The National Crittenton Foundation

The National Crittenton Foundation and the 27 members of the Crittenton family of agencies use a social justice approach to support girls and young women. At the core of our work is the mandate to address the profound impact of root causes, such as sexism, racism, poverty and violence in the lives of girls and young women.

Crittenton agencies support the needs of the most marginalized girls and young women in urban, rural and tribal communities. They are young women who are survivors of acute abuse, neglect, violence and family dysfunction, and struggle to heal from complex trauma. They tend to be young women of color and are referred to Crittenton agencies from the Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Health and Education systems. Many are young mothers, have experienced homelessness, have run away, struggle with addiction and/or have been commercially exploited for sex. By and large they come from families where violence, poor health and academic outcomes, and poverty have become destructive generational cycles. These girls and young women are invisible and marginalized by their families, communities and even by the systems charged with their care. Yet, while the challenges they face are often times overwhelming, they are amazingly hopeful, courageous, and resilient, and seek to be a force for positive change. With the right supports they can heal from the violence they have experienced and have the opportunity to achieve their unique potential and to thrive.