Wyoming Youth Services

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (ASP)
Wyoming Youth Services  was founded in 1981, after community  members expressed concerns about local youth "hanging around" during unsupervised after school hours—and oftentimes engaging in high risk behaviors, including use of drugs and alcohol.  The City and schools joined together to address this important issue and Wyoming Youth Services was the product of their collaboration.  At that time, the organization consisted of just one staff member who provided mentoring and informal counseling for a small group of youth who would just "drop in".  By 2005, the program had grown to host nearly 50 children who would come intermittently for casual homework help and after school supervision.
 
We have continued to make enhancements to our program by introducing more structure to better meet the educational and social needs of the students, by adding skills tutoring to help students with math and reading skills, by bridging gaps between parents and teachers to address specific academic needs of students, and by setting benchmarks to evaluate our own success.  

Feedback from students, parents, and teachers has testified to the strength of this program.  In today's society, where many children are left unsupervised after school and many parents are working second jobs just to make ends meet, the opportunity to have a home away from home where students can receive support and encouragement, professional instruction, and benefit from positive adult and peer role models has a positive impact on all students in our community.
 
COURT LIAISON
Wyoming Youth Services staff are present at all Wyoming Juvenile Court sessions to provide families and youth with immediate access to counseling and related services intended to reduce or eliminate delinquent behaviors.  Additionally, Wyoming Youth Services supervises any community service requirements mandated by the Court.
 
How We Help Strengthen… Support
 
FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING    
Our counseling program began informally in 1981, providing a place for local youth to drop by for support and guidance.  Our program has evolved into a comprehensive system of support, providing counseling service free of charge to all community residents.  Our counseling services are designed to promote family support and encourage positive family communication, to build self esteem, to teach children conflict resolution and resistance skills, and to help nurture a sense of purpose for every child in our community. 
Counseling services are provided by a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) who works under the supervision of an independently licensed Social Worker (LISW-S).  Counseling is provided both in our offices and at school, and addresses a variety of issues including:  divorce and separation, social or school anxiety, poor school performance, and depression—all of which can adversely impact a child's  ability to  function at home, in the classroom, or in the community.  Our counseling program assists the schools by providing more intensive services than can be managed by school counseling staff alone.
 
GROUP AND IN-CLASSROOM COUNSELING SERVICES
Wyoming Youth Services assists school guidance counselors by co-facilitating school based groups focused on topics, including:  divorce & separation, social skills, stress, and conflict resolution. 
 
CRISIS INTERVENTION
In the event of a school or community crisis, Wyoming Youth Services coordinates with the school system to provide necessary emergency counseling services to help children effectively cope with difficult emotional situations. 

SUCCESS PROGRAM
This innovative program targets credit deficient students who are at risk of dropping out or not graduating from high school.  Wyoming Youth Services has partnered with Wyoming High School to offer weekly presentations addressing a variety of meaningful topics, including instruction on filling out a job or college application, interviewing skills, budgeting, coping with stress, managing anger, and making healthy choices. 
 
MENTORING/TUTORING
High School students serve as mentors to youth who are in need of additional support systems.  Middle School students are paired with high school volunteers for guidance, support, and friendship.
 
LIFE SKILLS
Life Skills is an evidenced-based prevention curriculum that is provided to all 6th grade students in Wyoming City Schools.  Wyoming Youth Services staff have been trained to go into the classrooms from January through March to offer this training to students.  Core topics include anxiety, peer pressure, bullying, social skills, and education regarding dangers associated with use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
 
SCHOOL BREAK PROGRAMS
Our School Break Programs offer local youth enrichment opportunities that limit time at home with "nothing interesting to do".  We partner with local coaches to help youth learn and become excited about
extracurricular sports, we have developed relationships with local businesses to allow youth an opportunity to learn more about their neighborhood, we expose students to weekly service activities to instill a sense of volunteerism, and we provide the needed support and supervision that is essential during breaks from the structured school environment.
 
SPECIAL NEEDS
Through the generosity of the Junior Woman's Club of Wyoming, specialized services are offered to youth and families who have limited financial resources.  Services include purchasing winter coats and helping families meet other basic needs for their children.
 
 
How We Help Strengthen… Volunteerism
 
SERVICE LEARNING
Service Learning is a method of learning that encourages students to go beyond volunteering or traditional community service by using the experience as a foundation to examine themselves, their society and their future.  Our Service Learning program provides area youth with innovative and thought provoking opportunities to enhance their learning while helping others.  In 2010, Service Learning activities included fundraising efforts to help victims of natural disaster in Haiti, environmental programs including Zero Waste Lunch days and the creation of a Bottlecap Sculpture Garden, artbased projects including murals for Graceworks and the local skatepark, a mock shantytown to raise awareness about homelessness and hunger, helping others in need through "Share the Love" to support local families struggling with terminal illnesses, shoe collections for Campton Mission, support for the FreeStore/FoodBank, and Bethany House with an annual toy drive.  Students participated in "Light Up the Night" for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and enjoyed involvement with local senior citizens through the Generations Together program.
 
MAKE IT HAPPEN
In 2010, we continued our involvement with the "Make it Happen" club that offers service activities for middle school students and furthers our efforts to create a "culture of service" in Wyoming.  The club members planned service activities including an outdoor clean up/planting project in celebration of Earth Day, focus on pets through a collection of pet supplies that were then donated to a local animal shelter, fundraising to purchase a Pet ID scanner to help local police make sure lost pets are returned home safely, a fundraising walk for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the "Nuttin but Nets" basketball fundraiser that provided mosquito nets for children in Tanzania.