Youth Services

Mission:
The Keene Youth Services Mission is to strengthen community involvement in family and youth issues by creating opportunities for positive community attachment. Youth are empowered to make responsible decisions and held accountable for their actions. 

 Youth Services provides prevention and intervention programs to youth and families of Keene and many towns in Cheshire County. Programs and services actively involve the community in addressing the issues that are facing today's families and society. Programs provide youth to acquire new skills, to positively connect to the community, and to experience clearly the standards and beliefs in the development of healthy behaviors.  Youth Services is comprised of four major program areas. These areas are CHINS Diversion, Juvenile Court Diversion (JCC), the Earn-It Program and City of Keene Summer Youth Employment Program. 

            CHINS DIVERSION PROGRAM 

· CHINS (Children In Need of Services) Diversion Program is a community-based prevention program serving non-adjudicated youth age 7 through 17 years and their families 

· CHINS diversion strives to prevent inappropriate or unnecessary court involvement through assessment, referral and case management services – 85 short term, information and referral cases. Long term (3 months) - 12 families 

· CHINS Diversion Case Worker educates youth and parents, police, school personnel and community members on the CHINS law and other relevant community resources.  

· 80% of cases successfully diverted from court

 JCC – JUVENILE COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM 

· Juvenile Conference Committee is a pre-adjudicated intervention program for juvenile first time offenders that meet eligibility criteria as an alternative to formal juvenile court proceedings 

· The goal of the Juvenile Conference Committee is to minimize a juvenile’s penetration into the justice system and to encourage a sense of responsibility and accountability on the part of juvenile offenders for their illegal acts 

· Program educates youth and parents, community members about juvenile law and to assist youth and families to gain access to local resources. 

· 90% of JCC youth do not commit a second offense 

                    EARN-IT 

· Earn-It is a victim restitution program which arranges work situation for young offenders enabling youth to pay for damages they have caused and make amends with the community 

· Earn-It Manager educates youth, parents, community site supervisors and members about juvenile justice issues and assists them in accessing local resources  

· 60 to 80 cases served annually 

· 95% of youth complete monetary victim restitution and community service, 

· 80%+ do not commit a second offence a year after successfully completing this program 

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

· Employment program for Keene youth ages 14-15 – six week program

· This program educates youth and parents regarding the every day running of the City and local government

· An average of 20 youth per summer are employed  

 Information, resources and events for teens www.MonadnockTeens.org and for parents www.MonadnockParents.org

Contact Information

Staff

Current Programs

Events Coming Up