Who We Are

Rooted in the Community, our Legacy Exists Across Family Generations

The Youth and Family Center (YFC) was founded in 1888 as the Ethical Society of St. Louis, a settlement house serving German and Polish immigrants. While the make-up of our community and benefactors have changed over the years, the need for responsive services to help improve the quality of life for low income families has remained the same, and so has our commitment to provide innovative and quality programs and services. In 1995 the Board of Directors changed our name to the Youth and Family Center to better reflect this, as well as the services currently provided to the community.

At the Youth and Family Center we envision our staff and families working together to form and grow community, by recognizing our core values.

At the Youth and Family Center we value:

Safety and respect for families and staff
Trust and transparency
Innovative programs that remain relevant across family generations
Skilled and caring staff

The mission of the Youth and Family Center is to help youth, families, and older adults attain self-sustaining lives by providing innovative social, educational, and recreational resources and to serve as an anchor for the near North Side of St. Louis.