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YSS celebrates 35 years in Marshall County

In 1983, YSS, formerly known as Youth & Shelter Services, opened a branch in Marshalltown. The agency, first incorporated in 1976, also has offices in Ames, Boone, Des Moines, Mason City, Nevada and Webster City.

At its Celebration of Friends program Wednesday evening at the Marshalltown Public Library, it honored its staff, program participants and board members, celebrating 35 years of making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.

YSS founder George Belitsos was present to discuss the history of the agency. YSS bestowed the Outstanding Community Support Award to both the Marshall County Board of Supervisors and Marshalltown Area United Way; it give a Philanthropy Award to the Marshalltown Elks Lodge 312; a Community Leadership Award to Mayor Joel Greer and the City of Marshalltown; and Service Awards were given to Angie Eastman, five years, and Darcy Andersen, 10 years.

Services offered by YSS to Marshall County residents include the following

-Iowa Aftercare Services Network for youth aging out of the foster care system

-Family Development & Self-Sufficiency (FaDSS)

-Hispanic Outreach & Translation Services

-Family Team Meeting Facilitation

-Transitional Living Programs; Crisis Intervention

-Runaway Services; Prevention, Education & Early Intervention Programing

-Lighthouse & New Hope Transitional Living Projects

-Supervised visitation & neutral exchange

-Family, safety, risk & permanency services

-“AMP”-Achieving Maximum Potential-foster care leadership council

-School-based outreach

-In-home/in-office behavioral health counseling

Despite being displaced by the July 19 tornado, YSS of Marshall County has not missed a beat. On August 10, a team of volunteers from across the state helped the agency relocate from its tornado damaged building at 11 E. State St., to quarters in the basement of the Marshalltown Police Department, 22 N. Center St., where it has worked out of ever since.

YSS may be reached at 641-752-2300.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com

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