Youth First 2012 will take place on Friday, February 3, 2012
at the Riverside Conference Center in Stafford County.

This Year's Theme & Service Project!
Unlike in years past, the Youth First Partners have decided that there will be no official 'theme' to this year's Youth First Conference. Instead, participants will vote for the vendor that has the best display and that vendor will win the covetedYOFI award.

In addition, Youth First Partners have decided that this year's service project will be a benefit for our homeless youth and families. The Partnership has identified the following local agencies and organizations that will be beneficiaries of all items collected. Click on the name to visit each agency's website and learn more about them.

Local Schools McKinney Vento Programs (Call Lisa Dolan - 540.582.2480)
The Hope Center
Micah Ecumenical Ministries
Thurman Brisben Center

Participants and Vendor Staff are asked to select from the short list of predetermined items below to bring to Youth First. Participants can then choose which agency or organization receives their donation. If participants would like to bring additional items, or different items, each agency's wish list is also linked below. If you have questions, email Ben Nagle (ben@officeonyouth.org).

Donation Item List

Gift Cards (from WaWa, Walmart, FoodLion/Giant/Bloom)
Socks
Underwear
Hygiene Items (such as razors, deodorant, and soap)
Can Openers
Crock Pots
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Backpacks (adult and child)
Laundry Soap

Local Schools McKinney Vento Programs (Call Lisa Dolan - 540.582.2480)
The Hope Center - Wish List
Micah Ecumenical Ministries - Wish List
Thurman Brisben Center - Wish List

What is Youth First?

The Youth First Partnership began as a thought that the youth service agencies in our region could be better connected, and the community better served, through collaboration. The partnership is comprised of representatives from the City of Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties, the Rappahannock Area Office on Youth, the Rappahannock United Way, and Snowden at Fredericksburg. Our mission is, "To build a stronger community by promoting collaboration amongst youth serving agencies". We have a common vision to provide an annual venue to share resources and ideas, and to promote communication and collaboration between agencies.

Therefore, the Youth First Partnership organizes "Youth First: The Annual Collaboration of Community Youth Services" - an event to provide training opportunities, to promote networking, and to increase awareness of community based resources. Training sessions cover a wide variety of topics that address youth issues and related topics. The Youth First event also provides opportunities for both for-profit and non-profit youth service agencies to present an overview of their programs and distribute information to participants. Participants of this event are youth service professionals from various programs, agencies, and organizations within the community.

Registration is closed!

Look for us next year!