LYCC - The Laramie Youth Crisis Center

Programs

Positive Parenting

Positive parenting classes are offered twice a year, for 8 weeks at a time. The classes make the assumption that peers, school, and television influence children, and that parenting may be difficult and frustrating. During the class, methods or concepts taught include goals of misbehavior, presenting choices, and providing natural and logical consequences. Facilitators encourage participants interact and support of each other, to practice their parenting skills, and to develop a strong support system.

Peer Workers

Peer Workers are teenagers who volunteer at the Crisis Center each week in order to provide positive role models for youth.  Peer Workers must be at least 16 and not older than 18. Peer Workers “hang out” with the Crisis Center residents and talk to them about their concerns. Peer Workers have a valuable job as sometimes residents find it more comfortable to talk to someone closer in age.  Peer Workers report pertinent conversations/observations/concerns to youth workers as the child’s safety and well being is always the top priority.

Bold Step (Transitional/Independent Living)

“Bold Step” is offered through the Laramie Youth Crisis Center in partnership with the Department of Family Services. Bold Step is the independent living/transitional living program that provides youth ages 17 to 21 with the necessary skills to successfully live in the community on their own. Nationally, over 500,000 children and youth live apart from their families in foster care or other settings because of abuse or neglect.  Each year many of these children “age out of care systems” when they turn 18.  However, they may not have the skills to make it on their own or a support network to rely on.  Many of these young adults are at risk for homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood, dependence on public assistance, and emotional and behavioral problems.

Bold Step includes:

  • Social Development
  • Educational/Vocational Development
  • Physical Development & Self-Care
  • Moral Development
  • Money Management
  • Community Resources

Independent Living is designed for youth 17 and 18 years of age currently in the custody of the Wyoming Department of Family Services. The youth and their social worker must agree that Independent Living is the best option. The program provides structure, support, monetary assistance, and education.  Each youth has an individual worker who will provide them with one-on-one assistance, as well as support groups with the other youth in the program.

Transitional Living targets youth between ages of 18 and 21 who are Albany or Carbon County residents and who have been in Wyoming State Custody at some point in their life.  The Crisis Center believes that a job, a stable place to live, and the presence of a responsible, caring adult can make all the difference as these youth enter adulthood.  To this end, the Crisis Center provides support services to achieve these goals.  These services are comprehensive and include:

  • Assistance in Finding & Securing Employment
  • Assistance in Taking Advantage of Educational Opportunities
  • Aid in Improving One’s Living Situation
  • Help with Community-Life Adjustment
  • Limited Financial Assistance

Extended Families

Extended Families is geared toward families facing removal of a child from the home. This program involves in-home assistance to resolve interfamily conflicts, strengthen family relations and promote safe, stable living conditions. This program is supported by a grant from the Department of Family Services and the Community Service Block Grant.

When it comes to helping families we believe:

  • Families know themselves better than we ever will
  • Successful partnerships develop when we listen to what families tell us about themselves
  • It is difficult to raise children today and sometimes everyone just needs a little help
  • Every family has difficult times, as this is a normal part of raising a child

The goals of the program are:

  • To keep families safe
  • To keep families together whenever possible
  • To empower, strengthen, and support families

The program offers a broad range of services that may include the areas of education, community information, advocacy, recreation, and self-sufficiency.

Family Workers May:

  • Help the parent with self-sufficiency issues like transportation, shopping, budgeting, cooking, and cleaning
  • Facilitate family meetings
  • Help families locate support within the community
  • Listen and be available to families as a sounding board
  • Help families establish structure, rules, and guidelines
  • Help and encourage parents and families to make healthy decision
  • Provide a break for the parent(s)
  • Encourage family recreational activities and family time together

ACES

ACES (Albany County Expelled/Suspended) is an alternative choice for families whose child has been suspended or expelled. A.C.E.S. is designed to help students stay on track academically, while providing support to the family. If a student and his/her family choose to participate in the A.C.E.S. Program the student will have the opportunity to work on academics while obtaining credit. In addition, parents know their child is supervised during the school day. In order for the program to work and for the student to obtain credit, all parties must be committed to the program. The student must be willing to do school work at the Crisis Center, follow the rules, and participate in groups. The parents must be willing to be involved and meet with family workers outside of school hours.  The school must provide the student's work. And, finally, the Crisis Center must be willing to work effectively with all of the involved parties.

Steps

  • To start the program parents and students must agree to participate and sign a contract with school and with the Crisis Center. 
  • Students must be dropped off each day at 8:00 am and picked up at 3:00 pm by a parent or guardian.
  • The Crisis Center will have a teacher, program coordinator, and family worker to help children with their schoolwork and to resolve problems.
  • The family worker will meet with the family in their home.  The A.C.E.S. program requires a total of 8 hours of family work.  The hours must be completed in 4 weeks.  More than 2 meetings missed will constitute a failure.
  • The family will set goals with the family worker.  Goals might include:  forming school partnerships, encouraging school activities, setting up homework time, and having clear rules.
  • The Crisis Center will give attendance reports to the school when the student returns and family work is completed.
  • A.C.E.S. services are provided free of charge, but cooperation is required to participate because of limited resources available to the Crisis Center.  Space is limited to 10 suspended or expelled students.
  • Students in the program can be absent due to illness, but a phone call is required.  A doctor’s excuse for the absence may also be needed.  Also, each day missed will be made up by the student at the Crisis Center.

Responsibilities

  • When a student agrees to participate in the program, he/she must sign a contract with the school.
  • Students are expected to follow the rules of the Crisis Center, A.C.E.S., and their school while they are in the program.
  • Students will stay at the Crisis Center after being dropped off until their parents pick them up.
  • Students must cooperate with their teacher and family workers.

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