Applicant Profile
Youth For Tomorrow has served boys and girls from more than 27 political jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland and as far away as South Carolina, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Children are referred to YFT by concerned family members, social workers, probation officers, foster care/family services officials or juvenile court authorities. Most residents participate in the YFT program from 9-12 months. However, any resident may be accommodated for shorter or longer periods of residency. Referrals for placement to YFT usually demonstrate one or, quite typically, a combination of the following presenting issues and/or characteristics:
Target Population Served
Youth For Tomorrow is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in accordance with Standards For Interdepartmental Regulation of Children's Residential Facilities under the regulatory authority of the Virginia Department of Social Services. Youth For Tomorrow is licensed to serve males and females, ages 11-17 in its standard program and 17-20 year old males and females in its Independent Living Program and currently has a capacity for 106 residents. The Youth For Tomorrow state accredited School is licensed and certified to serve emotionally and learning disabled.
Population Served: Residents served may possess one or more of the following criteria:
- Behavior or Conduct Disorder
- Emotional Disturbance
- Family Related Needs
- Learning Disability
- Mommy & Me
- Poor Academic Performance
- Physical/Emotional Abuse/Neglect
- Pregnant Teens
- Runaway
- Sexually Abused
- A need for foster care services.
- A need for special education services (ED/LD). Delinquent/Court Involvement
- A history of crimes against property (theft, burglary, and vandalism).
- A limited history of crimes against persons (assaults and threats).
- A history of experimenting with or using illegal substances (detox and inpatient services not offered)
- Not a high security risk (physical restraint is utilized only when less intrusive intervention is unsuccessful or in situations where a resident's personal safety or that of other residents or staff is threatened).
- Full scale IQ of 70 and above.
- Males with a history of sexual offending will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Applicant must have successfully completed a residential or outpatient treatment program.
- Applicant must have a recent risk assessment determining that must state the applicant falls within the low to moderate range for re-offense.
Exclusionary Criteria: children that meet the following criteria may not be admitted to or retained at YFT:
- Requires intensive mental health “treatment” such as offered by a DMHMRSAS licensed mental health facility versus follow-up care provided by a “step down” facility
- FSIQ Score below 70
- Actively psychotic
- Actively suicidal or homicidal
- History of fire setting (Reviewed on a case by case basis to assess degree of current risk. If applicant is deemed to pose an excessive risk, admission would be denied.)
- History of sexual offenses (convicted) without meeting the above criteria for treatment and assessment.
- Primary treatment need is substance abuse
Exclusionary Criteria for Infants and Toddlers
Pregnant teens and teen mothers must meet the resident profile specified in the Program Policies/Procedures Manual. Additionally, teens entering the program may be at any stage of pregnancy or may be admitted while not pregnant but while parenting one child under the age of four.
This program is designed to meet the needs of babies and toddlers up to age four. However, it is not designed or intended to serve the needs of babies or toddlers with the following needs:
- Severe or profound physical or emotional disabilities;
- Serious medical needs;
- Mental Retardation;
- Pervasive developmental disorders, including physical and sensory disabilities, autism, and Asperger's diagnoses;
- Significant developmental delay; and,
- Feeding or eating disorders.
- ADHD will be considered on a case-by-case basis. (ADHD is difficult to diagnose in pre-school children. However, should a pre-school child receive such a diagnosis, his/her continuation in the program will be considered based on the ability of YFT to meet his/her needs.
