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Erica's Story

By giving children a safe place to live and someone who cares about them, we are changing lives right in our own backyard.

Read Erica's Story

WYSS is currently serving over 4,000 children, youth & families in the Greater Waterbury Area.

Program Highlights Computer Lab

The Computer Resource & Learning Center-a 16 work station computer lab available for tutoring and providing educational tools for all ages

E-Project

E-Project-youth entrepreneurial program teaching youth business, labor, computer & marketing skills along with creativity, commitment & passion

Our programs and services...

The accomplishments of Waterbury Youth Service System, Inc. begin with our efforts to raise awareness about the challenges facing our youth today, particularly at-risk youth. For over thirty-one years, through our programming we continue to address these challenges and respond to the corresponding needs of the community. Our focus is on enhancing the assets that the youth and their parent/caregiver possess, as well as giving them the tools needed to deal with today’s issues.

It is our goal to provide assistance to youth and their families in all aspects of their lives; it is with this purpose WYSS programs & services are separated into 4 categories; Opportunities & Leadership, Support & Guidance, Residential and in addition to our grassroots, direct social service work, an Intermediary Organization.

OPPORTUNITIES & LEADERSHIP

Computer Resource and Learning Center is available for tutoring, provides educational tools for all participants and is open to all programs. Tutoring is available for all grade levels. Our curriculums and tutors are overseen by a Program Coordinator and a certified teacher/administrator.

Linking Academics To Life is a unique, after-school program for Truancy, Juvenile Review Board referred and vulnerable or underprivileged youth. This incentive based program helps disadvantaged youth make a link between their education and their life needs.

School Readiness is our off-site National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited program for 3 and 4 year olds focusing on kindergarten readiness.

Summer Youth Camp for children ages 3-14 located at the Kiwanis Camp facility in Wolcott, CT. Transportation is provided.

Support For Self-Determination /POWER (People Off Welfare Earning Resources) is a unique, training program focusing on the proper care and safety of children in our community.

Year Round Youth Employment, Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Summer Youth Employment, are work based learning projects funded through the state. These programs include 6 weeks of paid work experience in the summer and youth development programming during the school year.

Youth Teaching Youth is a year round program that assists the community by bringing together adults and youth to address the problem of underage drinking.

SUPPORT & GUIDANCE

CHAP (Community Housing Assistance Program) provides DCF referred clients, ages 16 to 21, with services to assist them in making a successful transition to self-sufficiency and prevent long-term dependence on the social service system.

Family Ties is a parent education and support program that provides classes to help parents/caregivers meet the challenges of parenting.

One on One Mentoring program trains, assists and supports volunteers who are willing to mentor youth in foster care. Department of Children and Families (DCF) committed youth ages 14 – 21 are matched with a mentor.

Prospect Youth Services is assisted by WYSS, provides a fun and safe social atmosphere for youth that reside in Prospect, CT. WYSS is the fiduciary.

Safe Place partners with the Waterbury Fire Department to re-establish the “Safe Place" network. Identified by a yellow and black diamond shaped sign, it provides immediate help and safety to young people; available 24 hours a day.

Truancy Prevention Program’s goal is to reduce truancy and unexcused absences, which will encourage completion in school and furthering education. The service includes home and school visitation, supportive counseling, referral, advocacy, parental involvement, tutoring and case management.

Youth and Family Emergency Services provides crisis counseling and family therapy that is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

VITA-WYSS is one of several VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) sites in the Waterbury Area. The VITA Program offers free tax help to low-to-moderate income families who need assistance to prepare their own tax returns.

RESIDENTIAL

Safe Home/Rainbow House is a short term residential home for abused and/or neglected children placed by Department of Children and Families.

INTERMEDIARY

WYSS has expanded its scope of service to embrace an added role, that of an Intermediary Organization. This role is one of the legislatively mandated functions that youth service bureaus should undertake, as outlined in the CT General Statutes. Currently under the purview of the Intermediary Role are the following:

Family Focus Partnership (FFP) is the local system of care collaborative effort between local agencies, organizations, community members and families. The purpose to assure that the statewide System of Care functions to best meet the mental health needs of children and families in the community.

Hispanic Day Care Association (HDCA) is the largest Spanish Day Care Association in the state offering support and education to Professional Home Day Care Providers.

Youth Development Advisory Council (YDAC) is a subgroup of the PPB, charged with addressing positive youth development, usually during out of school time. This group works with advocacy, professional development, program quality, evaluation, and program sustainability.