Q: How come no one answers the phone at the Youth Center and why is the door usually locked?
A: The reason people don’t get a response at the Youth Center is because our offices are located at Town Hall, not at the Youth Center. So, if you’re knocking on the door at the Youth Center wondering why we are not answering … it’s because we’re not there. You can find us in our office at the Town Hall in Suite 205.
Q: What do you do all day when the kids are at school?
A: In addition to offering programs to youths and parents after school and in the evening, we also provide groups for kids during the school day. Some groups are held at Jack Jackter or Bacon Academy and focus on issues such as Stress Management or Divorce Support Group. When we aren’t running a group, we are usually planning for one. It takes time to develop curriculums for groups and to develop creative ideas for programs and activities that will engage and interest kids. We are also busy doing all of the administrative work that comes along with running a Town department including resource development and publishing a monthly newsletter.
Q: Are there “at-risk” kids in Colchester?
A: There are “at-risk” kids in every city and town in America - Colchester is certainly no exception. There are scientific predictors and risk factors that increase a child’s likelihood of becoming involved with risky behaviors. There are several predictors and risk factors associated with delinquency, emotional problems, drug and alcohol use, school failure, teen pregnancy and behavior problems. Current research identifies a number of social, environmental, intrapersonal and behavioral risk factors that are most strongly linked to these problem behaviors. Some of these are:
· Association with delinquent and/or substance using peers
· Poor family management practices
· Parental attitudes and behaviors related to crime, substance abuse, sexuality and academic expectations
· Poor academic performance and school failure
· Lack of bonding to the major systems that affect growth and development – families, schools, peers and communities.
Q: Are you volunteers?
A: Our staff is not comprised of volunteers. The staff at CYSB is highly skilled in positive youth development, curriculum development and behavior management. All are college graduates with strong commitment to children. Program Coordinator Lyn Marra is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Sociology. She has several years of social work experience and has worked at CYSB since 2000. Mike Schaff, Program Coordinator, received a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, has several years of experience working with children and has been with us since 2004. Valerie Geato has worked here since 1994 and has been the Director of Colchester Youth Services since 1997. She received her degree in Social Work from Central CT State University.
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