Mission & Guiding Principles

St. Charles Youth and Family Services, Inc., is a not-for-profit human services agency that provides an array of prevention and intervention services. Our agency is dedicated to assisting those we serve in developing the skills to become self-reliant and independent within their schools, families, communities or vocations.

St. Charles Youth and Family Services believes that all individuals possess unique and diverse strengths, which serve as a catalyst to healthy self-development and self-reliance. We recognize that individuals may experience obstacles during their lifetime and will benefit from the facilitation, support and partnership with professional services. To this end, St. Charles is guided by the following principles:

Those we serve…

• are most knowledge about themselves and are encouraged use that knowledge to be actively involved in decisions that concern them.
• are capable of positive growth and can experience success in their lives; their mistakes are an opportunity to strengthen their ability to learn and grow.
• deserve to feel safe and secure in their environment in order to learn and be successful.
• need to have the opportunity to make choices, which enable them to take chances/risks in a safe environment.
• need to be heard and affirmed that their opinion is important in order to create a sense of belonging.
• prosper in a culturally aware and responsive environment.
• will experience healthy relationships fostered through mutual respect, positive role modeling and professional interactions between and among staff.