MISSION STATEMENT
The Arlington Youth Consultation Center will work towards the treatment, prevention, and resolution of problems relating to the children and youth of the Town, and will advise and assist other agencies concerned with such matters.
AYCC provides counseling services (individual, group, and family), crisis intervention services, referral services, and pharmacological services to children and youths and families. Referrals for treatment can be made by calling 781-316-3255 and asking for the intake person of the day.
The services are available to all Arlington residents whose presenting problem in some way involves children and adolescents ages 3 to 21.
AYCC is funded from the property tax base of the Town of Arlington. Payment for services is collected from various insurance vendors (including Mass. Health, Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross, and others) and a sliding fee schedule is offered. No Arlington resident within our mandated target population is denied services because of an inability to pay.
People come to AYCC for many reasons. Some come because they are in trouble with the police and courts, others because they are in trouble at school. Many come because they have difficulties at home - marital separation, custody battles, alcoholism, family violence, physical and emotional breakdowns - to name a few. Most clients come to AYCC on a voluntary basis, others because they are referred by police, probation officers, guidance counselors, ministers, and other social service agencies.
AYCC specializes in therapy with adolescents and children. Counseling techniques such as sand tray therapy, outward bound/project adventure therapy, activity group therapy, and support group therapy are offered as ways to help young people and families. A support group for grandparents with custody or active care of grandchildren is offered. Two support groups for battered women are also offered - the First Step Group and Stepping Stones Group.
The Board of Youth Services is the overseeing body of the agency. It is an eleven member board appointed by the Town Manager and approved by the Board of Selectmen. Board members are appointed for three year terms and must be members of the community. The board meets monthly from September through June and also meets in subcommittees for more detailed work. In addition to deciding policy for AYCC, the board also functions as a town-wide citizen-based group mandated to advise and assist other agencies in Arlington.
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