Youth Service Bureaus of CT.

Did you know that the Youth Agency is one of about 100 Youth Service Bureaus (YSB) in Connecticut?  

What is a YSB?

According to Connecticut Youth Services Association (CYSA):

Mandated by Connecticut General Statue section 10-19m, a Youth Service Bureau (YSB) is an agency operated directly by one or more municipalities that is designed for planning, evaluation, coordination, and implementation of a network of resources and opportunities for children, youth, and their families. In addition, YSBs are responsible for the provision of services and programs for all youth to develop positively and to function as responsible members of their communities.

YSBs have a broader scope of service than most other youth serving agencies. In addition to providing direct services like other agencies, YSBs have a responsibility to assess the needs of youth, identify gaps in service and coordinate services for youth to fill the gaps and avoid duplication of services. A town may operate its YSB directly or combine with one or more towns to jointly operate a YSB, or a town may designate a private agency to act as its agent for the purpose of providing these services.

The first community-based YSBs were established in the late 1960s in response to a growing concern regarding issues such as juvenile delinquency, family crisis, drug and alcohol abuse and school truancy. Currently there are 102 YSBs serving 145 towns across the state.

For more information about CYSA and other Youth Service Bureaus in Connecticut, visit ctyouthservices.org.