Youth Services
9 Elm Street Vernon, CT 06066
860-870-3555
860-870-3556 - Fax
email: mhill@vernon-ct.gov
YSB Staff Members Michelle Hill – Director
Kim McTighe – Prevention Specialist
Julie Halpin – Youth Program and Prevention Coordinator
Mission Statement: The Vernon Youth Services Bureau is a Town of Vernon Department dedicated to providing:
Program Coordination
Information and Referral
Prevention Services
Early Intervention Services
Resource Development
Community Involvement
Youth Advocacy
Building Success Through Community Collaboration
Youth Services Goals
I. COORDINATION OF SERVICES
Through coordination with local, regional and state services, Vernon Youth Services Bureau will guide youth and their families to needed services such as:
Mental Health Counseling
Early Childhood Education Services
Nutrition Programs
Problem Assessment
Education on Youth Issues
Prevention Programs
Substance Abuse Counseling
Juvenile Court Process
Other Services as Requested
II. Community Networking
The Youth Services Bureau takes a leadership role in creating a coordinated network of community services. This goal is accomplished through the YSB involvement and membership on a variety of boards and commissions. Examples include membership on:
Vernon School Readiness Collaborative
Vernon Drug & Alcohol Prevention Council
Vernon Community Network
CT Youth Services Association
III. Youth Services Programs
The Vernon YSB advocates for the healthy development of children, youth and families through providing a variety of programs that focus on preventing problem behaviors. Examples of these programs include:
Peer Advocate Program
The Peer Advocate Program provides training for Rockville High School students to become role model helpers for their peer group. Peer Advocates work with elementary, middle and high school students in both group and one to one settings. Peer Advocates are trained in an intensive course to provide the following services:
Crisis Intervention
Mentoring
One to One Helping
Tutoring
New Student Tours
Intergenerational Community Programs
Truancy Intervention
The Vernon Youth Services Bureau works closely with the Vernon Public Schools to assist children attend school regularly. Students who are not attending school can be referred to the Truancy Intervention Program and receive a variety of in-school and community-based services. Our Youth Counselor will meet with students in school, at home and at the Youth Services office. This program is offered to children attending the five elementary schools in Vernon. Involvement in the Truancy Intervention Program is voluntary.
After-School Program
Helping children with healthy development through after-school programming is an important goal for the Vernon Youth Services Bureau. Through this program, the YSB offers elementary aged youth the opportunity to learn and have fun in a setting that is well-supervised and well-structured. The YSB after-school program is offered at our 9 Elm Street office. Children attending our after-school program will:
Learn Social Skills
Enjoy Recreational Activities
Benefit from Homework Support
Participate in Field Trips
Assist in Community Service Projects
And Much More!
Early Childhood Education
The Youth Services Bureau co-chairs the Vernon School Readiness Collaborative. The Collaborative is responsible for helping the community understand the need to achieve and continuously improve high quality pre-school education programming and smooth transition from pre-school to kindergarten. This is accomplished through coordinating professional development for pre-school teachers. Through its public awareness activities, the Collaborative informs Vernon residents about the importance of high quality pre-school education. Contact our School Readiness Project Manager for more information.
For more information call (860)870-3555 or send email to: Michelle Hill
