashville for taking the time to share their story!

A documentary following the process will premiere at the Nashville Film Festival this September.

A group of teens in the foster care system have co-written and recorded a song at one of Nashville's major studios. It happens each year through the NashFilm Living Reel Project.

08/18/2026

Back-to-school means finding your study style.

Our Youth Villages Scholars are sharing whether they're all about group study or prefer to study solo.

How do you learn best? Let us know in the comments!

08/17/2026

It's the moments you see and the thousands more happening every day. It's showing up for children and families, celebrating milestones, creating opportunities and walking alongside young people as they build brighter futures.

On National Nonprofit Day, we're grateful for our staff, mentors, donors, volunteers and community partners who make this work possible. Thank you for being part of our story!

Learn more about our work in our 2025 annual report: https://youthvillages.org/about-us/annual-report/