Welcome to the Parents’ Lounge
... a place for parents and caregivers to get information and support
(Not just Mom and Dad, but all of you Aunts and Grandmas who are raising kids too!)
At Youth Services, we know that raising kids who are healthy and well-adjusted is the toughest job on earth. That’s why we try to do as much as we can to support parents and caregivers just like you who are facing the everyday challenges of family life.
For starters, each month in the Parents’ Lounge, we will highlight a common parenting concern or a trend in youth culture that we want you to be aware of. You’ll find this information in “Pointers for Parents”.
You can also get parenting information through our lending library which includes some of the newest and most popular books on parenting. For example ... say you are looking for some help navigating the rocky terrain of dealing with teens, if you stop by the office you will find several books on these topics and many more.
Not only do we have some great books, but we have free brochures and pamphlets on substance abuse, suicide, stress, eating disorders, and hundreds of other topics. You don’t even have to come in the office to get them! You can find them displayed outside our office, available to you whenever the Town Hall is open.
Finally, if you should find yourself in a family situation that seems unmanageable, please call us. We provide referrals to other public and private agencies to help with mental health issues, beyond control kids, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, or any other issues your family may be facing.
Youth & Social Servies Merge:
By now you may have heard that the Colchester Youth Service Bureau and Social Services are combining departments in an effort to best meet the needs of residents. During these difficult financial times, there has been an increased demand for social services including food, heat, and electricity. At the same time, budgets for social assistance are coming under increasing pressure on all levels. In an effort to effectively deal with these pressures without additional staff, we are merging our departments. This will provide greater access to the food bank and other resources using our current level of staffing and resources. We will do so through cross training, reassigning some duties while letting go of others and revising some of the policies and procedures currently in place. Ultimately, our entire department is
committed to assisting residents meet basic needs and we will do all we can to realize that goal. Collectively, we recognize that if we fail to invest now in social services, at a time when the most vulnerable are at risk, then we risk rolling back the progress made so far to reduce the impacts of poverty and improve the quality of life for our residents.
Summer Registration Information:
Our new registration form is here! In an effort to streamline the registration process, we have created a new registration form that will make signing up for programs and trips even easier. The new registration form will be used for all of our programs including trips, open youth center, and after-school groups and you can find it on page 5. If you want to sign up for more than one program, you can simply list all the programs on one form. If there is an additional waiver required from the facility it will be noted in the program description. All forms are available at our office and on-line at www.colchesterct.gov.
Transportation is available for kids who have no way to get to and from the Town Hall for trips. Limited spaces are available and are only for those kids who have no other means of transportation. Rides will be provided at our discretion and must be requested at time of registration.
Scholarships are available and are based on financial need. Applications are available in our office. Additionally, it is very important to us that every kid has an affordable and nutritious lunch so we provide a free lunch program during the summer for all students who qualify for scholarships. Additional information will be provided upon application.
HOW TO REGISTER
Walk-In: Stop by our office in Town Hall. We are open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mail-In: Mail completed registration forms, waivers and payment to CYSB (payable to the Town of Colchester)
Drop Box: Drop it in the drop box slot to the left of the front doors of the Town Hall in an envelope clearly marked for Youth Services
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