Abraxas Youth & Family Services Expands to Vermont, Building on Over 50 Years of Specialized Care

Written by Wyles Daniel for The Village Voice

For more than 50 years, Abraxas Youth & Family Services has worked alongside communities to support youth and families facing some of life’s most difficult circumstances. Founded in 1973 as a single-site nonprofit program in Marienville, Pennsylvania, the organization has steadily grown into a network of residential and community-based services across multiple states. Today, as Abraxas prepares to open a new program in Vermont, the organization is reflecting on its long history and its recent return to nonprofit alignment through its affiliation with Inperium.

While Abraxas previously spent years operating within a for-profit system, the affiliation with Inperium brought it back to the mission-driven structure on which it was originally built. “Coming into a nonprofit network allowed us to reconnect with what has guided Abraxas from the beginning,” says Jeff Giovino, CEO of Abraxas Youth & Family Services. “Our focus has always been on supporting youth who may have limited options or who have experienced difficult environments. That work is deeply human, and being part of a nonprofit network reflects that.”

Abraxas works with youth from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, often in regions managing heightened challenges associated with violence, substance exposure, family disruption, and mental health concerns. Over the decades, Abraxas has taken an adaptive approach to program development, shaping interventions around the realities of the communities it serves. “There has never been a one-size-fits-all model,” Giovino explains. “The young people we serve are a product of the environments around them, and we take responsibility for understanding that context so we can support them in practical and respectful ways.”

The organization provides what it describes as a continuum of care, ranging from community-based programming to higher-level secure environments, designed to stabilize, educate, and help youth develop tools for decision-making and daily life. Some programs emphasize structure and discipline, while others incorporate experiential learning, such as outdoor activities that help build confidence and trust. One newer initiative, called Unarmed, focuses on addressing youth gun violence by opening space for education, dialogue, and decision awareness.

This model continues to evolve. The upcoming Vermont program, planned to open soon, is intended to support youth requiring immediate stabilization and assessment. Additional program discussions and expansions are underway in Indiana, Michigan, and Texas, reflecting a commitment to respond where needs are identified.

“We grow where communities ask for partnership,” Giovino says. “But we only move forward when we believe we can do it well. The goal is not expansion for expansion’s sake, it’s alignment with need.”

From Inperium’s perspective, Abraxas’ mission and adaptability were aligned with its broader nonprofit network strategy. Ryan Dewey Smith, Founding Executive Chairman and CEO of Inperium, explains that the affiliation allowed Abraxas to expand more effectively while maintaining its identity. “The transition into our nonprofit network provided shared resources and operational support that helped Abraxas continue its work without having to divert focus from its mission,” Smith says. “We believe in supporting organizations that serve communities others may not be equipped to reach. Abraxas has demonstrated that commitment for decades.”

With the affiliation, Abraxas also gained access to shared administrative services, enabling leadership and staff to focus more directly on programming and client engagement. This alignment supported stable growth, including expansions and new partnerships designed to meet ongoing service needs across multiple regions.

Yet, the work remains deeply personal. Many youth arrive at Abraxas after having navigated instability, trauma, or environments shaped by systemic challenges. As Giovino describes, the organization has a responsibility to the time youth spend in its care. “While they are with us, they should receive the best support possible,” he says. “There is a limited window in which we can impact their sense of safety, identity, and possibility. We focus on what we can do at that time.”

Looking ahead, both Abraxas Youth & Family Services and Inperium emphasize steady, thoughtful progression. “We never lose sight of the humanity of this work,” Smith says. “Our role is to support organizations that support people. Abraxas has done that for more than 50 years, and its story continues to evolve.”