From infancy to independence.
Whether we’re providing safe housing and pre- and post-natal care for young mothers, residential addiction treatment for teens, before/after school opportunities for children or counseling for families, our comprehensive network of programs help all youth unlock their potential.
Reach out. And help your child reach their potential.
If your child is facing challenges and your family needs help, we’re here for you—no matter where you are in Iowa. Reach out to our YSS locations in Boone, Story, Hamilton and Marshall Counties. Or contact our partners at Francis Lauer in Mason City and Iowa Homeless Youth Center in Des Moines.
Featured Programs
EMBER YOUTH RECOVERY CAMPUS
YSS is breaking ground a 70-bed campus in Central Iowa that will offer shelter, crisis stabilization, and residential addiction treatment for youth. Named Ember, this nature-based, trauma-informed campus will be the first of its kind in Iowa.
Learn more
ADOLESCENT RESIDENTIAL ADDICTION TREATMENT
When a young person struggles with substance abuse, the whole family struggles. That’s why YSS offers residential addiction treatment—a safe place where the recovery needs of youth are provided in a homelike atmosphere.
Learn more
News + Events
See allEmber 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 allEmber 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 MORE
