Founded by Hall of Fame Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs 30 years ago, Youth For Tomorrow (YFT) is dedicated to providing children and families with the opportunity to focus their lives and develop the confidence, skills, intellectual ability, spiritual insight and moral integrity -- based on Godly principles -- resulting in positive changes to benefit the child, the family, the community, and the nation.  Through the generous support of private sector donors, YFT has the ability to provide services to thousands of children and families throughout the community each year through residential programs and behavioral health services.  

YFT's 215-acre campus headquarters is located in Bristow, VA with regional offices in Woodbridge, Manassas, Gainesville, Springfield,  Landsdowne and VA.  Many of the children who come to YFT have been physically and sexually abused, abandoned by their families, struggle with anger management and display aggressive behavior.  Many of the boys and girls placed in our residential care are 2-3 years behind academically and require special education services.  We build self-esteem by fostering success in academics.  We offer middle and high school curricula as required by our academic license under the Virginia Department of Education.  All classroom instruction is conducted by state certified teachers.  Residents requiring special education services receive instruction according to their Individual Education Plan.  A student-teacher ratio of 6:1 allows each resident to receive more specialized instruction.  This approach has produced a success rate the past two years of 84%.  These children took positive steps by matriculating into college, being reunited with their families, joining the military, or entering the workforce.  In addition to education, residents attend individual, group and family counseling sessions that are facilitated by licensed therapists and counselors.  Residents also receive substance abuse education with a strong emphasis on prevention.  

In 2011, YFT acquired its Mental Health License and launched several community based behavioral health service programs which include Crisis Intervention Counseling services, Diagnostic and Assessment services and Therapeutic Day Treatment.  Crisis Intervention Counseling Services are designed to help children and their families during times of intense trauma and adversity with therapeutic care to reclaim, rebuild and renew their lives.  Our services provide solution-focused trauma-informed services to families in crisis.  Professional staff works to build quality relationships for children within their family, school and community.  YFT's Diagnostic and Assessment services provide assistance to children and adolescents, ages 5-21.  Our professional staff assesses and develops a treatment plan to meet the individual needs of clients.  We provide risk assessments, psychiatric evaluation, medication management and appropriate mental health referrals.  Finally, YFT's Therapeutic Day Treatment program works within the Prince William County. Fairfax County & Loudoun County school systems to address the mental health issues of children who are experiencing emotional challenges without removing them from the school or home.  The interventions employed by our professional staff reinforce positive behaviors while reducing self-defeating and maladaptive responses to structure.  These tend to lead to substance abuse, delinquency, suicidal thoughts and violence.  The program's treatment strategies focus on helping students learn to control anger and aggression, enhance communication and social and interpersonal skills, make healthy choices and better decisions in their lives, improve daily living skills, impulse control, peer relations and problem solving skills and improve community responsibility and behaviors.

Through both residential and behavior health service programs, YFT served over 8,944 children and families in the last year.  Your generosity and concern for children will provide the resources to continue our mission of providing a safe home, comprehensive counseling, and a quality education to at-risk children and families -- 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 
 
Thank you for your consideration to support the mission of YFT and the children we serve!!