If you are a young person under 21 who lives or goes to school in Dutchess County, or you know someone that age who is struggling to get along the Division of Youth Services can help. We are here to listen and help you find your own strengths to resolve the difficulties you may be facing. We can also connect you to others who can assist in school or in community.
Division of Youth Services
FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL
The mission of the Division of Youth Services is to assure every youth a fair and equal opportunity to attain his/her full potential with services to strengthen family life and support families in the essential function of nurturing the youth’s overall development. We provide free, confidential short- term supportive services for Dutchess County youth ages 4 to 21 years, who are dealing with personal, family, or school difficulties. We also provide workshops to community and youth groups on various topics such as diversity education, how to deal with anger, communication, relationships.
The individual needs of you and your families provide the bases for everything we do.
Our goal is to promote the well-being of youth in Dutchess County, and to provide positive youth development services and support the communities. Our staff is mobile, so if you can’t make it to on of our offices, a Youth Worker can meet with you at your home, or in school, at a park or at the local library
Services we Provide
- Short-term Support Services
- Diversion services
- Advocacy
- Workshops on topics including, relationships, anger managements, life skills, values and communication.
- Services are Confidential and Free
Dutchess County Raise the Age of Juvenile Delinquency
Children 7 through 11 years old, in most circumstances, are no longer being sent to probation department or family court through the juvenile justice system related to behaviors that would otherwise be considered crimes.
These eligible children and their families will be offered a differential response to best support their needs. Family participation is voluntary. When safety concerns are identified, the family will be offered interventions to resolve these.
Raise the Lower Age of Juvenile Delinquency -Differential Response 12 16 2022
