About the Hornell Area Concern for Youth

Our Mission Statement 

Hornell Area Concern for Youth is a Family and Youth Service Agency serving all school age children in Hornell and the surrounding areas. Concern for Youth strives to meet the needs of our youth by offering a well rounded comprehensive prevention program focusing on counseling, education, and activities which serve to assist in building skills and competencies within today’s youth. 

History & Agency 

Hornell Area Concern for Youth was founded in 1975 and began as an outreach operation assisting troubled youth and their families in the City of Hornell. Since that time, the agency has expanded to become a not for profit, private youth prevention and youth development program, funded by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Steuben County, City of Hornell, United Way of the Southern Tier, The Triangle Fund and other private grants. 

Currently, Concern’s prevention efforts focus on social problems affecting the youth of today, such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, poor decision making, and difficulties associated with society today. To be successful in addressing these problems, concern offers numerous programs and activities, including Youth and Family Counseling services, K-12 prevention education, special projects, The Driving Force Mentoring PRogram, and a summer program.

Concern For Youth established the Youth Center in Hornell at 76 East Main Street, and the after school site in Canisteo at Somers Hall 10 S. Main Street. Our goal is to provide educational, cultural, and social growth experiences for youth ages 8-19. IN addition to providing a safe solace for youth to go after school and during the summer months, the Youth Centers offer, educational groups, homework help, community service opportunities, field trips, physical activities, mentoring activities, art and crafts, encouragement to read, opportunities to try science and math learning projects, volunteer projects to encourage youth to make an active positive contribution to the community. Both sites are host to the Proaction Summer Youth Employment program where we assist with employment readiness skills. 

We strive to provide youth with the developmental assets they need to be successful in life, by providing programs, services, as well as a safe and positive environment to practice their skills.