Children, Youth & Family Services

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Who We Are

UCS provides a system of care for children, youth and families to build positive family dynamics, personal self-esteem, and vital social skills. We provide an extensive array of home and community-based services for children and adolescents. Children, Youth, and Family Services (CYFS) offers support and safe community environments that promote growth, development, physical and mental health and foster positive relationships.

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Quick Links

What We Offer

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“I used to think I wanted to work with littles, then I realized I preferred to work with teenagers. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t started this job. I really enjoy being able to work with teenagers, because some of them don’t have parents or role models to help them. They don’t have anybody guiding them, saying, ‘this is what you need to do to get a job, and this is how to build your resume’.”

–Taylor Ganier
Youth in Transition Case Manager, Children Youth & Family Services

What We Offer

Adventure Program/Northshire Summer Activities Program
This summer activity groups provides structured, safe field trip and activities.

Burgess Road Therapeutic After-School Program
This program offers a highly structured six-to-eight week series designed to aid children in building a wide variety of skills.

Camp Be A Kid
Camp Be a Kid is a therapeutic summer camp experience designed for children with a mental health diagnosis. The camp runs July and August.

Community Supports
Community Support Program serves children experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges or who have developmental disabilities.

Curriculum-Based Programs
Personal Responsibility Education program (PREP)
PREP is a ten-week curriculum designed for adolescents ages 10-19. The course teaches skills around healthy relationships and making educated choices.

Resource Parent Curriculum (RCP)
RPC is a 25-hour curriculum designed to teach trauma-informed skills to non-biological caregivers of children.

Family Outreach Program
Staff provide trauma informed case management and therapy for at risk youth ages 18 and under, and family in the office and in the community.

Respite Program
The Respite Program provides for families in need of support.

Teens4Change (T4C)
T4C is a peer-led group that give youth opportunities to interact with each other and make friends, build community connections, learn leadership skills, and volunteer in the community. T4C holds and annual Youth Summit for youth in Bennington County.

Crisis Services
UCS provides emergency services to any child, youth, school, family or caregiver in Bennington County who needs help to deal with a youth-related mental health crisis. Call (802) 442-5491. Download Mobile Crisis Flyer.

Community Behavioral Support Services (CBS)
CBS program is available for youth under 18. Mobile Health Workers provide behavioral support in community settings. Screenings for more serious issues may also be completed. CBS can be reached at (802) 442-1700. Download Community Behavioral Support Flyer.

HOPE House includes Psychiatric Urgent Care for Kids (PUCK) for youth up to age 18 and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for elementary school-aged children. HOPE House aims to help children experiencing emotional and/or behavioral challenges or crises with the use of therapeutic tools outside of a traditional hospital setting. The goal of HOPE House is to provide treatment for children and adolescents in their own community in a way that allows them to continue attending school and stay with their families.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Download IOP rack card.

Psychiatric Urgent Care for Kids (PUCK)
Download PUCK rack card.

Download HOPE House FAQ.

UCS contracts with local schools throughout Bennington County to provide emotional and behavioral support to students. Services provided are individualized, strengths based, and child and family centered and include:

Behavior Intervention Services
School-based Clinicians

Transitional Age Youth programs support at-risk teens and young adults ages 14-21.

Compass
In partnership with Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), the Compass program serves at risk youth ages 12-23 and their families by developing well-being, education and employment, permanent connections and stable living environments.

Jump on Board for Success (JOBS)
JOBS is an innovative case management program serving at risk young adults ages 16-21. This program helps youth develop positive work ethics, explore career paths, and provides a connection with community partners to maintain a supportive work environment between youth and their community.

Youth in Transition (YIT)
YIT helps teens and young adults ages 16-21 experiencing mental health and substance use challenges transition into adulthood.