Services for DYS-Involved Families

DYS Community Resources

We contract with the Department of Youth Services (DYS) within their Worcester, Webster, and Fitchburg offices to develop regional Community Service Teams that have effectively combined the DYS regional casework staff and provider employees into a team that delivers high-quality, culturally-responsive services and supports to children in DYS.

Clinical Coordinators and Family Engagement Specialists work jointly with the DYS casework staff to provide clinical and support services to caseworkers to reduce the frequency with which children return to the DYS system, and help children and families to maintain a path toward success.

The DYS Community Resources Program supports youth ages 14-21, who are referred by the Department of Youth Services.

Alternative to Lockup Program

We partner with local Police Departments to provide emergency overnight or short-term foster care 7 days a week for children and adolescents ages 7 to 17 with status offenses (e.g. runaways, stubborn child, minor in possession of alcohol, etc.), and non-violent delinquency charges. The Alternative to Lockup Program (ALP) operates from 3 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays, and 24 hours on weekends and holidays.

Police officers arrange for our ALP staff members to transport the juvenile to a foster care or staff-secure facility for care until the following business day. Our staff then accompany the youth to their court appearance, and release them to the custody of the court officer upon arrival and check-in at the courthouse.