Department of Youth Services
Tower Point
27 Wormwood Street,Suite 400
Boston, MA  02210-1613
Phone: 617-727-7575

Overview

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile justice agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our mission is to protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to our custody, and by partnering with communities, families, government and provider agencies toward this end. We accomplish this mission through interventions that build knowledge, develop skills and change the behavior of the youth in our care.

Ages Served/ Eligibility Criteria

·        Committed by the Courts

·        The average age at time of initial commitment is 15 years and 6 months; our youth are committed to us until the age of 18 or 21

Services Offered

DYS operates 98 programs including: 63 facilities, ranging from staff secure group homes to highly secure locked units, and 35 programs to service youth who live in the community (residing with a parent, guardian, foster parent, or residing in an independent living program).

·   Client Services - The Client Services unit oversees the delivery of a host of clinical and support services.

·   Clinical Services - Upon commitment to DYS (within the first 30 to 45 days), youth receive a comprehensive assessment.

·   Health Services - The Department of Youth Services provides health services to all clients who are in out-of-home placements.

·   Victim Services - The Victim Services Unit provides information, support and notification to victims of juvenile crime whose offenders are in the custody of the Department of Youth Services.

·   Community Services - The Community Reentry Centers are located in cities and towns with the highest concentrations of at risk youth.

·   Substance Abuse - Substance abuse prevention and intervention services offered by the Department of Youth Services to their clients. 

• Legal Issues - The Department of Youth Services works to protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to our custody, and by partnering with communities, families, government, and provider agencies toward this end.

Education  

• Educational services, GED preparation, vocational education, life skills programming and/or post-secondary education services are provided through DYS purchased services (vendor contracts through non-profit providers or educational collaborative)
• Special education services are provided through the Massachusetts Department of Education's Educational Services in Institutional Settings (ESIS).
• Title I supplemental services are provided through federal entitlement funds.
• Educational liaison services are provided through DYS purchased services. These liaisons are each Area's link with local school districts.
• Vocational/work programs including extended day, job training and employment are provided through established partnerships with community Regional Vocational Technical High Schools and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Boards.

Regional  Office serving Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop

Metropolitan Region

John Hughes – Director

425 Harvard Street

Dorchester, MA 02124

Phone: (617) 740-0100

DYS Chelsea (Community Re-Entry Center)

175 Crescent Avenues Chelsea Mass. 02150

(617) 887--2203