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Monday 7am - 5:30pm Tuesday 7am - 5pm Wednesday 7am - 5pm Thursday 7am - 5:30pm Friday 7am - 5:30pm

Youth and Family Outreach

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Portland, ME
Youth and Family Outreach

Youth and Family Outreach creates opportunities that support learning and enhance the quality of life for children and families in Greater Portland.

We have 5 NAEYC accredited classrooms for infants to Prek Visit our website for more information

06/02/2026

This photo was taken as these kiddos graduated from YFO. 💛

And now… they are graduating from high school.

We truly can’t find the words for what that feels like. Looking back at these tiny faces and knowing the incredible young adults they have become fills our hearts with so much pride, gratitude, and emotion.

At YFO, we have the privilege of being part of children’s earliest chapters — and moments like this remind us just how meaningful those years are. To watch children grow from preschool graduates into high school graduates is something incredibly special.

To the YFO Class of 2026:
We are so proud of you. Thank you for letting us be part of your story. We are cheering you on as you step into this next chapter.

Once a YFO kiddo, always a YFO kiddo. ❤️

05/19/2026

Yesterday, I had the tremendous honor of meeting Jerry Marx, YFO’s (the PML at that time) Executive Director from the mid 1980s into the early 1990s.

Jerry saw a need in our community and responded by opening childcare services for students at Portland High School, just two blocks away — a program and priority population that remain central to YFO’s mission today. Hearing him reflect on that work, and seeing how pleased he was to know those students and families are still a priority for us, was incredibly meaningful.

We shared stories, history, laughter, and a deep appreciation for everything this scrappy little nonprofit has accomplished over its 180-year history.

For me, meeting Jerry felt a little like meeting a celebrity. In my book, this is the kind of work — and the kind of leadership — that deserves that level of recognition. 💙

05/15/2026

We are so proud of our soon-to-be graduates! 💙

YFO has been honored to partner with ,MEPublicSchools as a community-based Public Pre-K site since 2011. This year, we are celebrating our 15th graduating class through this longstanding partnership!

These children are heading off to kindergarten with confidence, curiosity, friendships, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We are grateful to be part of their journey and thankful for a partnership that continues to invest in children and families in our community.

Congratulations to our graduates — we can’t wait to see all the amazing things ahead for you! 🎓✨

05/12/2026

We were honored to share the story of YFO and our expansion project on the radio this weekend! 🎙️

A huge thank you to Townsquare Media and to Celeste Baranyi for the opportunity to talk about YFO’s history, our mission, and the exciting future ahead for children and families in our community.

If you missed it live at 6am on Sunday morning, you can listen to the interview here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1swUjeXS-ki5rvimIW3RvGZr549yvahjc/view?usp=sharing

We are so grateful for the support and excitement surrounding this project as we continue working to expand access to high-quality early care and education. 💙

05/10/2026

We had a fantastic Teacher Appreciation Week celebrating the incredible educators who make our program so special every single day. 💙

Thank you to the families and board members who contributed thoughtful messages, treats, and goodies to help honor this remarkable team. Your kindness and appreciation meant so much.

And a special thank you to for the perfect “Brain Builder” t-shirts — our staff loved them!

We are so grateful for the dedicated, compassionate educators who show up every day to nurture, teach, and support children and families in our community. ✨

05/08/2026

We were honored to welcome Janet Mills to our development site.

Joined by members of our board, we had the opportunity to share more about our project and the meaningful impact it will have on families in our community. We’re grateful for the Governor’s time, interest, and commitment to supporting initiatives that expand access to early care and education.

This project represents more than a building—it’s an investment in children, families, and a stronger future for Maine.

05/05/2026

Rainy days don’t stop our toddlers 🌧️💙

With rainsuits zipped and smiles wide, our little explorers headed out for a walk—because fresh air, movement, and a sense of adventure are part of every day here, no matter the weather. These moments build resilience, curiosity, and joy in the simplest ways.

04/10/2026

We are excited to share wonderful news! 🎉

Evelyne has been appointed as the new Director of Youth and Family Outreach (YFO)!

Her dedication to supporting children, families, and educators has made a lasting impact on our community. We are incredibly grateful for her commitment, passion, and the many contributions she has already made to YFO.

Evelyne brings experience, compassion, and a deep belief in our mission, and we are thrilled to see her step into this leadership role.

Please join us in celebrating Evelyne and wishing her continued success in this exciting new chapter!

💙 Congratulations, Evelyne!

04/07/2026

Friday, April 3rd was a day filled with emotion for our community.

We said goodbye to the chapel that has stood since 1851 — a space that has held generations of history, memory, and meaning. Watching it come down was not easy. There is a deep and very real sense of loss that comes with the closing of such a long chapter.

Youth and Family Outreach is, and has always been, the steward of this property (our name was the Portland Ministries at Large until 2009). The chapel was originally built for this very organization, and for 180 years, our work has remained rooted in the same mission established by our founders in 1846 — to serve those most in need in our community.

That mission has never changed. But the needs of our community have.

The building that will rise in place of the chapel is not a departure from our history — it is a continuation of it. It will allow us to expand access to early childhood education, create affordable housing, and support families in ways that reflect today’s realities, while staying true to the purpose that began so many years ago.

We honor the past with gratitude, and we move forward with intention.

This is the legacy. And this is the story we carry with us.

01/16/2026

Check out YFO alumni performing at the Palaver Gathering!

The Palaver Strings gathering was a powerful reminder of what makes a neighborhood thrive. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with neighbors, listening, sharing, and imagining what strong, connected neighborhoods can be—it was meaningful in all the right ways. For YFO, our neighborhood has included Palaver Strings for the past eight years, and their early childhood music education has had a lasting impact on the children and families we serve. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the care they bring to our community. 🎶🤍

Address

331 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, ME
04101

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 5pm
Thursday	7am - 5:30pm
Friday	7am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.yfoutreachme.org/

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