KeySteps Inc

KeySteps' mission is to provide a comprehensive range of wrap around services and support for at risk school-age youth in order to ensure that they stay in school and gain the skills and emotional resiliency to become educated, productive adults and citizens who contribute to society.It is the goal of KeySteps to provide year round counseling and support services within a school setting to help youth cope with their social and emotional needs while becoming aware of the benefit of education and internalizing the desire to learn prior to dropping out. The goals of the agency are to: *Increase school retention and completion *Reduce unplanned teenage pregancy and other risky behaviors *Promote a culture of high expectations amongst educators, youth and families *Support youth to overcome barriers that interfere with completion of school, participation in higher education, successful entry to the workplace, development of stable families and health communities.Our nonprofit agency, KeySteps, Inc, a school-based organization founded in 1978, employs a diverse, master-level, multilingual staff who offers a comprehensive wrap-around system of care for at-risk youth. The model engages youth of many different cultures, their parents, school-based staff and community-based personnel to help maximize teachers’ ability to teach and students’ capacity to succeed. It is year round, cost effective and easily replicated when well-qualified staff and proper supports are in place. Because services are year round and co-located in local middle and high schools, access to underserved youth prior to a crisis or dropout is heightened; the opportunity to mediate fast, flexible systems of support tailored to meet the needs of each youth is increased; and the ability to create high expectations and long-term trusting relationships, promoted.During this school year, KeySteps will offer a wrap-around system of care for 400 - 500 expectant & parenting teens, newcomers to the country, special needs youth and others considered at risk of dropout. Most youth will remain a part of KeySteps’ unique school-based counseling and support services for an average of two years or more. Comprehensive school-based services offered will include counseling, case management, life skills education, information, and referral to health care, employment, tutorial services, child care, opportunities in higher education and post high school training.***For youth out of school we will provide outreach and home visitation services.***For our graduates, as they enter the world of work and higher education, we will offer follow up counseling and support services.***Additionallly we will plan our for our summertime programming which will include linkage of KeySteps youth to opportunities for summertime employment, healthy - low cost summertime recreation and exposure to opportunities in higher education and post high school training.In Summary:Founded in 1978, KeySteps is a nationally recognized non-profit organization located in Boston Public Schools that links community based organizations to help all youth. We are a school-based agency that promotes responsible behavior and healthy decision-making among Boston's culturally and linguistically diverse youth. We are the only organization of its kind that offers a year-round continuum of services provided by a licensed, Masters level staff. We have earned the trust of students, their parents, educators, collaborators, and funders.