Abraxas Youth Family Services (www.abraxasyfs.com) started in Pennsylvania in 1973 and has grown to become one the largest and most respected youth services programs in the country.

Our programs include residential, detention, shelter care and community-based services, along with educational, rehabilitation and treatment programs. Cornell’s Abraxas division is uniquely equipped to address the issues currently facing the juvenile justice system because its operating scale enables us to offer programs tailored to specific treatment programs such as sex offenders, firesetters, adolescent female programs, mental/behavioral health and drug and alcohol treatment.

Juvenile justice issues present a growing area of concern for many states due to the number of youths entering the judicial system, as well as the high cost of placement and treatment. Beyond addressing capacity issues within the juvenile justice system, states also face challenges posed by the unique needs of specialized juvenile populations, such as those with mental/behavioral health issues. Partnerships with private providers such as Cornell can provide quality alternatives for care.

We provide a broad array of services to youth, typically between the ages of 10 and 18. The programs and services provided at our facilities are designed to rehabilitate juveniles, hold them accountable for their actions and behaviors, and help them successfully reintegrate back into the community.

In addition, we offer a national presence with regional locations in both urban areas as well as suburban and rural settings.

Abraxas also provides alternative education programs based on the philosophy that making a significant difference in the life of a student today will provide him or her with a better chance for a successful tomorrow. City school systems such as Chicago and Philadelphia rely on Abraxas for their troubled students. Our educational approach has been designed to address the full range of needs of those students that traditionally have the most difficulty in the public education system. We assist students in making positive choices, improving their behavior, developing pro-social coping skills and changing their overall attitude toward education.

• Diverse treatment settings, including hardware-secure, staff-secure, open residential and community-based sites
  
  
• Specialized treatment for various needs, including females, sex offenders, firestarters, drug sellers and clients with drug and alcohol issues/ addictions
  
  
• Accredited alternative and special education services
  
  
• Individualized treatment planning and case management
  
  
• Evidence based curriculum used in various locations
  
  
• Substance abuse education, counseling, treatment and relapse prevention
  
  
• Community service, restitution and vocational opportunities
  
  
• Recreational activities, interscholastic and intramural sports available at select locations