Our History
Youth & Family Services sponsors programs for children from birth through age 18. YFS reaches more than 10,000 children through its centers in Rapid City, S.D., and outreach programs in 24 western South Dakota counties.
Timeline
Dec. 6, 1965 – Girls Club of Rapid City opens. - 1966 – Girls Club receives Girls Clubs of America, Inc. charter. The club moves into a new clubhouse at 609 West Blvd.
- 1967 – A summer program, fitness program and library are established.
- 1969 – Tutoring program begins.
- 1970 – Transportation is offered. Pilot food program begins. Counseling services are offered.
- 1971 – Girls Club becomes a United Way agency. The agency purchases a vacated church building at 910 Wood Ave. and offers individualized counseling services.
- 1973 – Girls Club nearly doubles its space with a new addition.
- 1978 – Child care services begin.
- 1979 – Girls Club adds a recreation facility, kitchen and dining area, game room and office space to serve more girls.
- 1981 – A 24-hour Crisis Hotline begins.
- 1982 – Girls Club leases a building from the city (924 North Maple Ave.) to house the Counseling Center and prevention programs. School-age child care services are added. From its relatively humble beginnings as a program for girls, YFS has grown into an organization that serves 10,000 boys and girls throughout western South Dakota.
- 1984 – Head Start and the Family Child Care Nutrition program are launched.
- 1989 – The Girls Club’s academic and arts wing is remodeled.
- 1990 – Girls Club changes its name to Girls Incorporated, in keeping with the national organization.
- 1991 – Youth & Family Services is chosen as the agency’s new name, reflecting the broad programming offered to the community.
- 1992 – YFS Teaching SMART is launched.
- 1994 – YFS Head Start and Early Head Start programs expand and relocate to a new facility at 1920 Plaza Blvd.
- 1995 – Kids Fair, a family event filled with hands-on educational activities for children, is launched.
- 2000 – YFS launches "Raising the Roof for Children" Campaign and prepares to build a new facility on East Adams Street for Girls Incorporated, Child Care, Counseling Center and Western Prevention Resource Center.
- 2003 – YFS Girls Incorporated, Child Care, Nutrition Services, Counseling Center, and WPRC Programs move into the new facilities at 120 & 202 East Adams Street.
