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COLUMBUS — Executive Director Kameka Edwards reflected on Youth and Family Services’ beginnings in one city 35 years ago to its growing reach across three counties today.
“I’m more grateful for the growth that I’ve seen with Youth and Family Services. Like I say, we had a stigma. We weren’t out in the community as much,” Edwards said. “Now, you can see our logo, and it’s recognized more. We’ve done a lot of outreach and community awareness… If we can save one life with something that we do, it’s all worth it.”
Youth and Family Services, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, launched in 1991 in Columbus to provide resources and community support to preserve and strengthen family units. YFS serviced Colorado, Austin and Fayette counties at its launch but opened its Sealy office within the last few years.
Edwards said YFS struggled for years with the stigma that they were associated with Child Protective Services but is now a “go-to” resource for families in need. The organization provides skills groups, support sessions, crisis intervention, parenting workshops, temporary youth shelter placement, child abuse awareness and prevention information, and much more to youth up to age 17 and their families.
“We’ve incorporated grandparent support groups, because now we see more grandparents being caretakers,” Edwards said. “…We’ve learned from the schools that parent support groups would be a major factor in this community.”
Edwards referenced local schools as informative of the struggles youth face today. She said a new concern with increasing technology and social media is cyberbullying and understanding what’s real versus fake, superficial or misleading content. However, she said Colorado County is “very supportive, especially the schools,” in connecting students with support.
“When they see something, they do let us know, ‘Hey, can you check on this person or that person?’” Edwards said. “With the school districts, I think Colorado County does a great job of homing in on the situation, getting in contact with us so we can try to deescalate the situation or diffuse it.”
Edwards said grief is another area where youth and schools have increasingly needed support. Numerous local schools have lost students, faculty and staff to car accidents and other tragedies in the past few years. Edwards said conversations about grief and mental wellbeing have become more open and frequent since she started at YFS in 2009.
“It was taboo to talk about mental health or mental wellness, and now it’s totally different. We see it as a form of self-care now,” Edwards said. “…We’re more open to it as a community, more open to it as a society. I think that’s the biggest change (in the past 35 years).”
The director said YFS has adapted through a lot of training, gains in cultural sensitivity, and emphasizing non-judgmental listening. She added that the future of YFS lies in expanding its programs and opening a location in Fayette County, likely in La Grange.
“I just see us being consistent pillars in the community, being the go-to for youth and families. We want to be the ones that people call if they have a crisis. And in our definition, crisis is something that’s changed,” Edwards said.
