Our History

Youth180 has a 38-year history of providing quality programs to serve the needs of vulnerable youth and their families in our community. In 1983, a number of motivated Dallas civic leaders gathered at a symposium, "The Dallas Challenge," to look at the rising tide of adolescent drug and alcohol use. A task force was formed and quickly realized that the critical need was for methods of identifying and intervening in adolescent substance use as soon as possible. This task force incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency in July of 1984 as Dallas Challenge, Inc.

Dallas Challenge, Inc. changed its name to Youth180, Inc. in 2017. Youth180 focuses on a holistic approach to treating our young people and their families, identifying any trauma or underlying issues that led to the use of substances. We are one of the few licensed adolescent outpatient treatment centers in Dallas providing trauma-responsive counseling, prevention, intervention and education services.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Youth180 prides itself on serving the needs of vulnerable youth and their families regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or financial status. Interwoven into the foundational values of Youth180 is equity which we carry with us into the community.

Youth 180 is committed to racial equity both internally through our work environment, and externally through our services and programs as well as in our hiring practices, policies, and procedures. We're committed to advocating and advancing policies which reflect democratic principles of equity and justice.

We believe bringing together board members, funders, staff, community partners and clients with differing backgrounds and life experiences will enhance our ability to increase opportunities for all community service organizations to succeed.

All Youth180 policies, programs, and activities are administered to identify and avoid discrimination and barriers to access, and to avoid disproportionately high and adverse effects on communities of color.