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Youth Programs

ABCD’s leadership, educators and staff work with schools, businesses and community partners to provide multiple youth programs that open doors for disadvantaged young people, offering them opportunities to earn, learn and achieve success.

The employment rate for people with a high school diploma is 17.4% higher than for those who do not have one. 

ABCD University High School (UHS) provides services to approximately 100 students annually through a unique partnership between ABCD and Boston Public Schools-Boston Collaborative High School. Eligible students are 16-22 years old who have fallen behind at least one grade level or left high school without completing their diploma requirements.

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

ABCD University High School (UHS) provides services to approximately 100 students annually through a unique partnership between ABCD and Boston Public Schools-Boston Collaborative High School. Eligible students are 16-22 years old who have fallen behind at least one grade level or left high school without completing their diploma requirements.
“Ostiguy” is a “recovery high school” — an alternative high school diploma program serving 75 young people in recovery from substance abuse. This partnership with the Boston Public Schools and the Gavin Foundation is a national model accredited by the National Association of Recovery Schools.

OSTIGUY HIGH SCHOOL

“Ostiguy” is a “recovery high school” — an alternative high school diploma program serving 75 young people in recovery from substance abuse. This partnership with the Boston Public Schools and the Gavin Foundation is a national model accredited by the National Association of Recovery Schools.
This program offers older and out-of-school youth opportunities to explore careers in fields that include Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, and Health.

CAREER EXPLORATIONS

This program offers older and out-of-school youth opportunities to explore careers in fields that include Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, and Health.

In 2017, ABCD SummerWorks brought more than $840,000 to Boston neighborhoods through wages to low-income youth. 

ABCD’s SummerWorks jobs program put over 500 Boston youth to work this summer in positions at more than 130 non-profit worksite including hospitals, libraries, child care centers, summer camps and government agencies. Job readiness, mentoring, financial literacy programs and career preparation are part of the summer experience.

SUMMERWORKS

ABCD’s SummerWorks jobs program put over 500 Boston youth to work this summer in positions at more than 130 non-profit worksite including hospitals, libraries, child care centers, summer camps and government agencies. Job readiness, mentoring, financial literacy programs and career preparation are part of the summer experience.
In 2017, ABCD launched a two-year Department of Labor-funded project to guide court-involved or at-risk youth into justice/service career paths. Participants are drawn from high-crime, high-poverty areas and earn credits via dual high school-college enrollment, taking a Criminal Justice or Introduction to Fire Safety course at Urban College of Boston. They take courses leading to First Aid, CPR and OSHA certification, access internship opportunities, hold SummerWorks jobs with the Police Academy or Fire Youth Cadet, partner with mentors in chosen fields and have access to other ABCD programs and services.

FUTURE PROTECTORS INITIATIVE

In 2017, ABCD launched a two-year Department of Labor-funded project to guide court-involved or at-risk youth into justice/service career paths. Participants are drawn from high-crime, high-poverty areas and earn credits via dual high school-college enrollment, taking a Criminal Justice or Introduction to Fire Safety course at Urban College of Boston. They take courses leading to First Aid, CPR and OSHA certification, access internship opportunities, hold SummerWorks jobs with the Police Academy or Fire Youth Cadet, partner with mentors in chosen fields and have access to other ABCD programs and services.
This summer “YEA!” offered a meaningful summer experience to 122 income-eligible young teens in Boston, Malden, Medford and Everett. The 13-year-olds from inner-city neighborhoods – too old for camp and too young to work – learned job-readiness skills, how to manage their finances, basic nutritional guidelines, maintaining a safe and responsible presence online, and how to be an active voice in their communities. Field trips included Boston City Hall, Massachusetts State House and a variety of fun locales!

YOUTH ENGAGED IN ACTION - "YEA!"

This summer “YEA!” offered a meaningful summer experience to 122 income-eligible young teens in Boston, Malden, Medford and Everett. The 13-year-olds from inner-city neighborhoods – too old for camp and too young to work – learned job-readiness skills, how to manage their finances, basic nutritional guidelines, maintaining a safe and responsible presence online, and how to be an active voice in their communities. Field trips included Boston City Hall, Massachusetts State House and a variety of fun locales!
ABCD's WorkSMART program surrounds innercity teens with the support systems to stay in school and graduate while providing work experience that motivates them to pursue higher education and careers. Worksmart offers year-round, supervised, paid work experence withy comprehensive case management and tutoring support to BPS students from low-income homes. Youth must stay in school to qualify. WorkSMART teens work 15 hours a week for 10 weeks in supervised internships subsidized by ABCD at community organization, early care centers, health clinics, colleges, and hospitals.

WORKSMART

ABCD’s WorkSMART program surrounds innercity teens with the support systems to stay in school and graduate while providing work experience that motivates them to pursue higher education and careers. Worksmart offers year-round, supervised, paid work experence withy comprehensive case management and tutoring support to BPS students from low-income homes. Youth must stay in school to qualify. WorkSMART teens work 15 hours a week for 10 weeks in supervised internships subsidized by ABCD at community organization, early care centers, health clinics, colleges, and hospitals.