Youth Encouragement Services, Inc.
About Us
The Youth Encouragement Services (YES Home) provides a safe, family-like home for youth ages 12-20 who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Through trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatment, we help young people heal, develop life skills, and build brighter futures. Since 1981, we've been a place of hope and healing in Southeast Indiana.
About the YES Home
Youth Encouragement Services (YES Home) provides a safe, family-like home for youth ages 12-20 who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Through trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatment, we help young people heal, develop life skills, and build brighter futures. Since 1981, we've been a place of hope and healing in Southeast Indiana.
Located in a historic 1882 building, once known as The Poor Farm, our home carries a legacy of care and service. Listed on the National Historic Landmark Registry, it stands as a testament to our commitment to providing a welcoming, secure space for the youth who need it most.
OUR VISION
The YES Home is a qualified residential treatment program and home dedicated to providing a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for youth ages 12-20 who have experienced trauma. We offer both long-term care and emergency shelter, ensuring that every young person who walks through our doors has the stability and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive.
We welcome youth from Southeastern Indiana and beyond, providing them with a place where they can maintain important school and community connections. Our mission is to offer them not only shelter but also guidance, mentorship, and evidence-based treatment.
The YES Home is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, meaning your support directly impacts the lives of the young people we serve. As a proud member of the Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy (IARCA) and several other social service agencies and organizations, we are deeply committed to advocating for youth and strengthening our community.
History & Mission of The YES Home
Founded in 1981, the YES Home has spent more than four decades giving vulnerable youth a safe place to heal. What began as 25 rooms in a century-old former county home became, in 1998, a commitment to preserve and restore that building rather than replace it. With support from Dearborn County and local foundations, a nearly $1 million renovation transformed the property into an 18,000-square-foot facility, unveiled in 2003 — new systems, accessibility upgrades, and a full restoration that kept the building's historic character intact.
The organization later added "The James B. Wismann Home" to its name, honoring Jim Wismann's 21 years of board service. Cathy and Philip Piché served as the YES Home's original house parents and returned in 1994 to lead the program until their retirement in 2017, when longtime Program Coordinator Amy Phillips became Director. In 2025, a renovated front wing became the Piché Adolescent Counseling Center, named in their honor.
From its earliest days, the YES Home has been shaped by people who believed that vulnerable youth deserve compassion, stability, and the opportunity to heal—not punishment for circumstances beyond their control. That belief continues to guide our work today.
MEET OUR TEAM
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FOUNDER
Amy Phillips
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DIRECTOR
Natalie
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MANAGER
Person 3
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