| Friends of Iowa Civil Rights Award |
YSS Earns 2011 Friends of Iowa Civil Rights Organizational Award
Youth and Shelter Services, Inc. (YSS) was selected for the 2011 Friends of Iowa Civil Rights Organizational Award for its commitment to civil rights and diversity. The award was presented by Friends of Iowa Civil Rights Chairperson, Kimberly Baxter, on October 29, 2010, and it was in recognition of YSS' constant effort to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.
According to Chairperson Baxter, “YSS is known for its far reaching and long-term commitment to diversity that is embedded in every aspect of the organization and embraced by the entire staff. YSS’ work in civil rights goes deeper than a board approved directive or company memo.”
YSS has a long history of active involvement in public policy, advocacy for civil rights, and diversity initiatives. YSS is a human services organization founded by current CEO, George Belitsos, and incorporated as a 501 c 3 non-profit in 1976. YSS provides a wide range of services including prevention and education programs, homeless shelters for youth, crisis intervention, family counseling, chemical dependency treatment, and foster care and adoption services. YSS works to promote unity, self-empowerment, and self- sufficiency, without regard to race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
In recent years, YSS formed a Diversity Task Force to more actively involve YSS staff, board, and volunteers as well as interested community members. The Diversity Task Force is chaired by the CEO of YSS. The mission of this group is to build and maintain an open community that will not tolerate bigotry, homophobia, sexism, racism, or prejudice. Several anti-bullying initiatives have been initiated especially in the schools. The Task Force and its members have been active participants in Breaking Down Barriers, The Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance and the FACES Celebration, which unites residents, organizations and businesses in Ames, Iowa.
Additionally, YSS has taken a lead role in effective advocacy through the formation of a Public Policy Network and the development of legislative initiatives that address issues of civil rights, child welfare and education, substance abuse and mental health, homelessness and hunger, youth development and diversity, and governance. YSS was the only nonprofit child welfare agency in Iowa to file an Amicus Brief in the Varnum v. Brien case before the Supreme Court.
YSS has embarked on an active diversity training program highlighted by its annual statewide Risky Business Conference which includes both youth and adults in its audience. YSS is also a collaboration partner in the Network Against Human Trafficking which promotes the rights, safety, and self-interest of victims and survivors of human trafficking.
