Agency Details:

Orange County Youth & Family Services

The mission of the organization as excerpted from the bylaws is:

1. To design, implement, operate and evaluate programs for the deinstitutionalization, reintegration and socialization of appropriate individuals under conditions structured to maximize the safety of the community.
2. To educate the public regarding the necessity, propriety, economy and efficacy of programs for the deinstitutionalization of appropriate individuals.
   
   
3. To develop educational and preventative efforts with the specific intent of diverting youth from the negative consequences of substance abuse, criminal behavior and institutionalization.

Description:
Philosophically, OCYFS is consciously committed to the principles of personal responsibility, planned change, social equality and justice. Over fifteen years of experience in the operation of community based programs has demonstrated that individuals, particularly when presented with appropriate alternatives and opportunities, can and do change negative behavior patterns which threaten both individual freedom and the safety of the community.
The organization remains cognizant however that the process of change is slow and difficult, occurring only when problems are recognized and confronted. OCYFS staff remain committed to treating individuals humanely and honestly, attempting to facilitate positive change while enforcing programmatic and organizational policies designed to simultaneously assist the individual and provide protection for the community.

Finally, OCYFS strives to address unmet human service needs as identified by the community and offer programmatic alternatives to outmoded, ineffective or overly expensive institutional interventions.



History:
OCYFS was founded in 1975 as the Orange County Halfway House, Inc. In October of 1988, this private, non-profit, human services agency changed its name to OCYFS. Its primary involvement became the operation of delinquency prevention, community education, and corrections programs. On July 1, 1990, OCYFS also assumed the operations of the Turning Point Family Services, as a means of expanding its service to better meet the mission and goals of the organization.



Contact person: Soo Kang, Executive Director, (phone), (email)


Office fax number: (714) 543-1064

Address:


1415 E. 17th Street, Suite #100 Santa Ana, CA 92705 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.ocyfs.org

Last updated on July 6, 2009