The Center for Youth history

In January 1973, he was succeeded by Joseph Leavy.

1975 Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s premiere mentoring program, joins the agency.

Commissioner Leavy left the Department in January of 1976 and became the President of Communities for People.

The task force submitted its final report in 1977, with a strong recommendation that the Department significantly expand secure capacity.

Calhoun left the Department in July of 1979 to become the Director of the National Crime Prevention Council.

1982 Youth Services joins the Vermont Coalition of Runaway Youth Programs.

1986 With expansion of programs, Youth Services relocates to a larger office at 32 Walnut Street.

In 1989, the National Council Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) recognized Massachusetts as a national model for pioneering a range of treatment services offered for juvenile offenders.

Throughout the mid 1990's, the Department experienced rapid growth in the numbers of juveniles committed to its custody.

1992 Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition formed to help prevent substance abuse among teens.

In July 1993, Loughran resigned to accept a position as Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial.

Chaired by Judge William T. Hogan, Jr., the committee released its findings in January of 1994.

On February 8, 1996, Governor Weld signed capital bond legislation, which included $37.6M for an additional 400 replacement and expansion beds across the Commonwealth.

On August 1, 1997, Governor Paul Cellucci named Robert P. Gittens as the new Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services.

2000 Satellite office opened at Parks Place Community Center in Bellows Falls.

On January 14, 2002, Acting Governor Jane Swift named Michael Bolden as the new Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services.

2003 Big Brothers Big Sisters expands to Deerfield and West River Valleys, Bellows Falls.

Jane E. Tewksbury was named DYS Commissioner in April 2005.

2006 H.E.Y.! Help Empower Youth promotes teen assets development and adult attitude shift.

2007 Bellows Falls families with at-risk teens “wrapped” in services through weekly home visits.

2008 Summer employment project piloted for six-weeks in Bellows Falls with agricultural focus.

2009 Conducted The Listening Project: Giving Voice to Adolescent Youth Living in Difficult Circumstances.

In 2010, Assembly Bill (AB) 1758 (Chaptered 561, Statutes of 2010) updated statue to established that Wraparound was no longer a pilot project, but an optional statewide program.

2011 Pregnant and parenting teens matched with mentors, Young Mom’s Group forms

In February 2012, Tewskbury became Executive Director of early childhood initiative, Thrive in 5.

2013 Youth shelters for homeless and transitional youth opens doors in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls.

2015 Restorative Justice expansion adds pre-trial services, supervised visitation and driver’s license suspension programs, serving adults and young adults.

In 2017, Assembly Bill (AB) 404 (Chaptered 732, Statutes of 2017) updated statute to reflect the rate for Wraparound services to be equal to the rate for short-term residential therapeutic programs, less the cost of any concurrent out-of-home placement.

2018 Clinical services expand to include substance misuse treatment and outreach.

The ACF Youth Engagement Team was developed in 2020 in order to gather expertise from former foster youth in identifying key recommendations for the ALL‐IN Foster Adoption Challenge and state and federal efforts toward achieving permanency for all waiting children and youth.