Youth Engagement Services (YES)

A Second Chance, Inc., helps youth prepare for the future. We teach life skills, like how to manage money; offer career counseling; and prepare them for college and careers. 

Why Engage Youth? 

Young people are capable of making decisions alongside adults about their social services, well-being and opportunities for growth.  

Young people can lead and initiate action. 

Youth Engagements Services (YES) offers: 

  • Kinship Youth Advisory Board 
    • Youth leaders (16-21 years old) currently or formerly in kinship care advocate for the safety, permanency and well-being of their peers. KYAB meets once a month.  
    • KYAB leads panels and presentations to caregivers, child welfare professionals, policymakers and community members at the local, state and national levels. 
  • Teen and Adolescent Group Support 
    • YES meets weekly to discuss and share situations youth are facing, like bullying, coping with grief and loss, rejecting stereotypes, building strong friendships, healthy dating relationships, exploring careers and more.  
    • YES also has fun! Past trips and outings include: professional baseball and football games, plays, museums and movies.   
  • Transitional Living Services 
    • To prepare them for the next chapter of their lives, youth participate in: 
      • Leadership development 
      • Career prep 
      • Communication skills 
      • Global and cultural awareness 
      • Developing sense of self 
      • Service to others 
      • Wellness 
      • Appreciation of the arts 
    • Past events include career fairs, college tours, financial aid workshops, resume writing workshops, job readiness training and paid opportunities for personal development. 
  • Educational Assistance/Referrals 

YES/Crossover Youth One-on-One Meetings 

You can talk one-on-one with your Youth Engagement Specialist in a group setting, at your home or in a community location about any of these transitional living core areas: 

  • Empowerment planning 
  • Time management 
  • Balancing school and life 
  • Permanency support 

Year-Round Events 

  • Spring  
    • Youth Reward Incentive Program  
  • Summer  
    • College and trade school tours 
  • Fall  
    • Trips to amusement parks
  • Winter  
    • Job fairs 

To participate in YES, contact your caseworker and ask for a referral.