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YOUTH SERVICES
Cheshire Youth Services was established in 1974 by the Town of Cheshire for the purpose of coordinating, planning, and developing services for youth in town. Its mission is twofold; to provide counseling to youth and their families; and to provide programming for teens that promotes positive development and safe, leisure time activities.
In our complex society, there are many issues facing youth. Cheshire Youth Services works cooperatively with schools, police, parents and other community resources to encourage youth to strive for their own potential.
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STAFF
Michelle Piccerillo, Director of Youth and Social Services, 271-6690, mpiccerillo@cheshirect.org
Mary Thompson-Kelly, Secretary, 271-6690, mthompsonkelly@cheshirect.org
Ann-Marie Bishop, Youth & Family Counselor, 271-6693, abishop@cheshirect.org
Christine Snyder, Youth & Family Counselor, 271-6695, csnyder@cheshirect.org
Lauren Blackwell, Youth Activities Supervisor, 271-6690, lblackwell@cheshirect.org
Samantha Smith, Middle School Program Coordinator, 271-6690, ssmith@cheshirect.org
Sadie Kreck, Program Assistant, 271-2769
Brian Nutcher, Program Assistant, 271-2769
Katie Smith, Program Assistant, 271-2769
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| PROGRAMS |
YOUTH AND FAMILY COUNSELING services are provided through individual, family, and group therapy sessions to young people and their families for residents of junior and senior high school age (over 12) at no fee. Referrals are received from the middle school, high school, alternative school programs, police department, juvenile probation, Connecticut Department of Children and Families, clergy, parents, peers, and young people themselves. Clients are seen either in the Town Hall or at the school setting. The working philosophy is to work with family units to enable them to remain healthy and intact.
POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS provide supervised, positive after school and weekend activities for high school and middle school aged Cheshire residents. Cheshire Youth Services collaborates effectively with Cheshire Parks and Recreation, Cheshire Public Schools, and the Cheshire Police Department to determine community needs and to provide high quality programming. Activities such as Drop-in programs, Friday and Saturday night theme nights, Cheshire Youth in Action, Teen-2-Teen and Studio 2B offer fun and educational opportunities. The Cheshire Youth Advisory Council, made up of approximately 30-40 high school students, serves as an advisory board to Cheshire Youth Services. They meet once a month for two hours throughout the school year and advised youth services staff on program development, implementation and promotion. The Youth Literacy Project pairs high school students with first graders to promote reading; approximately 30 High School students and 60 first graders participate in this program. Cheshire Youth Services coordinates Community Service opportunities for young people who have either been assigned community service hours by the court or by their school as an alternative to suspension or who have chosen to volunteer to give back to their community. Most of the programs are held at the Yellow House, the Youth Services facility across the street from Cheshire High School. During the summer months, the Yellow House serves as the base site for recreational summer trips.
COMMUNITY-WIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION through Cheshire Youth Services include staff membership on the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking and the CT Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking, the Parent Connection, coordination of and financial support for school-wide assembly programs at the middle school and high school level, support and collaboration with school-based prevention programs including the Peer Health Educators Program and Project Graduation, the publication of the Youth Yellow Pages Information Directory, and the publication of the quarterly Youth Services Newsletter which is mailed home to each student at Cheshire High School.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE provides a listing of middle and high school aged young people who are available to do a variety of jobs ranging from baby-sitting, lawn work, animal care, house cleaning, odd jobs, farm work, to employment opportunities with local commercial businesses. Annual sign-ups are conducted at both the middle school and high school in the spring.
YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT DAY provides “elected” members of the Cheshire High School junior class the opportunity to serve as a Town official for a day to learn about the general operation of our municipal services. This day is the culmination of a process in which U.S. History students learn about the Town Manager/Town Council form of government and the electoral process, and participate in a real election. Eligible students within the high school are also encouraged to take the opportunity to register to vote during this program.
ADVISORY COMMITTEES have been established by the Cheshire Town Council to assist them in setting policy for the Town and advising the Director of Youth and Social Services. The Human Services Committee is a group of twelve citizens who focus on topical social service issues rather than targeted populations. The Youth Service Committee which is composed of five young people and seven adults discusses issues pertaining to middle and high school aged young people and their families.
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Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking |
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