- 405 Parkway, Suite A Greensboro, NC 27401
About Youth Focus
About Youth Focus
In 1971, Youth Focus began providing group home and outpatient counseling services in Guilford County. Over the next several decades, the continuum of services grew to include outpatient counseling and substance use treatment, intensive in-home therapy, therapeutic foster care, medication management, residential substance use treatment, emergency and supportive housing, therapeutic schools, and residential psychiatric treatment.
Our Mission Statement
Helping youth achieve safety, security, and success.
In response to the growing value-based managed healthcare environment and Medicaid reform in North Carolina, Youth Focus merged its behavioral health services with Alexander Youth Network in 2019. Retaining the Alexander name, the newly combined organization became firmly established as the leader in children’s behavioral healthcare in North Carolina.
With this transition, Youth Focus narrowed its services to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable youth in Guilford County, who are at-risk, in crisis, have run away, or are experiencing homelessness. Youth Focus provides needed supportive housing solutions and trauma-informed counseling, so youth receive the help they need today to have hope for the future.
How is Youth Focus Funded?
Youth Focus is funded through a combination of local/state/federal partnerships and private donations. As the funding landscape continues to evolve, we become increasingly dependent on the financial support of the local community we serve. Additionally, many of the funds that Youth Focus brings to Guilford County from state and federal resources require the local community’s investment.
How does Youth Focus serve Guilford County Youth?
Emergency Housing
Free emergency housing for male, female, and gender nonconforming youth ages 11-17 who need temporary safe shelter.
Transitional Living
Supportive housing for male, female, and gender-nonconforming youth ages 18-21 who are experiencing homelessness in a supervised yet independent living environment. During the program, youth gain needed independent living skills.
Maternity Housing
Supportive housing for pregnant or parenting women between the ages of 16 and 21 who are experiencing homelessness for various reasons. Mothers and their dependent children can live at the house for up to 18 months while working on goals that will allow them to provide a good home for their children.
Safe Place
When teens find themselves in crisis or need a place to stay, they should know how and where to get help. Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. Safe Place locations are easily recognized by their vibrant yellow signs.
Supportive Housing
Youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness receive rent assistance and support services to help them achieve their educational and professional goals for long-term independence.
Outpatient Counseling
No cost Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for youth ages 6-24 to address the trauma that often shows as emotional or behavioral difficulty.
Federal Funding
This website is supported by Grant Numbers 90CX7524, 90CY756, and 90YZ0042 from the Family and Youth Services Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Family and Youth Services Bureau.
Youth Focus is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of federal financial assistance award totaling $1,335,272 (55% of total operating expenses) with 55% of that federal award funded by ACF/HHS. The remaining $1,099,040 (45% of total operating expenses) are funded by non-federal source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
Our Board of Directors
Stacy James, Board Chair, Shawmut Corp
Eoin O’Sullivan, Finance Chair, Volvo Group North America
Summer Foster, Lanier Law Group
Dr. Carey Williams, Carolina Pediatrics
Melissa Greer, Berkshire and Hathaway Realty
Edgar Cross, First Citizens
Laurie Ford, Vice Chair, Lomonaco Investments
Cynthia Graves, Lived Expertise, Secretary, Witt O’Briens
Dr. Amber Khan, National Board for Certified Counselors
Mariah Bolin, The Williams Companies, Inc.
Elizabeth Hildago, LT Apparel
Dr. LaToya Chevelle, East Carolina University