YOUTHAVEN PUBLIC ECOVILLAGE HISTORY — A Public Charity Organization

Youthaven Public Ecovillage, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with EIN 81-213-5908, was formed on March 26, 2018. On July 18, 2018, the IRS determined that Youthaven Public Ecovillage is “exempt from federal income taxes.”

On May 15, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered the Youthaven Public Ecovillage (YPE or YHPE) trademark under Reg. No. 6,192,610.

The Youthaven Public Ecovillage, Inc. exists to provide evidence-based, ecological, and creative strategies for vulnerable high school students. The name of this residential services model was coined by focus-group participants in Dr. Kendall’s research study at the Lighthouse Youth Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nine former and current foster care, unhoused, and runaway students living at the Lighthouse Youth Services participated in a focus group to critique recommendations from over 70 management and program personnel representing various residential models, including foster care organizations and ecovillages. The group synthesized almost 8,000 words into a set of recommendations to improve residential organizations for youth, culminating in seven core recommendations and “The Matrix of Best Practices and Recommendations.” Since then, YPE has formally partnered with UFK at SWS. Because of the unique location of services in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest, YPE’s mission has been modified to accommodate this change. It will provide training, workshops, and conferences to organizations, especially residential ones, seeking to improve organizational outcomes and students’ behavior and attitudes.