The Windham Youth Service Bureau (WYSB) coordinates prevention, intervention, treatment, and follow-up services for children and youth. WYSB provides a variety of no-cost programs and services using a personal approach, facilitated by dedicated staff, to help young people develop self-confidence, make positive choices, and contribute in meaningful ways to their community.
Services may include:
- recreational activities
- referral for individual and group counseling
- parent training and family therapy
- work placement and employment counseling
- alternative and special educational opportunities
- outreach programs
- teen pregnancy services
- suspension/expulsion services
- diversion from juvenile justice services
- preventive programs including youth pregnancy prevention, youth suicide, violence, alcohol/drug use
Windham Task Force to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
The Task Force was formed in 2013 after a 3-year-old Willimantic girl died from child abuse, just two years after the child-abuse death of another 3-year-old-girl in town.
Social Workers at Windham Public Schools, members of the local Board of Education, and other community members formed the group, dedicated to raising awareness and keeping the issue of child abuse in the public eye.
The primary purpose of the task force is to teach parents and others about the signs of child abuse and how to help.
“It is the whole community’s responsibility to protect children,” noted one of the Task Force’s founders. “To keep people’s awareness and attention—that’s what prevention requires.”
WRCC is honored to be the fiduciary agent of the Task Force, which sponsors a yearly “Take Time to Play” event held each spring, focusing on child abuse prevention and strengthening families, and features fun, engaging activities for children.
For more information, contact kalamo@windhamct.gov
Windham Juvenile Review Board (JRB)
The Windham Juvenile Review Board (JRB) is a program that helps young people who have committed minor offenses or are showing behaviors that could lead to trouble at school or with the law. JRB offers a way for the young person and their family to address these issues without going to juvenile court or getting a court record.
The program focuses on helping the youth take responsibility, make things right, and get support at home, at school, and in the community.
Who Is on the Board?
The JRB is made up of trained community members, including police officers, teachers, counselors, social workers, mediators, court staff, and other local volunteers. All board members have experience working with youth and families and are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
How Does JRB Work?
If a youth commits a qualifying offense, the parent or guardian may receive a JRB summons from the police, school, or Youth Services. Taking part in JRB is voluntary and gives the family the chance to resolve the issue without going to court. To participate, the youth must admit to the behavior.
The Board may require the youth to complete things like counseling, mentoring, tutoring, substance use services, community service, restitution, or writing an apology. The goal is to help the youth learn from the experience, fix any harm caused, and prevent future problems.