LYNC

Linking Youth to Natural Communities

Bridgeport/Stamford and Waterbury/New Haven

What is Linking Youth to Natural Communities (LYNC)?

LYNC is a center-based program for court-involved youth and their families that program support  in making sustainable behavioral changes by providing an array of evidenced-based and evidence-informed services.

LYNC has a strong focus on connecting youth and their families to appropriate community and/or grassroots agencies and natural supports. Community is an essential component of LYNC.  LYNC programs work with organizations and people local to the individual youth’s natural ecology in order to address the need of the youth and family. LYNC aims to ensure meaningful connections to natural supports that will last past probation and program time and will assist in behavior change sustainability.

LYNC services include:

• Intake, Screening, and Assessments
• Care Coordination
• Structured Case Management
• Individualized Service Planning
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy group interventions
• Short-Term, Individual and Family sessions
• Educational and Vocational Services
• Life Skills
• Community Connections
• Transportation
• Access to Flex Funds for basic needs, prosocial connections, etc.
• Referrals to treatment
• Bilingual services available

Group Treatment Modalities

Life Skills: Teaches self care, independence, and aids in adolescent development.

MET/CBT/FSN: A 12-session substance abuse group to aid adolescents in decreasing substance use while working with parents of adolescents involved in substance use to assist with parenting skills.

Seeking Safety for Adolescent: An evidence-based, present-focused counseling model to help both boys and girls attain safety from trauma and/or substance abuse.

ART: A 30-session group treatment for males and females to address ways to better manage anger.

EMPLOY:  An 8-session job readiness curriculum to help youth develop vocational skills and prepare them for work.

The Council for Boys and Young Men:   A strengths-based group approach to promote boys’ and young mens’ safe and healthy passage through pre-teen and adolescent years.

Girls Circle:   A structured support group for girls ages 12-18 years that integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training in a specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence in girls.

How can LYNC services be accessed?

All LYNC referrals are submitted by the local juvenile probation office.

Program Hours

Monday – Thursday     10am – 7pm 
Friday                             10am – 6pm
Saturday                         8:30am – 12pm