YOUTH SERVICES
Community Service
The Youth Outreach Coordinator provides community service opportunities for youth mandated by the Juvenile Court or the East Hartford Juvenile Review Board only.
Call: 860-291-7183
Community Support
The East Hartford Department of Youth Services is a municipal agency established in 1971. It has played an integral role in the Town's effort to maintain a high quality of life for our youth and their families. The Department of Youth Services provides a wide range of services including therapeutic counseling, positive youth development programs and outreach.
East Hartford Youth Services often collaborates with other local youth serving agencies... such as ChildPlan, ERASE, East Hartford Public Schools, Circle of Life: Arts for All, among others.
Counseling Services
The East Hartford Department of Youth Services' professional staff offers confidential counseling to youth and their families in a wide variety of areas, to include:
Family Counseling;
Youth Counseling;
Crisis Intervention;
Parenting Skills;
Substance Abuse;
Child Abuse Prevention;
Anger Management;
Consultation
Clinical Counseling services are provided by professional staff and are made by appointment only. Appointments are generally in the afternoon and evening and can be made by calling (860) 291-7183. Youth Services can also assist in referrals to appropriate service providers in the area.
Servicios de Consejería Gratis para los residentes de East Hartford del Departamento de Servicios para Jóvenes ofrecen servicios si cualifican. El Departamento de Servicios para Jóvenes ofrece consejería confidencial a los niños/jóvenes y a familiares, en una variedad amplia de servicios. Los servicios clínicos de consejería son proporcionados por personas cualificadas y es solo por cita solamente.
Fees
All services are provided free of charge to East Hartford youth and their families.
The East Hartford Department of Youth Services is funded by town tax dollars as well as grants from the State Department of Education, ERASE, and CDBG.
Juvenile Review Board
Established in 1974, the East Hartford JRB is a collaborative effort between East Hartford Youth Services, East Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Fire Department, East Hartford Public Schools, Juvenile Probation (Court for Juvenile Matters), the Latin Enrichment Organization, CT Department of Children and Families (DCF), and InterCommunity Mental Health (School Based Health Center).
The East Hartford Juvenile Review Board (JRB) offers a meaningful alternative to criminal court for East Hartford youth, ages 9-17, referred by the East Hartford Police Department, Public Schools and Youth Services. This diversion is an option for offenders who have committed a misdemeanor offense and admit responsibility. It is also an option for those who exhibit behavior that is detrimental to the family or school environment (beyond control of the parent, chronic runaway, substance abuse issues, social media concerns, etc.) The parent/guardian must consent to their child's diversion away from the Juvenile Court and to the local JRB for local services.
The parent/guardian of any youth who commits a criminal or FWSN violation (and is eligible) will be issued a JRB Summons by the police, the school, or by Youth Services. This summons offers a diversion from the Juvenile Court and affords the youth and family the opportunity to address the issue without a Juvenile Court record. Failure to comply with the disposition of the JRB may result in a summons to the Court for Juvenile Matters (Hartford). Most services offered by the JRB are with agencies right here in the East Hartford Community; with East Hartford Youth Services being the primary service provider. All programs at East Hartford Youth Services are free of charge and available only to town residents.
For questions or concerns regarding the JRB or the issuance of a JRB Summons, contact Youth Outreach Coordinator, East Hartford Youth Services at 860-291-7183.
Parent Support Links
Governors Prevention Partnership
Department of Children & Families
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
LIST (Local Interagency Service Team) for Hartford Region: Monthly meetings on 3rd Friday of Month from 5 PM to 6 PM on Zoom
THRIVE Youth Empowerment Program
Truancy & Defiant of School Rules Referrals
The Connecticut General Statutes have identified Youth Service Bureaus as “the coordinating unit of community-based services to provide comprehensive delivery of prevention, intervention, treatment and follow-up services.” With this in mind, schools now have a system of referring students to the local Youth Service Bureau for chronic matters of truancy and school defiance. Once the school reaches a threshold where they and the family are unable to achieve positive outcomes, the school may (with parent permission) refer such cases to the local Youth Service Bureau… East Hartford Youth Services. Youth Services will work closely with the family to identify and address issues that impact the child’s attendance and/or behavior. Parents or legal guardians may also contact Youth Services for such matters at any time – even without a referral from the school.
Youth Service Bureaus were designed to facilitate a system of supports and services that are individualized and developmentally appropriate for the child/youth and their family. As a coordinating partner outside of the school system, a Youth Service Bureau can be a resource for schools/districts, a referral source for community services and a partner in service planning, navigation and family engagement.
For questions or concerns regarding a truancy or school defiance referral, contact Youth Outreach Coordinator, East Hartford Youth Services at 860-291-7183.
Urgent Response for Children's Mental Crises