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About Us

Who we are:

The District Heights Youth Development Foundation (YDF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt agency developed by the District Heights Youth Services Bureau (DHFYSB), under the legal guidance of City of District Heights’ legal team. 

Who we serve: 

Established in 2016, the YDF’s mission is to perpetuate, improve and preserve the delivery of positive youth development services for children, youth and families in the City of District Heights and surrounding areas. The YDF ensures that no child, no teen, no family is turned away due to an inability to pay for services.

What we do: 

The YDF provides a continuum of services that include mental/behavioral health counseling and activities that support flourishing families from the expressive arts to college and career exploration.

 
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OUR IMPACT

Since its inception, the My Sole Knows 5K Run/Walk has brought together runners and walkers from across the Maryland and D.C. area, generous sponsors from both public and private sectors, and supportive legislators from Prince George’s County. Together, we've proudly raised over $70,000 to expand services for youth and families in our community.

In FY2022, we were honored to receive funding through Prince George’s County’s Hope in Action Anti-Violence Project, joining the Hope Collective to provide school-based and wraparound services to families. We continue to actively provide services as a part of the County’s initiative. This followed our FY2021 award of a Domestic Violence Prevention Grant, which added another $50,000 to enhance our service delivery.

Thanks to these funds and community support:

  • The Youth Development Fund (YDF) has helped supplement 800 therapy sessions to date.

  • We were able to hire a part-time therapist, and later, extend their hours to full-time using the DV Prevention Grant.

  • In 2018, the YDF supported two full-time clinicians and two counseling interns, providing therapeutic services to pre-school children at a local childcare center.

Through the YDF and our ongoing community partnerships, we continue to strengthen families and parent-child relationships throughout Prince George’s County—offering healing, hope, and a path forward.