The foundation of Jacksonville Youth Sanctuary lies in our Residential Group Home Program.  Our agency was created to fill the need in our community to provide housing to teenage males in foster care, and has since grown to include housing for teenage females.  Unfortunately, the need for loving, caring homes for teenagers in foster care has grown; since the original vision, we have not stopped trying to fill those needs in the community. 

Many youth in the residential program have also been moved from placement to placement, and are not accepted in traditional foster home settings.  JYS has a policy of accepting children who are not housed by traditional foster homes or other Community-based foster care agencies.

Group Home locations are licensed and monitored for foster care by the Department of Children and Families, much like individual foster homes are licensed.  Meals are pre-planned and approved by the Health Board.  These processes help JYS to ensure the highest quality of living. 

Along with providing food and shelter, JYS seeks to enhance the live of youth in the residential program by providing life skills training, character development, and consumer economics literacy to empower them to become successful, productive citizens.  These programs require funding outside of what is given for their shelter and basic needs.

JYS works hard to provide more than a bed and a meal for our youth.  In fact, it takes a whole community of giving to meet the needs of just one youth.  To find out more about opportunities for donations and volunteering, contact us at contact@jaxyouth.org.