Town of Colchester

General
Information
From the Director
Youth &
Social Services
Colchester CONNECTION
How to Contact Youth & Social Services:
Over the summer months the Colchester Youth Service
Bureau and Colchester Social Service Departments merged
in an effort to best meet the needs of residents. During these
difficult financial times, there has been an increased demand
for social services including use of the food bank and requests
for assistance with heating and electric bills. At the same
time, budgets for social assistance have come under increasing
pressure on all levels. The merger will provide residents
with greater access to the food bank and other resources
using our current level of staffing. Our department is committed
to assisting residents' basic needs and we will do all
we can to realize that goal. Collectively, we recognize that if
we fail to invest now in social services, at a time when the
most vulnerable are at risk, then we risk rolling back the
progress made so far to reduce the impacts of poverty and
improve the quality of life for our residents.
The goal of the Youth Service Bureau is to provide a variety
of services that will offer youth the opportunity to develop in
a positive way so that they may reach their full potential as
healthy members of society. Our programs aim to give young
people the chance to build skills, exercise leadership, form
relationships with caring adults, and help their communities.
We believe that positive growth & development are fostered
when adolescents develop a sense of competency, a feeling of
connectedness to others, a belief in their control over their
fate in life and a stable identity. This framework places value
on young people regardless of their situations and emphasizes
their strengths and potential.
Some of the programs we offer include: youth center drop-in,
support groups, community service programs, leadership
training, social skill development, parenting classes, substance
abuse education, and youth employment programs.
Throughout the year we also offer a variety of recreational
and cultural programs that provide young people with opportunities
to try out new experiences, find a hobby, express
themselves artistically, or just have fun! Please take some
time and explore the services we will be providing this fall,
and we hope you are able to take advantage of some of these
rewarding programs.
Sincerely,
Valerie
Valerie Geato
Director
The Youth & Social Services offices are located in the
Town Hall, Suite 205.
Questions and comments should be directed to
youthservices@colchesterct.gov
or call us at (860) 537-7255 or (860) 537-7235.
Fax (860) 537-0547
YOUTH & SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF
Valerie Geato, Director
vgeato@colchesterct.gov
Lyn Marra, Program Coordinator
lmarra@colchesterct.gov
Michael Schaff, Program Coordinator
mschaff@colchesterct.gov
Kathleen Spangler, AdministrativeAssistant
kspangler@colchesterct.gov
Youth Center Supervisors
Elizabeth Allard
Dale Dion
Ginnie Streppa
Tori Tischofer
OFFICE HOURS
The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
YOUTH CENTER
The Youth Center is located at 40 Norwich Ave., a.k.a. the
"Old Town Hall". If you are trying to reach a youth during
a program you should call the center at (860) 537-5479.
Otherwise all calls should be directed to the
office at Town Hall.
YOUTH SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD
Tom St. Louis, Chairman
Lorraine Marvin, Vice- Chair
Terri Ahlberg
Chris Bennett
Sarah Dell
Aaliyah Gonzalez
Heather Pelletier
Pamela Scheibelein
Rob Suchecki
Ellen Weinick
Greg Cordova, Liaison
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
Colchester CONNECTION
www.colchesterct.gov