Chafee Services at the Department of Human Services

Officially started as an AmeriCorps State worker on the 5th of September, but I wanted to give myself some time to settle into the office before I got this blog going.

As a C.B.P.Y.T. AmeriCorps State Corps member, I have been chosen to work with Chafee Services at the Denver Department of Human Services.

Chafee Services work with teens who are preparing for independent life and transitioning out of foster care. Throughout the year I will be paired with teens in the Denver area who need assistance applying for jobs, securing housing, furthering and/or finishing their education and working on other life skills before their cases are closed at age 21. Part of my job this year will also be to facilitate Independent Living classes with youth. I start my sessions next month and Annalise (the other AmeriCorps member) and I are prepping for the lessons, activities and cooking we will be encorporating into classes.

"Mission of Chafee Services: To provide and coordinate services for the well being and the protection of the residents in our community.  These services are provided through partnerships that help people move towards independence and realize their potential.

AmeriCorps members serve in the Independent Living Unit and mentor youth one on one who are transitioning out of foster care. This position includes a high level of collaboration with therapists and social workers at the Department of Human Services. Members also lead the Youth Advisory Board for Denver Human Services and help facilitate independent living classes through the Chafee Program and Rocky Mountain Youth International Housing. Check out their website http://denverchafee.org/ for more information. "

As soon as Annalise and I arrived at our desks we felt welcomed by the Chafee Team. Streamers, balloons, and personalized calendars and name tags adorned our shared cubicle and, of course, tons of Ameri-gear.

So far Annalise and I have been shadowing Chafee workers and social workers as they attend meetings and contact with the teens, sitting in on staff meetings at DHS and volunteering. We also have been able to attend Youth Advisory Board meetings to get a feel for what the teens would like to work on. We are antsy to start working with youth but trying to soak in all the information we can before we get started!

Beginning Stages

My 2012-2013 journey started when I was in my last AmeriCorps program. I was finishing my year of service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, and was frantically trying to find something to to in my LAA ( Life After AmeriCorps). Applying to jobs, I found one that I was passionate about and in June I was accepted into C.B.P.Y.T. AmeriCorps.

Now... what is C.B.P.Y.T.?  And, why did I want to join another service program in AmeriCorps and why did I want another one with an acronym everyone questions?


C.B.P.Y.T. stands for Community Building Partnership with Youth in Transition. And I have found through my years in Connecticut and Massachusetts that I love service. It is very empowering and allows me to feel connected to community and gain perspective and skills. This year, I decided to move to Denver. By myself- across the country. Daunting to say the least, but this organization seemed to line perfectly with my ideal career path in social services and working with teenagers, a population I really enjoy working with.

Here is a background on what C.B.P.Y.T. is from their website;

"The mission of Community Building Partnership for Youth in Transition (CBPYT) is to:

• Support the essential bridges to adulthood through culturally appropriate resources
• Enhance services for youth to help those transitioning out of systems of care
• Help youth obtain good jobs
• Strengthen and augment family and social network support for youth
• Promote educational success
• Promote mental health and wellness
• Foster personal growth and self-identity
• Empower youth and promote personal responsibility"

"Community Building Partnership for Youth in Transition is a solution.  Our approach mixes youth empowerment, agency expertise, and services in a way that helps local communities impact youth in a successful, positive, and appropriate way.

CBPYT operates as an AmeriCorps program housed at Denver Human Services.  Through this program, AmeriCorps members mentor other youth who are currently transitioning out of foster care, homelessness, and other systems of care.  Our mentors work out of community agencies across the Front Range, where they serve for about 38 hours weekly.  After they complete 1,725 hours of service, they are rewarded with $5,550 to further their education.

The CBPYT AmeriCorps program works with various host sites in the Denver/Boulder area, including city and county agencies and non-profits, to support local community partnerships in meeting the needs of youth between the ages of 15 and 22 who are transitioning into self-sufficiency.

Members assist youth in the development of life skills in areas such as education, employment, housing, personal finance, cooking, personal care, healthcare, etc. One-on-one mentoring, group facilitation, program development, and service learning projects are a few ways that AmeriCorps members reach out to and work with youth."

The stipend of about 400$ per check and 800$ per month seems scary, especially when I have to afford rent and food, but I have found a conveniently located apartment which I have moved into and am applying for Food Stamps to help out my budget.

Lots of new things this year- I'm excited to take risks and adventures to see where I end up in 2013!

 http://cbpytamericorps.org/

www.americorps.gov