Our Mission

Youth Continuum protects and promotes the well-being of at-risk youth and provides them with the skills necessary to take advantage of opportunities for a healthy and productive future.

A Brief History 

Youth Continuum is a community-based, not-for-profit agency serving at-risk youth from ages 13 to 23. Beginning 40 years ago with a single residential program for teens, our closely linked programs now include therapeutic foster group homes; transitional and independent living programs; the only street outreach program for homeless youth in our area; and educational, job and life skill training programs.

Founded in 1966 and incorporated/DCF licensed in 1968 as the nation’s first Training and Research Institute for Residential Youth Center (TRI-RYC), Youth Continuum has worked with the at-risk youth population since its inception. The agency serves nearly 1,500 young people annually through an approximately $6 million budget that is funded through city, state, and federal grants, private foundations, corporations and generous individual donors.

For most of this time, Youth Continuum has been the only provider of these services in the greater New Haven area, serving a primary population of over 500,000 (New Haven and 21 surrounding towns). A strong community presence, Youth Continuum has operated both formal and ad hoc youth services throughout its history.