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Nationally
Accredited by the Council on Accreditation
Donna
B. Bennett, LCSW-C
Executive
Director
Agency
Mission
The
mission of AFYF is to empower people diagnosed with mental illness to
achieve their maximum potential for successful family and community
living. AFYF will provide services and programs to meet and exceed
federal, state and the highest professional standards.
Vision
The
vision of AFYF is to be the provider of choice to furnish a continuum
of services to sustain the integrity of the family. To do so,
AFYF will provide the highest quality services and programs for the
care of emotionally challenged youth and their families.
Agency
Philosophy
Alternatives
for Youth & Families, Inc. has developed a continuum of care
model to provide programs for seriously disturbed children and
adolescents. These unique programs include short-term crisis beds,
intermediate care in a therapeutic group home, treatment foster care
programs, and independent living services for older adolescents. In
addition, Alternatives for Youth & Families' Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Program is able to serve children of all ages in
various stages of the continuum and in the community.
The
agency is committed to advancing the practice of community-based
programs and providing services in the most normalized environments
possible. Alternatives for Youth & Families represents a movement
that is attempting to keep children in their community, close to
their families and support systems, rather than sending them away to
institutions. Reunifying children with their families is our primary
goal when this is clinically indicated.
Agency
History
A
group of concerned citizens from the three Southern Maryland Counties
of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's began meeting in the early 1970's
to develop a treatment program for youth who were either underserved
or sent out of the area to receive needed services. The outcome of
these meetings was the formation of the agency presently known as
Alternatives for Youth and Families. From its earliest inception, the
agency developed a commitment to serve the "tough" cases or
those youth who present the most challenging treatment situations.
Also, the philosophy of family reunification, family involvement and
community-based treatment was embraced and integrated into the early
program.
Since the mid-1970's, the agency has evolved from its
initial program of a 12-bed group home, Loretta House, to its current
array of programs configured into a continuum of care model serving
males and females of school age through 21.
Through the years,
the agency has focused on the three Southern Maryland Counties and
has given priority to referrals from this area. Although the services
have expanded, the treatment has remained consistent by focusing on
family involvement leading to reunification. Services have been
provided in a least restrictive and most normalized environment.
As
we move into the next century, the outlook for this community-based
agency looks bright and promising. This outlook is due in large part
to a dedicated Board of Directors representing the three Southern
Maryland Counties. Several Board members have continued serving the
agency since its inception thus contributing to its mission,
continuity and growth.
Contact
Us
Alternatives
for Youth & Families
P.O. Box 659
Charlotte Hall, MD
20622
(301) 884-0312
(301) 870-1405
(301) 274-4039
(Fax)
afyf@alternatives4youth.org (e-mail)
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