LGBTQ counseling services: We provide individual, family and group counseling, peer support, mentoring and behavior coaching for youth and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. The guiding principle behind this program is to provide youth, young adults and families with empowerment, skills development, HOPE and advocacy within a safe and welcoming environment.

Direct Support Services:We provide Behavior Coaching to youth and families who are at risk and may have multisystemic involvement. We partner with the youth in a variety of different needs in the location that best fits the youth and their family. We work the following youth: youth with mental and behavioral health issues, LGBTQ youth and young adults , youth who are  part of the Juvenile Justice system, youth who are in out-of-home placements or are returning to their home or community following discharge from an out-of-home placement, youth who are struggling with behavioral issues at home, school, or in their community.

Mentoring: The mentoring program offered by Youth and Families First exists for the purpose of providing “at- risk” youth, ages 7 – 22 and their families with the hope that tomorrow can be better than today. This is done by empowering youth and families for lifelong success, inspiring hope in individuals, and fostering strong community connections. We provide high quality practice based evidence programs, founded on unconditional positive regard, and utilizing a strengths based skills teaching model.

Our goal is to provide a positive adult role model to help youth successfully complete probation and reduce recidivism in a way that focuses on the family’s strengths to continue to live within their communities and decrease their need for system involvement. The mentor who works with the youth focuses on influencing the youth’s thinking, actions and behavior through role modeling appropriate thought, speech and behavior in all situations; assist the youth in understanding and accepting their roles and responsibilities in the youth’s current life; assist the youth in learning specific skills to appropriately handle current life situations, problem solving, communicating with others, appropriately expressing themselves in  a variety of different situations; and introducing and developing the youth’s interest in pro-social activities.

The mentor works at making a positive impact on the youth’s thinking, speech, self esteem, peer relationships, school performance, family relationships, problem solving skill development, negotiation skills, frustration tolerance abilities, and other personal and social traits.

The youth within our program are referred through Maricopa County Juvenile Probation, Maricopa County Adult Probation, and through Maricopa County’s Drug Court program. Private pay options are also available.