Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are meeting the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principals into practice through programs that build healthy spirits, mind, and body for all. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together. Because all communities have different needs, all YMCAs are different. All YMCA programs are tools YMCAs use to accomplish their mission, achieve their vision of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities, and reinforce the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate. The Y's community development efforts include alternative schools, gang intervention, family literacy programs, tutoring, substance abuse prevention, job training and employment services, permanent and transitional housing, and much more. YMCAs give young people a safe place to call their own. Caring, dedicated adults are there to listen to them and help them navigate the stresses, changes and choices that come with adolescence. Building relationships with these responsible adults and with other young people from different backgrounds helps give preteens and teens the inner strength to avoid destructive behavior. Young people have more fun and learn more when they can take the lead in planning and directing their own programs, and Ys often provide this opportunity. YMCAs run programs targeted specifically to at-risk youth and other programs targeted to low-income.