history

Williamson County Youth, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation chartered in 1982 to provide therapeutic services to children. My Friend’s House is a group home for boys operated by Williamson County Youth, Inc. which began its operation in 1988. For the next ten years My Friend’s House served the Williamson County community as an emergency shelter for youth. Initially, the facility served seven children on a daily basis, but because of space limitations was forced to turn away many others in need. In 1992, the agency purchased a larger facility and was able to double the number of children it served. On October 1, 1998, My Friend’s House became a residential group home. As a result of a class action suit against the State of Tennessee, all residential group homes licensed by the State of Tennessee, are limited to 8 residents.

My Friend’s House is a comprehensive treatment program. The agency operates under the therapeutic methodology of a behavioral modification and reward level system. Within the level system, the youth are able to earn daily points that advance them towards their goals. Education and exposure to opportunities are the major components of the program. Throughout the years, My Friend’s House has developed and nurtured partnerships within the community, such as United Way of Williamson County, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, YMCA, Williamson County Schools, STARS Program, Junior Achievement League, Williamson County Juvenile Court, local businesses, churches, civic clubs, and individual contributors. These partnerships provide the opportunities that foster the youth’s self-esteem and confidence. My Friend’s House is an advocate for the children and encourages them to achieve their highest potential.

The ultimate goal and purpose of My Friend’s House is to reunite youth with their families. When reunification is not an option, My Friend’s House works collaboratively with the Department of Children’s Services to make every effort to find the best possible solution for the youth’s future, to including transitional living, foster home or relative placement.

The mission is to serve Tennessee’s youth in need by offering a home-like environment with a balance of structure, support, nurturing and love. The agency believes that today’s youth are tomorrow’s future. Our youth need to be given every opportunity to recover from adverse situations and to become successful young adults.