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The Center for Youth Services Inc

Rochester, NY · EIN 160992259 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P300 · Human Services · Large ($10M-$50M) · centerforyouth.net
revenue
$18.2M
expenses
$16.2M
net assets
$9.0M
employees
452
volunteers
150
program ratio
89%
mission · from form 990

Counseling, Prevention, School Based, Workforce, and Runaway Homeless Services for youth.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for Youth Services Inc provides shelter, housing, and crisis intervention services for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth in Rochester, NY. The organization operates emergency shelters, transitional living programs, and street outreach initiatives for youth ages 12-21, with specialized housing for pregnant and parenting teens, LGBTQ+ youth, and survivors of trafficking. It also runs the only 24/7 crisis nursery in New York State, offering emergency childcare during family crises.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.82M
    Runaway and Homeless:1. Emergency Shelter ProgramThrough our homeless youth shelter, The Center House, or in their volunteer Host Homes, the program provides a short-term voluntary safe haven to homeless and runaway youth ages 12-21 (12-17 for Shelter, 12-21 for Host Homes). During their stay, youth receive chemical dependency prevention counseling, individual and family counseling, and case management services to assist in reuniting them with their families, as well as supportive aftercare services.(Continued on Schedule O.)Through Life Skills workshops and one on one counseling, The Center works with each youth to increase their coping skills and avoid environments that lead to high risk activities such as alcohol and substance abuse. When reunification is not possible, youth are assisted with securing alternative stable housing.2. Transitional Living Program (Devonshire, Chrysalis House, and Arnett House)The Transitional Living Program is designed to support older homeless youth ages 16-21, who do not have family support as they transition into adulthood. The Center provides subsidized apartments or assistance in securing stable housing, case management and independent living skills training for up to 18 months. Chrysalis House is a maternity group home, combining a safe and structured environment with adult supervision in a large and beautiful home. It is designed for homeless pregnant/parenting and non-parenting teenage girls in desperate need of safe and stable housing who benefit from the structure and support provided to youth living in this home. The newest program, Arnett House, is for LGBTQ+ and youth who have experienced trafficking ages 16 - 24. It is a 3-bedroom house that serves up to 6 young people with case management, life skills, and other supports for 6 - 8 months.3. Street Outreach ProgramThe goals of the Street Outreach Program are to provide education and prevention services to reduce the incidence of sexual abuse and/or exploitation of street youth, and to help them leave the streets. The Center does this by building trusting relationships with street youth, providing them with survival supports (food, clothing, hygiene products) and giving them immediate access to emergency shelter services. Counselors also work very closely with community agencies to connect youth with needed services. 4. Project Safe PlaceThis community collaboration among The Center, community businesses and volunteers offers young people access to safety 24/7. The goal of the project is to create safe and accessible points of entry for youth ages 12-21 at all Tops Markets, RTS buses, YMCAs, City of Rochester Parks and Recreation, and other locations. Youth can access Safe Place locations day or night and are immediately connected with trained professionals and volunteers from The Center who will assist them in connecting with the services they need. 5. New Beginning HouseThis 3-apartment, 6-bedroom building is for young men ages 16-24, who are experiencing housing instability while trying to complete their education and/or obtain and maintain employment. Much like our Transitional Living Program and Emergency Shelter, the New Beginning House is built on the Center's foundation of positive-youth development and trauma-focused service delivery. Length of stay and intensity of services is driven by the needs of the resident. Services include independent living skills, mentorship opportunities and connection to on-going, permanent relationships with safe adults in the community.6. Rapid Rehousing ProgramThis program assists young adults ages 18 - 25 who are currently homeless and residing in emergency shelters in quickly obtaining independent, permanent housing in the community. Specialists assist with apartment searches and applications as well with obtaining employment in order to maintain housing and in identifying landlords who are willing to partner with the program.7. Crisis Nursery: The Crisis Nursery (two locations including Owen's House) operates two 6 bed respite shelters for children ages 0-14 years, and up to 17 as part of a sibling group, with parental consent and involvement. The program responds to families in crisis 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing safe and consistent care in an effort to reduce the trauma on the children and their families. 8. Safe Harbour: The Safe Harbour program provides advocacy and intensive case management for minor victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Through partnership with Monroe County Youth Bureau and DHS, The Center's Safe Harbour program also provides training and case coordination for Child Welfare programs and other non-profits serving vulnerable youth. These programs include funding by contributions and government grants in the amount of $3,009,778
  2. #2 $595K
    Counseling Intervention:Counselors provide essential chemical dependency prevention, individual and family counseling, and crisis intervention services including youth intake and assessment, case management, advocacy, and follow-up. Utilizing evidence-based practices and programs, counselors work with youth to increase decision-making skills and protective factors in order to reduce alcohol and substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors. Counseling staff are stationed in The Center's downtown office, schools, and community organizations. (Continued on Schedule O)Information and referral services are available 24 hours a day through the staffed help line to ensure maximum accessibility and responsiveness to youth needs.This program includes funding by contributions and government grants in the amount of $751,276
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester
24/7 emergency childcare for infants and children during family crises; two locations in Rochester provide free short-term care and resource navigation
Emergency Shelter Program
13-bed shelter in Rochester for youth ages 12-17, providing up to 30 days of safe, voluntary housing with counseling, case management, and family reunification support
Safe Harbour Program
Case coordination and advocacy for commercially sexually exploited youth, providing access to medical care, mental health services, emergency shelter, and trauma-informed support
Street Outreach Program
On-the-street services for homeless youth, including survival supplies, crisis counseling, referrals, and encouragement to access stable housing and support services
The Nook – Food Security Cupboard
On-site food and hygiene pantry for youth, with life skills education on nutrition and budgeting; supported by community "Adopt a Shelf" donations
Transitional Living Program (TLP)
Supports youth ages 16-21 with subsidized housing, case management, and life skills training for up to 18 months; includes Chrysalis House for pregnant/parenting teens and Arnett House for LGBTQ+ and trafficked youth
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Youth Development and Support Services 3 activities
    • Conduct street outreach to prevent youth exploitation and promote stability
      Engages street-involved youth through an outreach program that delivers crisis intervention, survival supplies, education, and prevention services aimed at reducing sexual abuse and exploitation, while connecting youth to shelter and support services.
    • Maintain youth-centered spaces promoting engagement and restorative practices
      Operates A Bridge to Peace youth center, opened in 2020 at the former Monroe YMCA location, which provides a welcoming space for structured activities, socialization, unstructured play, meditation (Place of Peace), and restorative programming to support positive youth engagement and community transformation.
    • Run youth development programs in music, nature, and restorative justice
      Operates specialized youth development programs including Strings for Success (violin instruction for over 100 students annually), EarthWorks (nature-based STEAM and wellness programming), and Rochester Teen Court (peer-led restorative justice diversion for nonviolent youth offenders aged 16–18).
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 2 activities
    • Deliver transitional living and permanent housing support for at-risk youth
      Provides transitional housing and independent living skills training for homeless youth ages 16–21 through programs such as Chrysalis House (for pregnant and parenting teens), New Beginnings House (for young men), and Arnett House (for LGBTQ+ youth and survivors of trafficking), with case management and life skills support for up to 18 months.
    • Provide emergency shelter and housing programs for homeless and runaway youth
      Operates emergency shelters including The Center House and Host Homes for homeless and runaway youth ages 12–21, providing short-term residential care, counseling, case management, and family reunification support. Serves approximately 300 youth annually in Monroe County.
  • School-Based Mental Health and Family Support 2 activities
    • Provide counseling and evidence-based intervention services
      Delivers individual and family counseling, chemical dependency prevention, crisis intervention, and case management using evidence-based practices in office, school, and community settings to support youth mental health and stability.
    • Provide school-based youth services and alternative-to-suspension programming
      Delivers school-based services including crisis intervention, counseling, therapy, prevention education, and Alternative-to-Suspension (ATS) programs in Rochester City Schools, suburban, and charter schools to reduce out-of-school suspensions and support academic continuity for thousands of youth annually.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Offer workforce development and employment readiness programs for youth
      Provides workforce development through Learn2Earn and other initiatives, including GED preparation, paid internships, college enrollment assistance, job training, employment navigation, and a biweekly-updated virtual job board listing immediate hiring opportunities citywide.
  • 24/7 Crisis and Warmline Support Services 1 activity
    • Operate 24-hour crisis line and help line services
      Provides a 24-hour crisis line available by phone for youth in need, offering information, referral services, and crisis intervention to support access to care and resources. The line is staffed around the clock to serve youth and families in crisis.
  • Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
    • Operate crisis nurseries for infants and young children during family emergencies
      Runs two 24/7 residential crisis nurseries—Crisis Nursery and Owen’s House—that provide short-term care for over 2,000 infants and children annually while families navigate emergencies.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Operate food and supply pantry for youth and families
      Runs The Nook, a food and supply cupboard offering non-perishable food, hygiene items, household supplies, and clothing to youth and families in need, supported by community donation drives and the "Adopt a Shelf" program where partners commit to regular product donations.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$18.25M
Contributions & grants$10.27M56%
Program service revenue$7.52M41%
Investment income$424K2%
Other revenue$28K
expenses
Total expenses$16.25M
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$13.52M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.94M
Cash$3.89M
Investments$2.01M
Liabilities$2.97M
Net assets$8.98M
Liquid reserves4.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Elaine Spaull Executive Director 35 $201K
Amy Appoloney Director of Finance 35 $82K
board members · 23
  • Alicia Nestle — Director
  • Anita Misra — Director
  • Ashara Baker — Director
  • Cedrick-Michael Simmons — Director
  • Charlie Colbert — Director
  • Cheryl Gossin — President
  • Christian Hancey — Vice President
  • David Boyce — Director
  • David Campos — Director
  • Doug Hendee — Director
  • Heather Wohaska — Secretary
  • Jackie Kubera-Martin — Director
  • Jason Piper — Treasurer
  • Jeffrey Green — Director
  • Jessica Naclerio — Director
  • Kate Beardsley — Director
  • Kermin Martinez-Hernandez — Director
  • Kristen Duckles — Director
  • Latoya Lee — Director
  • Lynn Ryan — Director
  • Margaret Burns — Director
  • Martin Weingarten — Director
  • Michael Piccolo — Director
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Ashoka Network — Aligns with and references Ashoka's framework of 'Changemakers' to describe its theory of change and youth empowerment.
  • Brighton High School Partner — Original founding group of students from Brighton High School initiated the creation of The Center for Youth in 1971.
  • Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School 19 Partner — Partnership to deliver the Strings for Success violin instruction program during the school day for grades 3–6.
  • Fashion Week of Rochester Partner — Collaborates on a special event in October 2025.
  • Fashion Week of Rochester Partner — Collaborates with Fashion Week of Rochester to host special events, including volunteer opportunities.
  • Learn to Earn Partner — Provides workforce development services including job training and employment navigation to youth engaged in A Bridge to Peace.
  • Monroe County 4-H Partner — Mike Dondorfer has prior experience with Monroe County 4-H, indicating a professional connection to the organization.
  • Monroe County Department of Human Services Partner — Collaborates with The Center for Youth on the Safe Harbour program for commercially sexually exploited youth.
  • Office of Children and Family Services Government — Partners with The Center for Youth in delivering Safe Harbour services for exploited youth in Monroe County.
  • Rochester Police Department Partner — Collaborates with The Center for Youth on the Safe Harbour program to identify and serve commercially sexually exploited youth.
  • Rochester Teen Court Partner — Operates a youth development program as part of its school-based services.
  • Rochester, NY Government — Location of primary service operations and community engagement.
  • Seneca Park Zoo Partner — Mike Dondorfer, an Earthworks staff member, has prior experience working at Seneca Park Zoo, indicating a professional connection.
  • Strong National Museum of Play Partner — Mike Dondorfer has prior experience working at the Strong National Museum of Play, indicating a professional connection.
  • mlee@centerforyouth.net Partner — Contact for form-related issues.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Integrated Support for Crisis and Economic Stability
    methodology: integrated_crisis_and_economic_support
    By combining emergency childcare with employment preparation for caregivers, the organization addresses both immediate family crises and long-term economic stability because stabilizing the caregiver’s prospects improves child well-being and reduces systemic vulnerability.
  • Relationship-Based Outreach with Survival Needs
    methodology: relationship_based_outreach
    By building trust through relationship-based outreach and meeting immediate survival needs, the organization engages street youth and supports their transition to stable housing because trust and basic security are foundational to sustained service participation.
  • Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice
    methodology: restorative_practices
    By applying restorative practices and restorative justice principles—including peace-centered programming, peer courts, community service, and skill-building—the organization promotes healing, accountability, and reduced recidivism because these approaches repair harm and strengthen social bonds more effectively than punitive measures.
  • Victim-Centered Response to Youth Trafficking
    methodology: victim_centered_trafficking_response
    By aligning services with the Safe Harbour framework and treating commercially sexually exploited youth as victims, the organization improves access to trauma-informed care and reduces criminalization because a victim-centered approach removes barriers to help-seeking and supports recovery.
  • Youth-Led and Youth-Centered Engagement
    methodology: youth_led_programming
    By centering youth leadership and decision-making in programming and using youth-informed, youth-for-youth models, the organization fosters authentic engagement and positive life choices because young people are more likely to participate and thrive when they have agency and see themselves reflected in the process.