Tahoe Youth & Family Services began serving youth and families as a response to a growing heroin overdose epidemic among youth in South Lake Tahoe in October 1971. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 on July 28, 1975, under the original name, The Awakening Peace. Staff at The Awakening Peace operated a drug and alcohol diversion program to promote sobriety in the community. Recognizing the need for counseling services, and with the absence of available resources on Lake Tahoe’s south shore, The Awakening Peace began offering low and no-cost mental health and substance abuse counseling services to the community.
The organization changed its name to Tahoe Youth & Family Services in 1989 after receiving federal grant funds to provide Basic Center Program outreach and support to homeless and runaway youth. Our organization’s current operations include, but are not limited to: Substance Abuse Counseling, Mental Health Counseling and a variety of support programs.