Across Connecticut, 119,000 teens are disconnected from their schools and communities—a staggering statistic highlighted by the Dalio Foundation. This disconnection represents more than just missed academic opportunities; it affects teens’ social development, emotional well-being, and future success. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, we believe in stepping up to address this issue head-on.
This summer, we formed a key partnership with the Wallingford Family YMCA, working together to expand teen programming in a way that doesn’t compete for attention but instead provides more opportunities. Through collaboration, we’re ensuring that teens in Wallingford have a safe, engaging place to spend their time outside of school.
Expanded Teen Programming with Wallingford Family YMCA
With our YMCA partnership, we’ve aligned programming to better meet the needs of local teens. Recognizing space limitations, YMCA Friday night tween and teen programs have been reaching capacity. While a great problem to have, this translates into some tweens and teens remaining unserved. To ensure that more tweens and teens can be served, our Ulbrich-Wallingford Clubhouse is offering a Friday night program, too, and provides more opportunities for youth.
This also complements our New Haven Clubhouse, which continues to host Teen Nights on Fridays. Together, we’re creating more out-of-school opportunities, giving teens the space and time to stay engaged in positive activities beyond the typical afterschool hours of 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
Breaking Down Barriers to Access
A critical element of our Teen Program is that it’s free of charge. We don’t want financial barriers preventing teens from accessing our services. Through partnerships like the one with the YMCA, we’re able to keep our doors open with proper supervision, mentorship, and programming. However, the cost of maintaining these extended hours remains a challenge. This collaboration is vital in helping us offer these resources to more teens.
Community Impact: Partnerships Make a Difference
During a recent meeting with Wallingford Mayor Vincent Cervoni, we discussed how important these partnerships are for the community. Yet, we know there’s still more work to do. The 119,000 teens disconnected from schools and communities highlight the urgency of our efforts. This crisis extends beyond the school day, and we’re determined to reach teens during out-of-school hours as well, and keep our doors open later into the evening and on weekends.
To do this, we rely on outreach through social media, school visits, and even peer-to-peer engagement. Our current teen members regularly share what they love about the Club at local middle and high schools, encouraging others to join and reconnect with their community.
Pictured below: teens at a recent school visit
A Safe, Fun, and Meaningful Space for Teens
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, we ensure our teen programs are both fun and meaningful. Our adult Mentors, trained in best practices for youth development, create an inclusive environment where teens feel safe and supported. From Teen Nights filled with lightly structured activities to year-round leadership programs, we help teens develop critical life skills while having fun.
Our Torch and Keystone Programs support character development, and during the summer, our Counselor-in-Training program offers workforce development opportunities where teens gain experience and even earn a paycheck while working at our summer camps. This program includes classroom learning one day each week covering topics from social and emotional skills needed in the workplace and financial literacy through our banking partners to specially designed excursions that strengthen team-building and collaboration.
How You Can Help
It costs approximately $50 per month per teen for students to attend our program. This covers meals, a safe space, and engaging programs to keep them connected and thriving. We need your help to continue offering these essential services and reach even more teens in need! Your donation can make a direct impact on their lives, helping them stay engaged with their community, build leadership skills, and prepare for their futures.