What We Do
One of Iowa's oldest and largest youth-serving nonprofit organizations, YSS's mission is to create hope and opportunity by putting kids first. We offer education to build healthy minds and bodies; counseling to overcome life’s challenges; and stability to focus on the future.
Learn more about our programs.
Where We Are
YSS is headquartered in Ames with locations across the state: YSS of Boone County, YSS of Marshall County, YSS of Hamilton County, YSS Francis Lauer, and Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC). Each of our centers are tailored to fit the needs of the surrounding community.
Learn more about our locations.
Featured Programs
EMBER RECOVERY CAMPUS
YSS is constructing Ember, a 50-acre recovery campus in Central Iowa that will offer shelter, crisis stabilization, and residential addiction treatment for youth and young adults.
Learn more
YSS MENTORING
Looking for a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity? Become a YSS mentor! You can be a positive role model in a youth's life through YSS's school-based or community-based programs.
Learn moreNews + Events
See allReggie’s Sleepout 2023
September 30, 2023
Join us in the fight to end youth homelessness in...
READ MOREYSS of North Iowa hosts HHS director
September 19, 2023
Director of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kelly Garcia and...
READ MORECongressman Nunn Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Youth Suicide
September 18, 2023
Congressman Zach Nunn was at Iowa Homeless Youth Center to...
READ MOREMeet the Team: Sarah Zollar
August 21, 2023
Sarah Zollar is the Clinical Supervisor for Ember Recovery, and...
READ MOREMeet CJ: Ember Recovery Alumni Spotlight
August 11, 2023
CJ Christiansen didn’t recognize who he was anymore. After the...
READ MOREYSS Kids Club Opens in Colo-Nesco School District
August 2, 2023
YSS cut the ribbon on its ninth Kids Club location...
READ MOREAmes Barbershop Owner Gives Free Haircuts to YSS Youth
July 26, 2023
Joe Evans always wanted to help youth in his community....
READ MORE2023 McCay Awards Honors YSS Youth
July 19, 2023
YSS honored inspiring youth the 2023 McCay Awards on July...
READ MORETucker DeVries Joins YSS Ambassador Program
July 14, 2023
Drake University’s Tucker DeVries was announced as a YSS Ambassador...
READ MOREMeet Bambi: Retiring After Three Decades at YSS
July 10, 2023
After 34 years at YSS, Bambi Schrader is retiring. “It’s...
READ MOREYSS of Marshall County Celebrates 40 Years
June 29, 2023
This year, YSS of Marshall County celebrates 40 years of...
READ MOREMeet Abigail and Elli: Sisters and YSS Mentors
June 16, 2023
Abigail and Elli Jennings are sisters. Born and raised...
READ MOREMeet the Team: Matthew Voorhees
June 16, 2023
Matthew Voorhees has worked at YSS for the last 5...
READ MOREMeet Tierra: Mental Health Therapist at YSS
June 16, 2023
Tierra Smith always knew she wanted to be a mental...
READ MORELaura’s Story: Housing, Stability, and Hope
June 13, 2023
When Laura* began accessing drop-in services at Iowa Homeless Youth...
READ MOREYSS Announces New Leadership
June 13, 2023
YSS is pleased to welcome new leaders across the agency....
READ MOREJaz’s Story: How Residential Treatment Changed Her Life
June 13, 2023
Jaz was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and...
READ MOREFurnishing a New Life
June 8, 2023
The YSS Supportive Housing programs help youth move into their...
READ MOREOne of YSS’s First Residents Remembers Shelter House
June 8, 2023
Even though it’s been 50 years, Cheryl remembers her stay...
READ MOREMeet Nicolle, YSS Nurse Practitioner
June 1, 2023
For Nicolle Medina, the best part of working at YSS...
READ MOREYSS and GreenState Announce Partnership at Sixth Avenue Flats
May 24, 2023
YSS is partnering with GreenState Credit Union to bring much-needed...
READ MOREMeet the Team: Melissa Gravlin
May 22, 2023
Melissa Gravlin has been the Residential Admissions Coordinator at Ember...
READ MOREIHYC Celebrates Youth and Supporters at Achievement Tea
May 19, 2023
On May 16, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC) hosted its...
READ MOREYSS Participates in 2023 Washington D.C. Fly-in
May 11, 2023
In April, YSS was part of a delegation that participated...
READ MOREPSERP Helps Youth Achieve Education Goals
May 1, 2023
Katie is a driven individual. She is currently a nursing...
READ MOREYSS Announces New Ambassadors
April 27, 2023
YSS is pleased to announce the following three Iowa State...
READ MOREISU Athletes Recognized for YSS Volunteer Service
April 24, 2023
Several Iowa State University student-athletes were recognized for their volunteer...
READ MOREFrom Board Member to Mentor: Don’s Story of Giving Back
April 18, 2023
Don Lester first became involved with YSS through serving on...
READ MOREMeet Pat: Making a Difference after Retirement
April 18, 2023
Pat Kremer spends most of his retirement volunteering in the...
READ MORETeen Club’s Service Project Creates New Ball Pit for Park
April 17, 2023
Over the past couple of months, YSS’s Teen Club in...
READ MORETeen Maze Welcomes 800+ Seventh Graders
April 11, 2023
Around 850 seventh grade students from a dozen schools in...
READ MOREJill’s Story: Two Jobs, One Dream, and the Calling to Help Others
April 11, 2023
For the past year and a half, Jill Niswander has...
READ MOREFulfilling the dreams of Iowa’s youth
April 5, 2023
Reverend Deb Hill-Davis has helped youth throughout her whole career....
READ MOREYSS Francis Lauer Renamed ‘YSS of North Iowa’
April 3, 2023
Effective immediately, YSS has renamed its community-based center in Mason...
READ MOREYSS Welcomes Kara Warme as Chief Development Officer and Sara Lindquist as Community-Based Director
March 24, 2023
YSS is pleased to welcome two new leaders to the...
READ MOREJill Johnson Named YSS’s 2023 Outstanding Alumna
March 22, 2023
Jill Johnson, a graduate of YSS’s residential addiction treatment program—now...
READ MOREMeet David Lee, the youth voice for YSS
March 13, 2023
David Lee uses his younger perspective to make his voice...
READ MOREMeet Mary Oliver, Iowa Homeless Youth Center’s most Consistent Volunteer
February 28, 2023
Every Monday, the IHYC staff and youth are greeted by...
READ MOREAthletes. Mentors. Rolemodels.
February 27, 2023
For over 20 years, the YSS Mentoring program has matched...
READ MOREFinding Hope at YSS
February 27, 2023
When Angela Harms was 14 years old, she found her...
READ MOREMeet Faith, YSS Mental Health Intern
February 24, 2023
Faith Wilson says the best part of working for YSS...
READ MORETeleza’s Story: How a YSS Christmas Gift Changed Her Life
February 13, 2023
When Teleza Daniels was 15 years old, she made the...
READ MOREFrom Mentee to Mentor: Meet Noah
January 31, 2023
When Noah was in second grade, he moved in with...
READ MORESarina Flathers Named ‘FUEL 4 Under 40’ by Ames Chamber of Commerce
January 30, 2023
Sarina Flathers, YSS Community Engagement Coordinator, was named a recipient...
READ MOREYSS Holds 2023 Recognition Luncheon
January 27, 2023
YSS held its 2023 Recognition Luncheon on Jan. 26 at...
READ MOREIowa Foster Care Youth Council Present ‘Amp Day on the Hill’
January 24, 2023
Foster care youth held the annual AMP Day on the...
READ MOREYSS Residential Addiction Treatment Program Rebranded to Ember Recovery
January 16, 2023
Effective immediately, YSS has rebranded its long-standing and highly successful...
READ MOREYSS Kids Club Builds Experience for Future Teacher
January 16, 2023
When Nile Horak changed his major to Elementary Education at...
READ MOREYSS Selected as Inaugural Charity by Gov. Kim Reynolds
January 13, 2023
YSS was one of three Iowa nonprofit organizations selected to...
READ MOREGreen Hills Donates Holiday Toys to YSS Children
December 12, 2022
Residents from Green Hills Community, a retirement and assisted living...
READ MOREAmanda Briggs Named 2022 Best of Story County
December 12, 2022
Amanda Briggs, YSS Chief Financial Officer, was named "Best Accountant"...
READ MOREThe Path to Recovery
November 30, 2022
Gina remembers the day she learned her 14-year-old son, CJ,...
READ MOREGreenState Donates New Truck to IHYC
November 29, 2022
Thanks to GreenState Credit Union, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC)...
READ MOREYSS Recovery Scholarship Recipients Announced
November 14, 2022
YSS is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the...
READ MOREWhy We Sleep Out: Reggie’s Story
October 28, 2022
For nearly two decades, Reggie's Sleepout has raised awareness and...
READ MOREVariety Awards $1M Grant to Ember Recovery Campus
October 21, 2022
YSS has received a $1 million grant from Variety -...
READ MOREReunited at Last: Alumnus Credits YSS with Saving His Life Five Decades Ago
October 7, 2022
On a sunny, fall afternoon, Casey Collins reunited with the...
READ MOREYSS Kids Club Offers Open Houses
October 7, 2022
YSS Kids Club is raising awareness for the “Lights On...
READ MORESamanthya’s Story: Advocating for Foster Care Youth
October 5, 2022
Samanthya Marlatt first heard of YSS when she entered foster...
READ MOREYSS Selected for Target Circle Community Giving Program
October 3, 2022
YSS is eligible for a grant from the Target Circle...
READ MOREYSS Named Recipient of Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants
September 30, 2022
Prairie Meadows has awarded funding from its Community Betterment Grants...
READ MOREEmber Awarded $3M Grant
September 20, 2022
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced YSS will receive $3 million...
READ MOREToby’s Story: Finding His Calling After 9/11
September 13, 2022
Women’s dress shoes, covered in dust. That is one of...
READ MOREYSS Names 2022 Core Value Award Winners
September 12, 2022
On Sept. 12, YSS celebrated its employees at the annual...
READ MOREYouth Connect at AMP Camp
September 9, 2022
In August, foster care youth attended AMP Camp in Bloomfield,...
READ MOREYSS Hosts ‘Evening with Francis’ Gala
September 8, 2022
YSS Francis Lauer raised over $34,000 at the annual Evening...
READ MOREPrairie Meadows Awards $600K Grant to Ember
August 30, 2022
YSS received a $600,000 Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant that will...
READ MOREIHYC Hosts Annual Achievement Tea
August 17, 2022
On Aug. 9, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC) hosted its...
READ MOREFull Circle: Teryssa’s Story
August 16, 2022
When Teryssa was 14, she came to the YSS Francis...
READ MOREYSS Breaks Ground on Ember Recovery Campus
August 9, 2022
On Aug. 9, YSS held a groundbreaking ceremony for its...
READ MOREMeet Our Founder: Dr. George’s Story
July 26, 2022
Sitting on his 25-acre llama farm known as Hobbit’s Hill,...
READ MOREIntroducing Ember: YSS’s New Youth Recovery Campus
July 20, 2022
YSS officially released the designs for its new youth recovery...
READ MOREYSS Youth Honored at 2022 McCay Awards
July 14, 2022
YSS honored inspiring youth the 2022 McCay Awards on July...
READ MORESixth Avenue Flats Opens in Des Moines
July 8, 2022
On July 7, a grand opening ceremony was held for...
READ MOREAndrew’s Story: Meet Our CEO
June 14, 2022
Over the past five decades, YSS has helped thousands of...
READ MOREYSS Announces New Board Members
June 3, 2022
YSS is pleased to welcome three new board members. Stacey...
READ MOREYSS Welcomes Gabe Kalscheur as First-Ever YSS Ambassador
May 16, 2022
YSS has announced Gabe Kalscheur, a member of the Iowa...
READ MOREYSS Organizes ‘Mentoring Madness on Main Street’
May 10, 2022
On May 5, YSS held the first-ever “Mentoring Madness on...
READ MOREStudent Team Wins Award for YSS Recovery Campus Plan
April 29, 2022
A team of Iowa State University landscape architecture students won...
READ MOREYSS to Co-Host #GETAJOB Youth Summer Job Fair
April 19, 2022
YSS is one of several organizations that will host the...
READ MORESchools Participate in Annual Teen Maze
April 4, 2022
More than 1,300 seventh grade students from a dozen schools...
READ MOREIntern Spotlight: Meet Laticia
March 31, 2022
Laticia Aossey has been involved with AMP since she was...
READ MOREDirector David Hicks Honored by Iowa Wild
March 28, 2022
David Hicks, Director of Community Engagement at YSS of Marshall...
READ MOREYSS Awarded CARF Accreditation
March 24, 2022
YSS received yet another three-year accreditation from the Commission on...
READ MOREYSS Launches New LGBTQ+ Therapy Group
March 14, 2022
YSS is introducing AFFIRM, a new affirmative therapy group for...
READ MOREIntern Spotlight: Meet Brenda
March 7, 2022
After working in law enforcement and serving in the military...
READ MOREFinding Inspiration Everywhere
March 3, 2022
It started with breakfast pizza. YSS President & CEO Andrew...
READ MOREYSS participates in Black Lives Matter community event
February 26, 2022
YSS was one of several Ames community groups that participated...
READ MOREYouth Organize AMP Day on the Hill
February 15, 2022
Youth from AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential) held their 11th annual...
READ MOREStaff Spotlight: Meet Bambi
February 10, 2022
After 32 years at YSS, Bambi Schrader still finds her...
READ MOREA Mom’s Story of Generational Addiction
February 10, 2022
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, genetics can...
READ MOREYSS Kids Club receives $10,000 grant from Bayer Fund
January 28, 2022
YSS Kids Club received a grant for $10,000 from Bayer...
READ MOREYSS partners with FLIA to improve foster care youth outreach
January 28, 2022
Last year, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) partnered...
READ MOREYSS Partners with Athletic Club of Ames
January 20, 2022
YSS has partnered with the Athletic Club of Ames (ACA)...
READ MOREYSS Holiday Giving brings joy to hundreds of youth and families in need
January 3, 2022
Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, YSS helped bring...
READ MORE2021 Recognition Luncheon Honors YSS Supporters
December 20, 2021
YSS held its 2021 Recognition Luncheon on Dec. 16 at the Gateway...
READ MOREKiera’s Story
December 20, 2021
In early 2021, YSS of Marshall County partnered with the Marshalltown...
READ MORECourtney’s Story
December 20, 2021
Raised in a family of drug dealers, Courtney became pregnant...
READ MOREAngela’s Story
December 20, 2021
After being removed from her biological mother in third grade,...
READ MORECharlie’s Story
December 20, 2021
Charlie—a young mother with a two-year-old daughter—recently enrolled in Family...
READ MORETown & Gown hosts concert for YSS youth
December 10, 2021
Grammy-nominated Imani Winds performed for YSS staff and shelter and...
READ MOREStaff Spotlight: Meet Saul
November 22, 2021
When Saul Hammond was looking at job opportunities, he knew...
READ MOREMPACT Receives $200,000 Grant
November 19, 2021
Earlier this year, YSS of Marshall County partnered with the...
READ MOREJazmin Melo Receives First YSS Collegiate Recovery Scholarship
October 8, 2021
Many addicts hit rock bottom before they seek help. For...
READ MOREReggie’s Sleepout is Sept. 24-Oct. 3
September 24, 2021
Choose a night. Sleep outside. Support homeless youth. Iowa Homeless...
READ MOREMaking Connections, Building Futures
June 22, 2021
YSS is celebrating 45 years of service to youth and...
READ MOREIntroducing Telehealth Services
March 19, 2020
If you are experiencing stress or anxiety and need help,...
READ MOREA brighter future begins today
Whether we’re providing safe housing and pre- and post-natal care for young mothers, residential addiction treatment for teens, afterschool opportunities for children or counseling for families, YSS’ comprehensive network of empowerment programs serve all ages of youth.
Select below for more information about YSS and complete list of programs and services provided at all of our locations.
ALL PROGRAMS
News + Events
See allYSS of North Iowa hosts HHS director
September 19, 2023
Director of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kelly Garcia and...
READ MORECongressman Nunn Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Youth Suicide
September 18, 2023
Congressman Zach Nunn was at Iowa Homeless Youth Center to...
READ MOREMeet the Team: Sarah Zollar
August 21, 2023
Sarah Zollar is the Clinical Supervisor for Ember Recovery, and...
READ MOREMeet CJ: Ember Recovery Alumni Spotlight
August 11, 2023
CJ Christiansen didn’t recognize who he was anymore. After the...
READ MOREYSS Kids Club Opens in Colo-Nesco School District
August 2, 2023
YSS cut the ribbon on its ninth Kids Club location...
READ MOREAmes Barbershop Owner Gives Free Haircuts to YSS Youth
July 26, 2023
Joe Evans always wanted to help youth in his community....
READ MORE
