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PROGRAMS
VISION
We envision a safe environment in which children and youth find and develop emotional maturity, family-like relationships, and intellectual curiosity; preparing them for a lifetime of success by learning to respect themselves, other people, and the community in which we live.
METHOD
We are an academic tutoring program focused on skill areas significantly impacted by trauma.
Better Horizons
Better Horizons is Y-US’ longstanding, flagship program, which has been in existence since 1989. Better Horizons provides a long-term, peer-support, academic tutoring program serving approximately 40 children, ages 8-16, from the southern half of Hartford. Participants attend the program two days per week from 5pm-7:30pm and two Saturdays per month from 10am-4pm. Activities involve academic learning which is designed to reinforce areas significantly affected by trauma. This approach includes therapeutic play, peer support meetings, arts & crafts, educational activities, meals and outings. The program operates year round and also features outdoor recreation and family camping trips during the summer months.
Children's Goal Statement |
At Y-US, my goals are:
- To be safe
- To develop my natural abilities and social skills
- To take charge of my life and be responsible
- To have healthy relationships, and
- To find my place in the world
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Skill Areas
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Better Horizons has designed a curriculum that focuses on building specific skill sets using flexible themes in which to learn and practice the skill sets on a daily basis. There is a focus on the concrete mastery of skill sets for better life-long outcomes. The curriculum aim is to help build a well-rounded child through:
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STUDY HABITS / SKILLS (Cognitive)
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LIFE SKILLS (Physical)
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PERSONAL GROWTH (Emotional)
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COMMUNICATION SKILLS (Interpersonal)
The four skills will be taught, implemented and monitored throughout the theme workshops. The themes are mainly a venue in which to teach the skills and practice them. This allows for children to learn them throughout the year regardless of ocassional absence since each session will incorporate skills building. |
School Year Themes |
- BACK TO SCHOOL
- HARM REDUCTION
- CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
- EMOTIONAL GROWTH
- SOCIALIZATION
- TOUR WEEK
- CARING FOR YOUR BODY AND YOUR COMMUNITY
- RECOGNITION WEEK
- CAMPING
- SAFETY
- INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
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The summer segment is set-up with weekly themes such as Water Week, Hiking Week, Science Week, etc. |
 Click here to read an outiside evaluation for this program (451K PDF)
Fee-For-Service
Fee-for-Service is Y-US’ custom program, which began in the summer of 2004. It provides individualized services as requested by DCF social workers in the Greater Hartford area. Services may be short or long term and may be various ages of teens. The afterschool Fee-For-Service programming utilizes the same curriculum themes as above. Click here for our Referral Forms.
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