Guiding youth to discover their unique talents and potential for success
– One Life at a Time
Providing Quality Programs & Services For Youth & Families
Waterbury Youth Services empowers youth and families to develop the skills they need to be more successful at home, in school and throughout the community. For over 42 years, our caring, talented staff have been providing a range of innovative programs to youth from ages 4 to 24. On-going program evaluation ensures high quality services are delivered which meet ever-evolving community needs.
Working Together With The Community For A Brighter Future
Waterbury Youth Services believes in strong communities and demonstrates this belief through our many local partnerships. We belong to many coalitions and provide leadership to several collaborations. Together, we have helped children stay in school, strengthened families, and made our communities safer. Together we can improve the lives of children and their families in Greater Waterbury.
Inviting You To Join Us In Making A Difference For Our Youth
Experience one of life's greatest joys - the sharing of your time, talent and resources to invest in our future - our youth. Waterbury Youth Services offers many opportunities for you to get involved: become a mentor, volunteer, or make a donation that will help to support our programs. We have several "friend and fund" raisers throughout the year, we would love for you to join us.
Better CHOICES - Brighter FUTURES
Student Spotlight
“I’ve been in foster care all my life. The statistics say that when you aren’t raised with your parents, you won’t be as exceptional as everyone else. They also predicted that I would end up pregnant by age 16, on drugs or in jail. I wasn’t supposed to be the success story that I am.…
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Homeless Youth Winter Clothing Drive
In the fall and winter months, many of the kids who come to our Homeless Youth Resource Center don’t have basic winter protection, including coats, hats, gloves, scarves and mittens. We always try to have extra supplies on hand for them to take, but we are completely out of winter gear. If you can donate…
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Emergency Stop Gap Measure Saves Program
Thirty five Juvenile Review Board (JRB) programs across the state including Waterbury Youth Services Inc.’s were in danger of potentially shutting down after the Connecticut General Assembly neglected to allocate funds for JRBs in its 2019 budget adjustments last May. But an emergency stop gap measure issued by the State of Connecticut Office of Policy…
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New IT After School Program to Close the Gender Gap in Technology
Waterbury Youth Services, Inc. has been awarded a $7,357 grant from the Women’s Giving Circle at Connecticut Community Foundation to launch an after-school IT club based on the nationally acclaimed Girls Who Code program for high school students. Information technology (IT) is a booming sector of the economy. All professions, including traditionally female professions in…
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Jump Start Careers in Health Care for Young People
Waterbury Youth Services has been awarded a $81,533.51 grant from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board to launch Career Builders in Health” to train, certify, and place young adults ages 16 to 24 into Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) jobs, followed by supports that help participants pursue a post- secondary education. “The health professions are a…
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Doubling the Impact on After School Programs for Teens through CHEFA Grant
Waterbury Youth Services has been awarded a $41,394 grant from Connecticut Health & Education Facilities Authority (CHEFA) to double the size of its after-school program for high school students, Linking Academics to Life, for the 2018/2019 school year. Linking Academics to Life (LAL) is a free afterschool program that helps students excel in academics while…
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A Heartfelt Thank You
Heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to Waterbury Youth Services during Give Local sponsored by Connecticut Community Foundation. By supporting WYS, you affirmed your confidence in our efforts to guide youth to discover their unique talents and potential for success. Thank you for being a partner in strengthening our community! We are so grateful…
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Never Give Up
Never give up and pay it forward is the message from CJ, WYS student since 2014. “Kids go through a lot at home, at school. It’s easy to give up. WYS has been a big support system for me. Once you start there, you feel like family. WYS has always given me somewhere to go,…
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National Safe Place Week
Special thanks to the Waterbury Mayor’s Office for proclaiming March 18 – 24, 2018 as National Safe Place Week to bring attention to the programs in place to assist youth in crisis. Safe Place is essential as it connects youth to services when they are in crisis and need help the most. Waterbury has 14…
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Closings
Waterbury Youth Services normal hours of operation Monday & Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday – 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM; and Saturday – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In the event of inclement weather, Waterbury Youth Services will follow the schedule of the Waterbury School District. If Waterbury District…
Read MoreYou Can Help Ensure A Brighter Future For Our Youth