Integral Youth Services (IYS), born out of compassion in 1988, works tirelessly mending thousands of lives.

Why Integral Youth Services?

The desperation of youth facing homelessness in Klamath County is a harsh reality.

Imagine you are a 16-year-old girl who just got into a fight with her parents. After a lot of back-and-forth arguing and a lot of built-up anger, they tell you that you are no longer welcomed at home. You head to the streets with nothing but the clothes on your back and nowhere to go for the night. You're cold, hungry, and confused — not knowing what to do and scared of spending the night out on the street. Not to mention, tomorrow is Friday, and you have no way to get to school. You've never felt so alone.

"My Friend's Place"

Fortunately, there is a runaway and homeless youth shelter in Klamath County called "My Friend's Place" for youth ages 10–17, which offers a safe space to rest and reset.

You remember passing by the house on your way home and know it is close to Klamath Union, marked with a yellow flag. You head there, and within the first hour of arriving they make you a home-cooked meal, provide clothes for the night, and set you up with a plan to reunite with your family successfully. You have a safe, warm place to lay your head for the night and feel more at ease about going to school the next day.

This is just one example of the many ways Integral Youth Services — more commonly known as IYS — helps youth in Klamath County.

A Beacon of Hope

Beginning with three social workers who refused to let youth slip through the cracks — setting up a card table on the roadside — IYS has grown into a comprehensive nonprofit. Today, IYS encompasses nine comprehensive programs addressing:

  • Food insecurity
  • Work experience
  • Sheltering
  • Transitional housing
  • Skill development
  • Resource connections
  • Reunification services
  • Workforce development
  • A growing year-round mentorship program

The impact of IYS reverberates through the over 60,000 lives touched, fostering positive choices and healthy relationships.

2024 Campaign — Love Our Children's Day

As IYS approaches the year mark, it looks forward to its inaugural giving campaign, "Love Our Children's Day," aimed at both fundraising and shedding light on national issues of child abuse affecting our community's youth directly.

You can make a lasting impact: seize the opportunity to be a part of the "Day of Play" at Mike's Field House on April 13th. It's not merely a day of family fun activities but a chance to contribute to a cause that changes lives. Our goal is ambitious: $100,000 to fortify IYS programs, a target matched by sponsorships from across the basin.

Your support — whether big or small — is integral to the success of these programs. Visit integralyouthservices.org and be the catalyst for a brighter, more secure future for the youth of Klamath County.

Together, let's transform lives through the power of hope.