Since 1951, Friends of Youth has been helping young people in challenging circumstances get their lives back on track.
Friends of Youth provides a wide range of services for youth and young adults ages 6-24 – and their families – in Washington’s King and Snohomish Counties. Overseeing eight programs at 20 sites, our caring, experienced clinical staff serves between 10,000 and 15,000 teens, young adults, parents and families each year.
In addition to operating the only overnight youth shelters on the Eastside, we offer youth development initiatives, in-home family support for young parents of newborns, parent education, youth and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, therapeutic foster care, residential treatment and transitional housing for homeless young people and teen mothers.
Click here to watch a Flash presentation about our mission.
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National Accreditation
Friends of Youth is one of just a few organizations in Washington to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children. (more)
Our Core Values
Friends of Youth strives to uphold a series of guiding principles in every one of its actions. (more)
A Vision Realized
Friends of Youth continues to expand on the original vision and commitment demonstrated by Mrs. Iva Matsen and her co-founders. (more)
Mrs. Matsen’s Story
Read the story of the founding of Friends of Youth, in the words of Mrs. Matsen herself. (more)
History
Discover important milestones in the five-plus decades of Friends of Youth. (more)