Health and Welfare in Town Budget

by Colleen Gundlach

Through the town budget, Norfolk residents support several nonprofit social service organizations, some of which have been featured in past issues of Norfolk Now. With pandemic-related lockdowns and social isolation, these agencies have proved to be more important than ever before in maintaining the mental and physical health of our residents.

One of these organizations is the Winchester Youth Service Bureau (WYSB), which assists young people and their families during difficult times. 

The Winsted branch of the Northwest Connecticut YMCA has two Youth Service Bureaus––the Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau, serving three towns, and the Winchester Youth Service Bureau, serving six towns: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Hartland, New Hartford, Winsted and Norfolk. Their mission is to “provide programs which address the needs of youth and their families, develop and implement educational/social activities that prevent delinquency and strengthen families and to coordinate special projects that promote positive youth development.”

Catharina Ohm, the executive director of the WYSB, says that Youth Service Bureaus came into existence back in the late 1960s, when children who got into trouble, skipped school, or were otherwise deemed out of control were often put in jails or residential facilities. “They weren’t helped,” she says, “they were institutionalized.” Today there are 102 Youth Service Bureaus in the state of Connecticut, all with the goal of reaching at-risk kids and their families to help them get through their troubles. “We have a very family-centered approach,” Ohm says. WYSB staff members work with the parents, assess the situation and help families access the resources and services they need. 

The WYSB accepts referrals from the Winchester Juvenile Review Board, and together they have been very successful in keeping young people out of the juvenile justice system. If the police refer a student who has committed a first-time offense and there was no serious injury or damage, diversion is an option. The Winchester Juvenile Review Board is not part of the court; rather, it is a group of people who work professionally with children and youth, such as counselors, school administrators and social workers. This review board suggests ways in which a child or youth can make restitution, such as performing community service or writing a letter of apology. “We have an excellent process where we work with the kids to make it right. We meet once a week, and if the student successfully completes the program, there is no police record,” says Ohm.

Troubled teens are not the only people served by the WYSB. “Before the pandemic, we used to go into the schools and day care centers to talk with children and help them to understand how to live a healthy lifestyle,” says Ohm. One area of focus for the bureau right now is vaping. Ohm says that many youths think it is a safe activity, when actually it is as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. “The vape pen may contain illegal drugs as well.” 

Therapeutic recreation is another focus of the bureau. Activities are designed to “focus on promoting self-awareness, building positive peer relationships and developing conflict resolution skills.” This program is for school-age children (grades 1-12), who are encouraged to share their personal experiences in a “nonjudgmental, structured group setting.” The WYSB staff works closely with school staff and parents to make sure each activity meets the needs of the individual. Social groups such as Zumba classes and Girls’ Hoops help to bring youth together in a healthy and safe environment. 

In the summertime, Rising Star Camp is available for kids ages six through 14. Children are picked up by bus at Pearson School in Winsted and transported to Elks Pond in Torrington, where they spend the summer outdoors––swimming, hiking, playing games and participating in small group discussions on staying safe. Rising Star Camp is a structured program specifically designed to promote self-esteem, aid in conflict resolution skills and encourage positive interaction and success. Every Friday of camp week, there is a field trip to the beach, an amusement park or some other fun destination. Full financial aid is available for many campers.

At Christmas time, the bureau sponsors the Christmas Angels program. Paper angels with the age, gender and wishes of the child or youth are given to area businesses, Northwestern Regional School, the Torrington Juvenile Probation office and other individuals, who buy the gifts. In addition, a critical-needs grant from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation allows the WYSB to purchase winter clothing. Gifts are collected and wrapped and then presented to families. Last year over 120 families were served 

An important outreach of the WYSB is community conversations. Ohm and her staff go into the community and offer open presentations on such issues as mental health resources and food insecurity. Ohm hopes to be able to hold discussions with each town, including Norfolk, regarding ways in which the bureau can collaborate with existing local social service agencies, based on the particular needs of the town. 

The Winchester Youth Service Bureau is funded through the municipalities it serves, the Department of Children and Families, the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, foundation grants, donations from individuals and event sponsorships. Each town has a representative on the 

WYSB’s Advisory Council. Council members help with fund-raising, review monthly the work of the WYSB and advise on how the bureau may best provide programs and services to each town. Bea Tirrell is Norfolk’s representative to the council. 

For more information, contact Catherina Ohm at cohm@nwcty.org.