Welcome to The Youth Service Bureau

A Message from our President and CEO

I have been a part of the Youth Service Bureau for 18 special years. Ten years prior, the agency was founded at the request of Judge John W. Greene, who saw a serious need for an organization to serve troubled and at-risk youth on the Northshore. Beginning with only one program with one employee working from one office in one city, the Youth Service Bureau has grown and evolved to meet the needs of the St. Tammany and Washington Parish community. As we near our third decade of service, we are an established, respected 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization operating five major programs with 41 employees working from four offices in four cities. We cover the complete circle of Louisiana’s 22nd Judicial District and serve our community from offices in Covington, Slidell, Bogalusa, and Franklinton, all located conveniently to the respective District and City Courts and centrally situated to best meet the needs of our clients.

Through the years, I have seen our agency grow and flourish, changing with the times and ahead of the times. We are able to accomplish this via the energy, creativity, and professionalism of an inspired board of directors and dedicated staff members who are passionate advocates of our mission to help at-risk youth and their families reach their full potential. As a strong team, the staff of the Youth Service Bureau goes above and beyond in making a positive impact upon our community at every turn. Our Slidell office suffered tremendous damage by Hurricane Katrina yet came back stronger than ever, thanks to a staff that would not be defeated by floodwaters and scattered resources. Although many suffered great loss themselves, our employees showed up for work, rolled up their sleeves, pushed rakes, removed debris, and most importantly, served our families, hardly missing a beat. This was the case at all of our offices – whatever needed to be done following the storm, got done, and it warms my heart to this day. I have also seen caring judges whose greatest wish is for our community’s youth to succeed, and who give such wise consideration in ordering appropriate services to help our youth and families scale life’s hurdles. And I have seen the Youth Service Bureau’s signature fundraising gala, Chef Soirée, blossom into the major event it is today. Having now celebrated the 25th silver anniversary of Chef Soirée, I extend my deepest gratitude to our sponsors, patrons, and volunteers for championing our cause these last many years, and for your loyalty in moving forward with the Youth Service Bureau in the years ahead to sustain our meaningful, cost-effective programs for our young people and their families.

At present, as a non-profit agency operating in today’s uncertain economy and in light of our Northshore area’s burgeoning post-Katrina population and the increased demand for our services, we value more than ever individual, community, and corporate support to maintain our continuum of care to our at-risk youth and families, adolescents struggling with substance abuse issues, and abused and neglected children needing safe, permanent homes. We are also at this time in need of support to repair our beautiful, aging Covington office, the site of the old downtown Covington Ben Franklin building, an important part of our community’s history, dating back many decades.

I tell everyone and mean it sincerely when I say that the Youth Service Bureau is a dynamic, full-service human service agency, blessed with a vibrant board of directors and an extraordinary staff who put our youth first. And so I welcome you to the Youth Service Bureau’s website, a portal into the heart of our work with the heart of our community – the children.