Youth Development Services

Youth Development Services (YDS) Program is here to provide youth with support and help them develop life skills. Services include development assessments, financial literacy education, matched savings accounts, mentor connections, career/work readiness services, youth advisory group participation and more. Eligibility for this program includes:

• Youth must be 16-20 years of ageand must be in foster care for at least 1 day on or after their 16th birthday and not have reached age 21.
• You must complete a Life Skills Assessment in order to access programs (with the exception of SPEAK)
• Your DCYF Primary Caseworker should have referred you when you turned age 16 if you were in foster care. Check with them to see if they did; if not ask them to refer you through RICHIST.

​Mentors

You can have the support of a Mentor. A Mentor will share their life skills and help you develop your own. They will work with you to identify and establish authentic life-long connections.

Financial Literacy and Vocational Training

Learn how to manage your money, save more, and utilize financial resources that will help you have more cash! Work with our designated staff and partners to achieve work readiness and obtain various life skills.

SPEAK Advisory Board

If you are between the ages of 16-20 you can be an active participant on the board. You will advocate for youth in DCYF care, speak your opinions and make decisions regarding the current child welfare system. Youth advisory board meetings are held every other week in different locations.

 Match Savings

Learn ways to manage your money, and then save it. We will match up to $1000 of what you have responsibly saved in a savings account. This money can be applied to approved purchases.