Youth and Family Alternatives

What Youth and Family Alternatives does

Youth and Family Alternatives (legally rebranded in 2025 to Youth and Family Advocates, Inc., d/b/a YFA) is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in New Port Richey. The organization delivers an integrated continuum of child welfare, youth crisis, prevention, and supportive housing services to children and families across ten Florida counties — Broward, Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, and Sumter — serving more than 6,000 children annually. Its service portfolio comprises child welfare case management (foster care and adoption), three 24/7/365 youth crisis shelters (RAP House, G.W. Harris, New Beginnings), school- and community-based prevention programs (CINS/FINS Community Counseling, Stop Now and Plan, Caring School Community, Community Partnership School), and The Commons at Speer Village, a permanent supportive housing development for developmentally disabled adults currently expanding from 6 units to 50 apartments in 2025.

The organization's technical and clinical platform is built on licensed evidence-based curricula — SNAP from the Child Development Institute and Caring School Community from Collaborative Classroom — and proprietary service frameworks including Trauma Informed Care, Advancing Youth Development, Youth Development System, and Psychological First Aid. YFA is COA-accredited and partners with a network of community-based care lead agencies, Florida DCF and DJJ, the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, UCF, USF, multiple healthcare systems, and Pasco County Schools to deliver services.

YFA's business model is a managed-services nonprofit: revenue is generated primarily through fee-for-service and grant-based contracts with state agencies (DCF, DJJ), federal agencies (HHS/ACF Basic Centers Grant, HUD project-based vouchers), managed care networks (Central Florida Behavioral Health Network), community-based care lead agencies, and supplementary corporate/foundation and individual donations. All client-facing services are provided at no cost to children or families; pricing is non-transactional and tied to government contract and grant terms.

Name

Youth and Family Alternatives

Legal name

Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc.

Website

https://yfainc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Youth and Family Alternatives (d/b/a YFA) is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that delivers youth crisis shelters, foster care and adoption case management, prevention programs, and supportive housing to 6,000+ children annually across ten Florida counties, funded primarily through government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care case management
• Youth crisis shelters
• Adoption case management
• Prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Port Richey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Services funded by local, state, and federal government dollars through contracts with Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF), Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and Central Florida Behavioral Health Network.
2. Corporate and Nonprofit Partnerships: Funding and support from corporate partners and nonprofit organizations including Florida Blue, Publix Supermarket Charities, United Way chapters, and various community foundations.
3. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals supporting the mission to serve children and families. 100% of contributions go to Youth and Family Alternatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Youth and Family Alternatives (YFA) is a non-profit social services organization that provides child welfare case management (foster care and adoption), three residential youth crisis shelters operating 24/7/365, evidence-based prevention programs, and permanent supportive housing for developmentally disabled adults. All core services are delivered at no cost to eligible children and families across ten Florida counties under Florida DCF, DJJ, and Central Florida Behavioral Health Network contracts.

Product overview

Youth and Family Alternatives (YFA) operates as a non-profit social services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of child welfare, prevention, and crisis intervention programs across ten Florida counties. The organization provides child welfare case management services (foster care and adoption), youth crisis shelters (three residential facilities), and prevention programs (Community Counseling, SNAP®, Caring School Community, and Community Partnership Schools). Supportive housing is available for developmentally disabled adults. The programs are designed to work collaboratively, with case management services coordinating referrals to prevention programs and crisis shelters providing emergency intervention as part of a continuum of care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adoption Case Management Comprehensive child welfare service that conducts child studies, creates profiles to match children with adoptive families, and provides pre- and post-adoption support including counseling, cultural competency training, and assistance with adoption subsidies.
• Foster Care Case Management Professional child welfare case management partnering with the Department of Children and Families to advocate for at-risk children, safely maintain or reunite children with parents, and coordinate comprehensive community services tailored to each child's situation.
• CINS/FINS Community Counseling Delinquency prevention program funded by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice serving children ages 6-17 at risk of juvenile justice involvement, providing individual counseling, conflict resolution skills, communication skills training, goal setting, and truancy statute enforcement.
• Stop Now and Plan (SNAP®) Evidence-based cognitive behavioral program teaching children ages 6-12 emotional regulation, self-control, and problem-solving skills, with separate 90-minute weekly sessions for children and parents over a 13-week period.
• Caring School Community (CSC) Nationally recognized school-based substance misuse prevention and intervention program offered in Pasco County elementary schools, combining Caring School Community curriculum with Safer Smarter Kids and Conscious Discipline.
• Community Partnership School (CPS) Holistic school support model partnering YFA with Pasco County School District, Premier Community HealthCare Group, University of South Florida, Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, YMCA of the Suncoast, Metropolitan Ministries, and BayCare at Gulfside Elementary School.
• The Commons at Speer Village (Supportive Housing) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for developmentally disabled adults, consisting of six supportive housing units serving eight residents with on-site supported living coaches or case managers.
• RAP House Youth Crisis Shelter 24/7/365 residential group care facility in Pasco County for youth ages 10-17 in crisis, serving runaway, homeless, kicked out, or abused youth with supervision, food, clothing, life skills education, crisis counseling, and educational services.
• G.W. Harris, Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter 24/7/365 youth crisis shelter in Bartow serving Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties, providing emergency shelter for youth ages 10-17 experiencing crisis including abuse, neglect, runaway situations, or foster home disruption.
• New Beginnings Youth Shelter 24/7/365 residential group care facility in Brooksville serving Hernando, Sumter, and Citrus Counties, providing emergency shelter and crisis intervention services for youth ages 10-17 using a trauma-informed care approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 6,000+ children annually across 10-county area
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Family Support Services of PascocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based care lead agency partner for Pasco County. Refer families interested in foster care and adoption services in Pasco County. Long-standing partnership for child welfare service delivery.
• Kids-Central-InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based care lead agency partner for Hernando and Citrus Counties. Refer families interested in foster care and adoption services. YFA became single case management provider for these counties through partnership.
• ChildnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based care lead agency for Broward County. Partners for adoption case management services serving Broward County families.
• Heartland for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based care lead agency partner. Refer families and collaborate on child welfare services in the Heartland region of Florida.
• Florida Network of Youth and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network administering Basic Centers Grant funding for youth crisis shelters. YFA shelters (RAP House, New Beginnings, G.W. Harris) are part of this network. Provides funding through DJJ for CINS/FINS services.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state government agency overseeing child welfare. Provides funding and regulatory oversight for YFA's child welfare case management, foster care, adoption, and prevention programs.
• Florida Department of Juvenile JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government agency funding CINS/FINS community counseling and youth crisis shelters through Florida Network. Provides juvenile justice prevention funding.
• University of Central FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF certifies Community Partnership Schools model. Partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School. UCF's Center for Community Schools provides certification and support.
• Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School. One of four core partners in 25-year MOU for holistic student and family support.
• University of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School collaborative. Part of multi-partner initiative for community school model.
• Florida Department of Health in Pasco CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School. Part of collaborative providing health services to students and families.
• YMCA of the SuncoastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School offering recreational and youth development programs.
• Metropolitan MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School providing family support services.
• BayCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare/behavioral health partner in Gulfside Elementary Community Partnership School collaborative.
• Central Florida Behavioral Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance abuse prevention funding through DCF. Provides funding for Caring School Community program in Pasco County schools.
• Florida Housing CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Permanent Supportive Housing model development. Provided guidance and support for Speer Village housing project.
• Pasco CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Speer Village housing project. Provides support for affordable housing initiatives for developmentally disabled residents.
• Child Development InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationToronto-based developer of SNAP evidence-based program. Licensed YFA to implement SNAP in Pasco County. Original program developed in 1985.
• Collaborative ClassroomcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of Caring School Community curriculum. YFA uses CSC curriculum combined with Safer Smarter Kids and Conscious Discipline for substance abuse prevention.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National 501(c)(3) operating residential group homes, in-home family services, and youth crisis programs. Comparable on residential youth crisis shelters and family-strengthening models even though geographic footprint is national.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national nonprofit operating residential treatment, behavioral health, and foster care programs across many states. Comparable on residential youth crisis and trauma-informed care frameworks, though much broader scope.

Direct peers

• Kids Central, Inc. Community-Based Care lead agency for Circuit 5 (Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, Sumter) referenced as a YFA partner for case management and adoption referrals. Direct peer as a Florida CBC lead-agency contractor in overlapping counties.
• Lutheran Services Florida: Florida nonprofit delivering refugee services, child welfare, behavioral health, and aging programs with comparable DCF contracting. Direct peer on the state-funded human services side and similar organizational scale.
• Children's Home Society of Florida: Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, child welfare case management, and family preservation services across the state. Direct peer given overlapping scope on DCF-funded case management and adoption in many of the same Florida counties.
• Heartland for Children: Florida Community-Based Care lead agency serving Hardee, Highlands, Polk, and DeSoto counties, listed as a YFA partner. Direct peer in the same CBC network contracting with FL DCF in overlapping service areas.
• Eckerd Connects (Eckerd Youth): National nonprofit delivering child welfare, juvenile justice, and workforce programs with strong Florida presence including former lead-agency contracts. Comparable on residential/group care and DJJ-funded youth services.
• ChildNet Inc. Community-Based Care lead agency for Broward and Palm Beach counties, listed as a YFA partner for adoption case management. Direct peer given shared government contract model and overlapping adoption services.
• Family Support Services of Pasco: Community-Based Care lead agency for Pasco County and a YFA referral partner. Direct peer in that both compete/collaborate for FL DCF case management and foster/adoption caseloads in the same county.

Others

• Florida Network of Youth and Family Services: Statewide association administering Basic Centers Grant funding that flows to YFA's three shelters and providing training to CINS/FINS providers. Enabling/ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Youth and Family Alternatives