Youth Services

Residences for youth aim to teach individuals new skills to navigate the world while managing their trauma. These group homes are designed to feel like a safe home, with comfortable furniture, bedding, and decorations.

Referrals for all group residences come from The Department of Children and Family Services (DCF). Once a client is placed Centerboard’s network of staff and additional resources immediately implement new routines and skill building tools to prepare youth for independence. All Youth are provided with mental health and behavioral support, Individualized Truma-Informed Treatment Plan, crisis support, and recreational activities.

Continuum of Care

Children and youth in out-of-home placement are best supported through a continuum of care that provides ongoing services from entry to exit. The goal of this approach is to use the most appropriate and least restrictive interventions while ensuring that safety issues and needs are addressed. Centerboard offers a continuum of care that includes services for youth reunifying with family, as well as a Youth & Young Adult Supported Community Living and Young Adult Supported Living for youth with a goal of APPLA.

Achieving Permanency

Centerboard Youth Service Programs practice Permanency-specific work with each young adult, using three essential strategies – Family Search and Engagement, Youth Guided Teaming and Permanency. Our Permanency services are designed to establish a significant adult connection in a youth’s life as they age out of many youth service programs.  We believe our young adults are best prepared to transition to adulthood when they have at least one caring, committed adult in their life. Permanency planning options are identified through a youth guided activity, Safety Circles, where staff initiate conversations to address options with kinship and lifelong connections.  Safety Circles allow the youth to identify who is important and visible in their life and build a network of support. The intended goal is to create a viable permanent plan, with a strong support network and to achieve permanent housing.

Behavior Support

Centerboard's Youth Service Programs empower youth by creating a safe, trauma-informed environment. Our core belief is that behavior should be managed through a nurturing and supporting relationship with the primary objective of using reasonable discussion as the avenue toward problem resolution. Safety is maintained by managing behavior with incentives, restrictions, and responses with the goal of building the necessary skills for youth to respond adaptively. To the extent possible, behavior support and intervention strategies must be fair, non-punitive, as brief as possible, and related to any relevant strategy that might be described in the youth’s treatment plan.

Youth & Young Adult Supported Community Living (YYASCL)

Centerboard’s YYASCL is designed for all genders of youth age 18-22 who are able to manage community access with limited support. The program focuses on supporting independent living skills as youth transition to young adulthood.  Residents are working towards living within a budget & saving money, food shopping & cooking, and utilizing transportation with support. Residents are expected to be enrolled in an educational program and/or obtain employment. In-program services are supplemented with offering from Centerboard’s Family Resource Center, We Rise, and T.R.U.E. Mentor Programs. YYASCL youth are referred to Centerboard from the Department of Children & Families.

The YYASCL is staffed 24/7, including during the overnight hours. When staff is out of the building, youth have a phone number to call to reach a staff member. The building is a home-like environment in a residential neighborhood. There are three two-bedroom units each with their own bathroom. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are in a large, open space and there is onsite laundry. Program staff prepare dinner some nights.

    • Trauma-Informed, Individualized Treatment Planning

    • Educational and vocational planning and support

    • Recreational activities

    • Behavioral Support Plans

    • Crisis support

    • Coordination of Individual therapy

    • Individual supports toward independence and navigation to and through adult services

    • Health & Wellness

    • Coordination of Psychiatric Services & Medication

Youth & Young Adult Group Residence (YYAGR)

Centerboard’s YYAGR is designed for males and females sixteen years old or older who are able to independently manage community access. The program focuses on building independent living skills and supporting the transition to young adulthood.  Staff focus on ensuring that residents can live within a budget & save money, food shop & cook, do their own laundry, utilize transportation, complete an educational program, and obtain employment. In-program services are supplemented with offering from Centerboard’s Family Resource Center, We Rise, and T.R.U.E. Mentor Programs. YYAGR youth are referred to Centerboard from the Department of Children & Families.

The YYAGR is staffed 24/7 with two staff per shift (1:5 ratio). The building is a home-like environment in a residential neighborhood. There are two single bedrooms and four double bedrooms on each level with two shared full bathrooms on each floor. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are in a large, open space. Program staff prepare dinner every night.

    • Trauma-Informed, Individualized Treatment Planning

    • Psycho-educational groups

    • Educational and vocational planning and support

    • Recreational activities

    • Behavioral Support Plans

    • Crisis support

    • Coordination of Individual therapy

    • Family Therapy

    • Individual supports toward independence and navigation to and through adult services

    • Health & Wellness

    • Coordination of Psychiatric Services & Medication

Young Adult Supported Living (YASL)

The YASL provides its residents (ages 18-22) an opportunity to live in a trauma informed and therapeutic supportive environment while they work towards obtaining a high school diploma or a further education plan. Residents also strive to gain employment opportunities while achieving a goal of independence through case management. All residents are asked to save 30% of their income through a savings plan that will be returned to them upon discharge. All youth are referred to Centerboard from the Department of Children & Families. All residents have access to a variety of supports and services via Centerboard’s Family Resource Center, We Rise, and T.R.U.E. Mentor Program.

Centerboard’s Co-ed YASL has (7) beds that are subsidized through the Lynn Housing Authority and is located in downtown Lynn. Each resident has a private bedroom and private bathroom with shared common space.

    • “Stepping Out” readiness

    • Community connections

    • Counseling if needed

    • Savings plans

    • Referrals for domestic violence and exploited youth

    • Employment and Education assistance

    • Housing Application Assistance

    • 24-Hour emergency On Call

    • Family Resource Center Support

    • Behavioral support and safety planning

    • Life Skills group

    • Case management

    • Support with medical/dental treatment

    • Houses are staffed 7 days a week but not 24 hours

Young Parent Living Programs (YPLP)

In 1995 the Massachusetts Legislature passed welfare reform legislation which made changes in eligibility for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) by establishing a requirement that all teen parents under the age of 18 must live with their parents, adult guardian, or an adult relative over the age of 20, unless a determination is made that they are unable to live with their parents due to abuse, neglect, addiction or other extraordinary circumstances.  While the majority of teen parents in the Commonwealth are able to live with a parent or relative, some teen parents are unable to due to abuse, neglect, addiction, or other extraordinary circumstances.  Through an interagency agreement with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) conducts assessments to determine if the teen parent is able to live in their parent’s home, and if not to provide alternative housing and services to the teen parents who qualify to live away from their parents. 

As a result, our YPLPs (in addition to providing shelter to teen parents and their children) are intended to provide teen parents a menu of services either in-house or via community partnerships that meet the specialized needs of this population. Centerboard’s YPLPs are located in Lynn, Chelsea, and Melrose.

    • Family Resource Center Support

    • Behavioral support and safety planning

    • Life Skills groups

    • Case management

    • Support with medical/dental treatment

    • Houses are staffed 24 hours/day, 7 days/week

    • Community connections

    • Counseling if needed

    • Savings plans

    • Referrals for domestic violence and exploited youth

    • Employment and Education assistance

    • Housing Application Assistance

  • You can quickly help our youth/families by purchasing items they urgently need via the Walmart website. Walmart will send the goods directly to Centerboard. Click here to view our registry.

Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR)

Opening in late Spring 2022, Centerboard’s 6-bed Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR) serves youth of all genders ages 12-18 referred by the Department of Children & Families. The program provides residents an opportunity to live in a trauma-informed, therapeutic, supportive environment while accessing the community with staff support. Along with clinical services, the program assists youth with meeting their educational and vocational goals.

Our ITR is staffed 24/7 with a daytime staff ratio of 1:3. The building is in a residential neighborhood close to downtown Lynn. The Group Home is located near our Family Resource Center, We Rise, and T.R.U.E. Mentor Programs for ease of accessibility by all residents. Bedrooms are doubles or singles with two shared bathrooms. All meals are provided.

    • Trauma-Informed, Individualized Treatment Planning

    • Permanency work beginning at intake

    • Psycho-educational groups

    • Educational and vocational planning and support

    • Recreational activities

    • Individualized Behavior Support Plans

    • Crisis support

    • Coordination of Individual therapy

    • Family Therapy

    • Individual support toward independence and navigation to and through adult services

    • Health & Wellness

    • Coordination of Psychiatric Services & Medication

Community Treatment Residence (CTR)

Centerboard’s 8-bed CTR serves male and female youth ages 12-18 referred by the Department of Children & Families. The program provides residents an opportunity to live in a trauma-informed, therapeutic, supportive environment while safely accessing the community. Along with clinical support, the program assists youth with meeting their educational and vocational goals.

Our CTR is staffed 24/7 with a daytime staff ratio of 1:4. The building is in a residential neighborhood close to downtown Lynn. The Group Home is located near our Family Resource Center, We Rise, and T.R.U.E. Mentor Programs for ease of accessibility by all residents. Bedrooms are doubles or triples with two shared bathrooms. All meals are provided.

    • Trauma-Informed, Individualized Treatment Planning

    • Permanency work beginning at intake

    • Psycho-educational groups

    • Educational and vocational planning and support

    • Recreational activities

    • Individualized Behavior Support Plans

    • Crisis support

    • Coordination of Individual therapy

    • Family Therapy

    • Individual supports toward independence and navigation to and through adult services

    • Health & Wellness

    • Coordination of Psychiatric Services & Medication

Phoenix Rising

Phoenix Rising serves female youth at risk or involved in sexual exploitation/trafficking. We provide skills  and support needed to have control over themselves, their behavior, and their future. Centerboard’s safe, stable housing program is critical for preventing the commercial sexual exploitation of  children and supporting those already impacted

A six-bed program for girls aged 13–18 who have experienced sex trafficking or exploitation, Phoenix Rising provides residential support in a group home setting that is specialized to serve the unique needs of this population.

The best way to avoid revictimization of a survivor of sexual abuse is by providing stability, believing in the  youth, and providing the support they need. A victim’s vulnerability is often directly related to the impact of  inflicted trauma, the fear of revictimization, the scarcity of resources and a disconnection to family and  community. 

Our team uses a trauma-informed care focus to assess behavior and determine the services needed.. The  funding from this grant will help with the ongoing work by building intensive, wraparound services and  sessions to build resiliency by meeting kids where they are at and bringing their voices to the table to build  awareness, confidence, accountability, and commitment to their ongoing treatment while in care. 

  • Phoenix Rising staff and residents focus on these core values:

    • Competence- focusing on building life skills to regain and maintain independence

    • Confidence- developing feeling of self confidence, self love, and self expression

    • Connection- building upon existing characteristics to create a community and support system.

    • Contribution- maintaining responsibilities within the household

    • Coping- through We Rise residence have access to mental health resources, group therapy, and work to create healthy habits.

Youth Mental Health Advocacy Program

The Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids) has a proven track record of significantly improving the lives of high risk youth and their families in a cost-effective manner. An independent study of MHAP for Kids found that the program substantially improves families' mental health and school attendance while dramatically decreasing the use of emergency inpatient mental health services, and reducing unnecessary costs of the state. 

MHAP for Kids embeds a specially-trained attorney/advocate in the Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in Lowell and Lynn. Each attorney/advocate assists up to 60 youths at a time. 

Contact our Advocates: