The Somerville YMCA Outreach Program is a year round counseling/activities program designed to meet the needs of at-risk youths. We provide services to girls and boys ages 10-15 and their families in the Somerville community.
OUR PURPOSE
- To provide counseling and alternative activities to at-risk youths who are experiencing some difficulty in their lives.
- To conduct youth substance abuse prevention / intervention services.
- To divert youths from the juvenile justice system.
- To develop and strengthen communication between youth and family.
- To give kids a sense of belonging and the power to change their behavior.
Through a combination of group counseling sessions and a variety of high adventure activities, youth build self-confidence, self-awareness and leadership skills. By participating in the program, kids get the opportunity to learn how to make responsible decisions about important life issues.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
1. Girls and boys are referred to the Somerville YMCA Outreach Program by school counselors, social workers, probation officers and mental health professionals.
2. A home visit is conducted to inform the counselor about the youth’s environment and his/her problem areas.
3. Each client signs a contract agreeing to improve some area of their behavior.
4. Semi-weekly contacts are made with the school counselor, the referral agent and parents to insure each client’s progress.
5. The client also attends weekly rap sessions on a variety of topics such as: · substance abuse · child abuse prevention · adolescent health issues · suicide prevention
Semi-monthly parents meetings are held to discuss common concerns and to continue effective communication between the participants and the staff.
By maintaining contracts and attending rap sessions, kids can participate in the outreach program focus activity, the National Youth Project Using Minibikes, or NYPUM.
NYPUM PROGRAM
Working with specially trained youth counselors, participants complete a 21-part lesson plan which teaches safe riding skills, responsibility to other riders, and the mechanics of a minibike.
Participants will be monitored on attitude, participation and respectfulness and are given points for accomplishing their contractual obligations.. All minibikes used in the program are provided by the American Honda Motor Company.
NYPUM counselors must complete a special 8 day course, developed by the national NYPUM program and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, to receive certification as a NYPUM trainer. A re-certification course is required every three years.
In prohibitive or inclement weather, kids will be able to do other activities as part of the program such as wilderness hikes, working with video equipment, bowling, and basketball.
WHO, WHEN, WHERE
· Girls and boys, ages 10 - 15 · No special skills necessary · Groups meet twice a week for rap session/activity session · Rap sessions are on Wednesday mornings and afternoons · Activities are on alternating Saturdays · Each participant is eligible for a free YMCA membership while enrolled in the program - Services are free, but participation in fundraising events is expected! - Must be a Somerville resident to participate.
Program services are possible through the contributions of United Way, Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, YMCA’s Partners with Youth, local community & business organizations, local fundraisers and individual contributions.
For more information call: Maria Carriedo, Outreach Coordinator or Joe Pinto, Youth Services Director at 617-625-5050
The goal of the program is to train the youth for future employment in a Somerville Summer Camp Program or other job opportunity when they are age appropriate.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Somerville YMCA CIT/LIT Job Readiness Program is a youth employment program that includes team building and leadership skills development, as well as recreational activities and hands-on training. The program effectively trains 48 Somerville youth ages 13-15 years old for future employment in a summer camp program and/or any other youth appropriate job opportunity.
The program will serve approximately twenty four, 13-15 year olds in each of the two 4 week long sessions (for a total of 48 youth in eight weeks) during the summer months, providing youth leadership, team building and job-readiness training activities.
The first session will begin on June 28, 2010 and end on July 23, 2010. The second session will begin on July 27, 2010 and end on August 20, 2010.
The program will operate 30 hours a week, 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. It will incorporate job readiness, team building and leadership activities through curriculum based activities as well as “recreational” activities.
The youth will meet at the YMCA, EPH, or SCYP for training and recreational activities during the first two weeks of the program. The teens will spend a part of the third week of the program as CIT’s in one of the participating Somerville Summer Day Camp programs.
The fourth week of the program will concentrate on job readiness. Youth will learn how to fill out job applications, create resumes, go on mock job interviews, set up bank accounts, etc.
A Job Fair consisting of presentations by representatives from Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dunkin Donuts and Wal-Mart will expose the youth to job opportunities within these and other corporate partners in and around the Somerville community. It will help them to identify opportunities for entry into the job market.
At the end of each four week session the participating youth will receive a certificate of achievement at the graduation ceremony and a $100. stipend for completing the program.
WHO, WHEN, WHERE
· Girls and boys, ages 13 - 15 · 2 - four week sessions (June 28 - July 23 and July 27 to August 20) · Monday thru Friday, 9am to 3pm. · Strict attendance policy - no graduation or stipend after 2 absences · Participation in all trainings/activities mandatory · Breakfast and Lunch provided by Somerville Food Service - Program Services are free. - Must be a Somerville resident to participate.
Program services are possible through the contributions of United Way, Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, YMCA’s Partners with Youth, local community & business organizations, local fundraisers and individual contributions.
For more information call: Nathalie Bonhomme, CIT/LIT Coordinator or Joe Pinto, Youth Services Director at 617-625-5050
