Youth Focus

Youth Focus connects licensed, professional foster parents with children who are not able to live in their primary homes. These children have often experienced severe neglect, emotional, physical, sexual abuse or violence. Youth Focus provides both traditional and therapeutic foster care services. Our foster parents collaborate with families, social services, case workers, advocates and other invested agencies to help our youth achieve their goals.



Youth Focus does not discriminate against youth or families based on race, color, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or parental status. Many of the children in our care have emotional and/or behavioral challenges, as well as mental health or substance abuse needs. They may also be working with, or in the legal guardianship of, the Department of Social Services. All foster parents complete a 30 hour certification course prior to initial licensure and participate in ongoing training, coaching and support by Youth Focus staff.

The Mell-Burton School is day treatment program for middle and high school students with serious emotional and behavioral problems. The student must have an Individualized Education Plan through the school system to qualify. While enrolled, youth receive academic, psychiatric, individual and group counseling. Students receive full academic credit and transportation is provided. Referrals are accepted from Guilford County Schools and the community.

Act Together is an emergency housing facility for male, female and gender nonconforming youth who have runaway, are experiencing a family crisis, are the victims of abuse or neglect, or are homeless for other reasons. The maximum stay is 21 days, voluntary and must be earned by an earnest effort to develop solutions using other Youth Focus and community resources. Referrals can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.



While at Act Together youth receive shelter, as well as medical, psychological, and educational support in home-like environment. The children attend public school, most often the school they were currently attending, and participate in a wide variety of both on and off campus recreational, cultural and social activities.



Act Together has a long history of serving the LGBTQIA community. We are the proud recipient of several grants from the Guilford Green Foundation, a local organization whose mission it is to promote diversity and inclusiveness throughout the gay and lesbian community in greater Guilford County.



There is no cost for a child to take advantage of Act Together emergency housing and the shelter serves approximately 250 youths in a year. The majority of youth discharged from Act Together are reunited with their parent(s)/ guardian(s), go to live with a relative or friend, or are placed in foster care or a group home.

Youth Focus’ residential program offers a structured, residential substance use counseling for up to 10 residents, 8 male (ASAP group home) and 2 female (Foster Services). Treatment combines intensive, inpatient substance use counseling with Youth Focus’ Structured Day Program, an alternative school offering both educational and therapeutic services. Our inpatient, residential program utilizes The Seven Challenges, a comprehensive counseling program designed to motivate youth to evaluate their lives, consider changes they may wish to make, and then succeed in implementing the desired changes. Youth Focus offers a wide range of outpatient adolescent substance use services including assessments, individual, group and family therapy, intensive in-home treatment and day treatment services.

Assessments, Individual, Group And Family Therapy
Youth Focus offers comprehensive assessments, individual, group and family therapy to treat various forms of substance use. Additionally, we offer parenting education and support groups for parents of children with substance use problems. Our clinicians utilize The Seven Challenges, a comprehensive counseling program designed to motivate youth to evaluate their lives, consider changes they may wish to make, and then succeed in implementing the desired changes. Services are available in both Greensboro and High Point and after school appointments are available.

The Structured Day Program is an outpatient, day treatment program for youth in middle and high school with substance use problems. While enrolled, youth receive academic, psychiatric, individual and group counseling. Students receive full academic credit and transportation is provided.

My Sister Susan’s House offers transitional housing to pregnant women between the ages of 16 and 21. The facility was opened in collaboration with UNCG, the YWCA, GTCC, the City of Greensboro and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, and is LEED certified.

There is no cost for transitional living at My Sister Susan’s House.

Youth Focus offers supportive housing to young adults who find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons and require additional assistance to gain needed independent living skills so they can successfully support themselves.

HEARTH Transitional Living Program
Youth Focus offers transitional housing to homeless young adults age 18-21 in a supervised, yet independent, living environment. Youth receive counseling, vocational and educational training, parent education services, independent living skills training, and other supports as needed for his or her individual situation.

HEARTH Permanent Supportive Housing
This program provides rent assistance for homeless youth ages 18-25 in independent apartments with a lease in his or her name. While enrolled, these young adults will receive vocational and educational supports, and targeted case management to help build independent living skills so they are able to take on increasing responsibility for the lease until they can successively maintain their home without assistance.

Youth Focus participates in Safe Place, a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people in need of immediate help and safety. Safe Place locations throughout Guilford County are easily recognized by at-risk youth with their vibrant yellow signs. Safe Place locations include libraries, YMCAs, fire stations, public buses, various businesses, and social service facilities.



There is no cost for a child to use Safe Place and over 250 kids have used Safe Place since its inception.