About Youth For Tomorrow
We guide at-risk children and families to a better future.
What Do We Do?
Youth For Tomorrow provides a range of services
to support at-risk youth and families.
Our Mission
The mission of Youth For Tomorrow is to provide children and families with the opportunity to focus their lives and develop the confidence, skills, intellectual ability, spiritual insight and moral integrity - each based on Godly principles, resulting in positive changes to the benefit of the child, the family, the community, and the nation.
An increasing number of adolescents are at risk of failure to themselves and to society. The roots of this failure flourish in a host of social ills that may include:
These are not of a child's own creation. Allowed to ferment, however, they may lead to academic failure, drug abuse, unwanted pregnancy, delinquency, and unmanageable anger. The resulting impact of these risk factors can be severe and adversely affect the child's family, peers, school, community, and society as a whole.
Our History
After the campus was purchased, construction shortly followed on the original Boys’ Home. In 1986, we enrolled our first male residents. We now admit girls who comprise nearly half of our resident population.
To accommodate the growth in demand since our opening, we have built 6 residential homes for girls and 7 for boys, and constructed a state-of-the-art Education Center, the Joe Gibbs Center for Academic and Physical Education, that was completed in September 2003. Continued expansion of programs, ministry, and administration have resulted in the construction of the Peterson Family Chapel in 2017, and the state of the art Pruitt Administration and Behavioral Health Center in 2022. YFT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is currently licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Social Services, and Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) to accommodate residential placements in our shelter and residential treatment center, and by DBHDS to provide opportunities for Therapeutic Day Treatment and Intensive-In-Home services.
Historical Timeline
The Beginning
Washington Redskins head coach, Coach Joe Gibbs, discusses plans to build a home for at-risk boys with local business leaders.
Coach Joe Gibbs purchases 134 acres of land in Bristow, Virginia.
Prince William County supervisors approve the site for the Youth For Tomorrow home.
Youth For Tomorrow opens its doors, providing care for four boys.
Coach Joe Gibbs hires Dr. Gary L. Jones to fundraise for Youth For Tomorrow.
At the first Kennedy Center gala fundraiser
for Youth For Tomorrow, the legendary Bob Hope and Christian music artist Sandi Patty took the stage to perform. Youth For Tomorrow's Boys also had the opportunity to sing with Sandi Patty.
Dr. Gary L. Jones is appointed as CEO of Youth For Tomorrow.
The Boys Transition Home is built
by a member of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA).
Youth For Tomorrow launches a capital campaign
to build a 40,000 square-foot school and homes for a girls' residential program.
The Joe Gibbs Academy of Physical Education Center opens, along with the Wiser Village for Girls' first home, the Tammy House.
Youth For Tomorrow's girls' group.
Chelsea, Kelly, Gladys Lee, and Nancy homes are built in Wiser Village to meet the demand for residential placements for girls.
Youth For Tomorrow launches the "Mommy and Me" program for pregnant and parenting teens.
The Redskins Courage House is dedicated on Youth For Tomorrow's campus.
Youth For Tomorrow advances its Out-Patient Behavioral Health Services in Prince William County
by launching the Therapeutic Day Treatment program with Prince William County Schools. The same year, it also launched the Unaccompanied Immigrant Minor program with a federal grant.
Youth for Tomorrow's academic program was nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and Advanced for its academic program.
Youth For Tomorrow launches a capital campaign to build additional homes, a chapel, and a Family Behavioral Health and Administration Center on its campus.
Youth For Tomorrow extends its Behavioral Health Services and Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) program to Fairfax County
and partners with Stanley Martin Homes through HomeAid to dedicate the Laura Louise home.
Groundbreaking takes place for the Peterson Family Chapel on Youth For Tomorrow's campus, followed by Toll Brothers' dedication of the Brenda home in partnership with HomeAid.
Youth for Tomorrow celebrated the opening of the Peterson Family Chapel with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on its campus.
The same year, Youth for Tomorrow received National Accreditation by the Joint Commission.
Youth for Tomorrow expanded its Behavioral Health Services into Loudoun County.
The Jentezen Franklin Ministries Home is funded by Pastor Jentezen Franklin and Kingdom Connections.
Youth For Tomorrow expands its behavioral health services in Fauquier County.
As the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Youth For Tomorrow quickly responded by transitioning its behavioral health services to telehealth counseling to continue providing essential support to those in need.
Youth For Tomorrow breaks ground on the Pruitt Administration and Behavioral Health Center,
and expands its behavioral health services to Dumfries with funding from grants by Sentara and the Potomac House.
Coach Joe Gibbs is the inaugural inductee into the Youth For Tomorrow Hall of Fame.
Dr. Gary L. Jones is inducted into the Youth For Tomorrow Hall of Fame, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony occurs for the Pruitt Administration and Behavioral Health Center.
Who We Are
Our Founder
Coach Joe Gibbs founded Youth For Tomorrow in 1986 to help at-risk youth and it has since grown to serve thousands of boys and girls.
Read More
Our CEO
Dr. Gary L. Jones has served Youth For Tomorrow since 1988, providing advice and consultation to increase effectiveness and accountability.
Read More
Our Board of Trustees
Our Board is made up of compassionate, hard-working individuals with a strong commitment to our mission.
Read More
Our Lead Staff
Meet the dedicated and passionate members of Youth For Tomorrow's leadership team, who work tirelessly to ensure that our organization provides exceptional services and care to at-risk youth in our community.
Read More
Licenses
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS)
Virginia Department of Education (DOE)
Accreditations
Joint Commission (Oakbrook Terrace, IL)
Council On Accreditation (New York, NY)
Cognia (Alpharetta, GA)
Member Of
Ethical Principles
Youth For Tomorrow provides residential, educational and behavioral health services to children and families entrusted to our programs by parents, guardians and referring agencies.
Our mission is to provide children and families with the opportunity to focus their lives and develop the confidence, skills, intellectual ability, spiritual insight and moral integrity, based on Godly principles, resulting in positive changes to the benefit of the child, the family, the community, and the nation.
The objective of our residential, therapeutic and educational programs is to provide excellent treatment for program participants; treatment that is rooted in good-hearted concern for their well-being and growth; respect for them as human beings; and sensitivity to their individual needs and integrity.
Youth For Tomorrow Strives To:
- Practice Godly principles in which YFT Leadership and staff seek God's counsel prior to making decisions and providing treatment.
- Be conscious of, and responsive to, the dignity, welfare, and worth of our program participants.
- Respect the privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy of program participants within the context of our facilities and programs.
- Be aware and respectful of cultural, familial, and societal backgrounds of our program participants.
- Take reasonable steps to ensure a safe environment that addresses the emotional, spiritual, educational, and physical needs of our program participants.
- Maintain high standards of competence in our areas of expertise and to be mindful of our limitations.
- Value continuous professional development, research, and scholarship.
- Place primary emphasis on the welfare of our program participants in the development and implementation of our business practices.
- Manage our finances to ensure there are adequate resources to accomplish our mission.
- Fully disclose to prospective candidates the nature of services, benefits, risks, and costs.
- Provide informed, professional referrals when appropriate or if we are unable to continue service.
The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer | USDA or by sending an email to CR-Info@USDA.gov. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service on 711; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.