Youth Connect is a school-based intervention program that seeks to reduce justice involvement and improve health and wellness outcomes of students from elementary to post-secondary education.

This initiative is a collaboration that includes the City of New Haven Youth Department, Board of Education, city social services agencies, mental health professionals, community partners, and parents.

Using a data-driven intervention model, the goal is to improve school engagement and academic performance among program-involved youth. Youth Connect identifies youth and connects them to a network of services that are specifically targeted to their individual needs which is inclusive of but not limited to:

• Tutoring
• Academic Support
• Gang Intervention
• Mental Health Assessments and Treatment
• Employment Matching
• Placement

Youth Connect Partners

• ALIVE
• Career Pathways TECH Collaborative
• Catholic Charities
• Children's Center of Hamden
• Clifford Beers Clinic
• ConnCAT
• Connecticut Junior Republic
• Cornell Scott Hill Health Center
• Department of Children and Families
• Family Centered Services
• Gang of Dads
• Integrated Wellness Group
• Justice Education Center
• New Haven Housing Authority
• Phenomenal I Am, Inc.
• Juvenile Probation
• University of New Haven
• VEOCI
• Yale Child Study Center
• Youth@Work
• Youth Connect SPED Advocate
• NHPD
• Juvenile Review Board

Non-School Youth Service Bureau

• Click here to make a referral for the Youth Service Bureau

Youth Stat Executive Team

Gwendolyn Busch Williams
Director – Youth and Recreation Department
City of New Haven
gbusch@newhavenct.gov

Gemma Joseph Lumpkin
Chief of Youth, Family and Community Engagement
Office of Youth, Family and Community Engagement
gemma.josephlumpkin@nhboe.net

Kermit Carolina
Supervisor of Youth Development and Engagement – New Haven Public Schools
Office of Youth, Family and Community Engagement
kermit.carolina@nhboe.net

Ronald S. Huggins Jr.
Youth Services Specialist – Youth and Recreation Department
City of New Haven
rhuggins@newhavenct.gov

Shaleah Williams
Youth Connect & VEOCI Program Manager
City of New Haven, Board of Education, Grey Wall Software
shaleah.williams@veoci.com