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High-Quality Early Childhood Education at Youth and Family Outreach
Since 1986, Youth and Family Outreach (YFO) has provided high-quality, full-day, year-round early care and education for children from six weeks through five years old. As a nonprofit organization, we believe every child deserves a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
YFO has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2002, a distinction that reflects our longstanding commitment to high standards in early childhood education. We are also a Level 5 program on Maine’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, the state’s highest quality rating for childcare programs.
Our work supports the whole family. By providing high-quality early education in a nurturing and engaging environment, we help children build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond—while giving parents and caregivers the opportunity to pursue their education, participate in the workforce, and build a more secure future.
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
YFO stands in solidarity, now and always, with Black Lives Matter.
We recognize the systemic racial injustices faced by black, brown, and indigenous families everyday.
Anti-bias/anti-racism work at YFO is ongoing due to the changing nature of a school community, and focuses on uplifting individuals to be proud of their uniqueness while honoring other individual’s differences.
YFO is dedicated to integrating ABAR education at all levels of the school community.
Curriculum & Environment
Youth and Family Outreach provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere in which to grow and learn. The environment is designed to enhance the psychological, social, physical and emotional development of the children. The center is a state licensed facility and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offering the highest quality of care to ALL families of Greater Portland. Priority is given to children of teen and low income families who are working, in school, or job training. Our philosophy has a strong foundation in diversity. We want our children to be exposed to this on all levels therefore our enrollment is open to all socioeconomic, cultural, religious and familial backgrounds.
Food at YFO
The Nutrition Program at Youth and Family Outreach emphasizes our community's bounty of agricultural resources, is set in sound nutrition, uses only whole ingredients and is good to our planet. Our cook, Chef Dylan, uses only whole ingredients in the from-scratch breakfasts, lunches, and snacks he prepares daily.
At YFO, we feel it is important for children to learn about where their food comes from and how it arrives at their table, and so we integrate gardening and cooking into our curriculum and daily work with the children in our program.
