Associated Youth Services

803 Armstrong, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 Phone: 913-831-2820 CEO: Dennis Vanderpool Project Contact: Debra Terrell McKenzie

Associated Youth Services is a unique, neighborhood-based agency, which has been serving Kansas communities for more than 80 years. The problems facing children and their families require solid, innovative, and comprehensive community solutions. Associated Youth Services is a key partner in a network of local non-profit and government agencies, school districts, business, foundations and community members working to design partnerships and programs to meet community needs.

Associated Youth Services began as a ministry of the Mennonite Church in 1912. In 1972, the Mennonite Board of Missions closed the orphanage to hire staff to oversee the design and delivery of specialized residential programming and support services for behavior disorder youth. Over the last 25 years, a number of community-based programs were developed to serve at-risk youth and their families.

All of the Associated Youth Services programs focus on serving at-risk youth whose life challenges have them in a position of facing negative outcomes if there is no intervention in their lives. Most of their clients come from impoverished families; have behavioral or emotional issues; have been involved with the criminal justice system; or have not done well in the traditional education system. AYS’ involvement in the lives of these high risk youth helps to reduce the chances of incarceration, out-of-home placements and school drop-outs.