Northeast Kingdom Youth Services (NEKYS) is the leading not-for-profit youth organization responding to the needs of youth and families in Caledonia and Essex Counties. NEKYS was formed in 1975 by a group of concerned citizens responding to the needs of local youth. Our mission is to support youth, their families and communities through quality programs that strengthen positive life skills and encourage stability.

NEKYS is governed by a voluntary, community-based Board of Directors, and relies on federal and foundation grants, funding from the Vermont Legislature, contracts, fundraising, and appropriations from the towns we serve to provide consistent response to local needs.

Our work is facilitated with twenty-two staff members and 137 volunteers serving on Diversion Boards, mentoring youth, engaging in community service and fundraising events, and facilitating educational presentations and trainings.

In 2009, Northeast Kingdom Youth Services (NEKYS) served over 3,518 people in Caledonia and Essex Counties, including ninety-four youth who were homeless or at imminent risk of being homeless.

NEKYS Programs

The programs that comprise our continuum of care include:

• crisis response
• family mediation
• drop in day shelter and overnight shelter
• support for former foster care, runaway and homeless youth to learn the skills necessary to live as productive citizens in our community
• school-based mentoring and adventure programs
• parent support and education
• restorative justice and court diversion programs, as well as various educational and preventative groups and activities

Our commitment to a positive youth development approach and strengths-based treatment planning sets us apart as an agency that effectively engages youth and families in their own growth and skill development. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Please mark your calendars for October 16, 2010 for NEKYS 7th Annual Shelter Walk! Last year over $16,000 was raised to keep the doors open at the Elm Street Shelter. This year, (July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010), 33 youth were provided 1,870 nights of housing. Since opening the Shelter in October 2007 through June 30, 2010, 62 youth have been housed for a total 5,606 nights.

Thanks so much to all who supported NEKYS most successful JUMP Jazz Jubilee. It was a fabulous evening raising more than $22,000 to support Mentoring for our local youth! Said Mentor Sarah Smith: “Being a mentor was something that I knew would be special but now that I am still talking with this amazing young man seven years later, I know that it is more than special, it is life changing.” The 7th Annual Jubilee will be held April 30, 2011 at the St. Johnsbury Country Club!

Generosity of time and resources to NEKYS makes it possible to:

• support those calls from parents and youth in desperate need of help
• provide mentors to youth in need
• make it possible for Diversion staff to bring a community board together to support youth and adults to take responsibility for their actions and repair harm that has been done
• keep the doors open at the Elm Street Shelter for homeless youth