Our Mission
We promote safety, competence, and confidence as youth create their path through adolescence and into adulthood.
Our Vision
We envision communities that value youth, ensure their well-being, and see them thrive.
Belonging is where our work begins.
At Elevate Youth Services, we believe every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued — just as they are.
Young people come to us carrying complex stories shaped by identity, family, culture, survival, and possibility. Our role is to meet them with dignity, openness, and deep respect for who they are and who they are becoming.
We welcome youth of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We are intentional about creating spaces rooted in safety, fairness, and care — spaces where young people can breathe, soften, and begin to imagine what’s possible.
This commitment shows up in everyday ways:
Creating environments where young people can be fully themselves
Leading with compassion instead of judgment
Offering steady, accessible support
Building a team grounded in lived experience and humility
Providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive care
No two young people arrive the same. That’s something we honor.
We walk alongside youth with consistency and care — holding steady when things are hard and celebrating growth when it comes.
Because this work is about more than services.
It’s about community that holds.
It’s about making sure every young person knows:
You are not alone. You matter here. You belong.
Our Story
Elevate Youth Services has roots going back to 1974 when it began as a youth support organization in Washington County. Originally known as the Washington County Youth Service Bureau, it was established to provide essential services to adolescents and families facing crisis, conflict, and instability.
Over nearly 50 years, the organization has grown and adapted to meet the changing needs of young people in the Central Vermont region, expanding far beyond its original scope while staying focused on youth well-being and positive development.
In recent years, the organization rebranded to Elevate Youth Services. This new name was chosen to better reflect the organization’s purpose and the aspirational nature of its work — helping youth rise above challenges and build meaningful futures.
From the beginning, the agency’s work has centered on positive youth development — a strength-based approach that respects young people’s voices, fosters resilience, and supports youths’ own plans for their lives.
What began as a local youth support bureau has expanded into a multi-program nonprofit offering:
Counseling & Family Support: Individual and family therapy to help youth dealing with conflict, trauma, or crisis.
Housing & Shelter Supports: Temporary and transitional housing for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Substance Use Prevention & Treatment: Programs targeted to youth and young adults focused on prevention, education, and recovery.
Drop-In and Development Centers: Safe spaces like teen centers for social connection and skills building.
Statewide Leadership & Support: Elevate administers statewide youth coalitions and AmeriCorps youth development initiatives, strengthening youth service networks beyond Washington County.
Today, Elevate is the only nonprofit in Washington County focused solely on the unique needs of adolescents and young adults. Its services have evolved to meet critical needs including mental health, housing stability, education and employment support, and crisis intervention — reflecting decades of growth and responsiveness to community needs.
We envision communities that value youth, ensure their well-being, and see them thrive.
The teenage and young adult years are a critical period for social and emotional development, mental health, and lifelong well-being. The support young people receive—or don’t receive—during adolescence and young adulthood shapes not only who they become, but the strength of our communities as a whole. Access to trauma-informed youth services, positive youth development programs, and professionals who understand adolescent brain development is essential during this stage of life.
That’s why Elevate Youth Services provides youth and young adult support in Vermont grounded in evidence-based, relationship-centered approaches. We meet young people where they are, helping them build resilience, confidence, and the skills they need to navigate challenges and move toward a healthy, independent adulthood.
Elevate Youth Services gave me hope, motivation, a second chance. I have more strength and courage now. I’ve learned that growing up and change is up to you. You’re the creator of your own path.
— CK