Youth and Teen Programs
Boston Public Schools Alternative High School
The Alternative High School at El Centro del Cardenal exists to help out-of-school and high risk youth who did not thrive in the public school system earn credits toward their high school diploma and advance to post-secondary education and to a career. Students are generally between the ages of 14 and 21. These youth may also be court involved, youth with other law enforcement referrals, youth residing in Boston Public Housing developments, or youth in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
Boston Public Schools Alternative High School program is a program of Catholic Charities El Centro del Cardenal. For more information, call 508-542-9292.
Career Pathways
The Career Pathways program supports both youth and adult programs with next step options through career exploration, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and employment. It may also include individual case management.
The Career Pathways program is a program of Catholic Charities El Centro del Cardenal. For more information, call 508-542-9292.
Diploma Enhancement
The Diploma Enhancement program is a competency-based diploma initiative for those involved in the BPS Alternative High School and the GED program. Each student develops a portfolio of his or her best work for presentation to a panel as one of their graduation requirements. Students also are placed in after-school internships and are required to enroll and pass one college course.
The Diploma Enhancement program is a program of Catholic Charities El Centro del Cardenal. For more information, call 508-542-9292.
Education and Parenting Skills Center
The Education and Parenting Skills Center is an alternative education program designed to meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents who have dropped out of school. The program prepares individuals to attain a GED and offers parenting, life-skills, and career development groups. The center also provides a full-time Young Parent GED program. The Education and Parenting Skills Center is a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities North and the Department of Transitional Assistance/Employment Services Program and serves 40-50 students each year.
The Education and Parenting Skills Center program is a program of Catholic Charities North. For more information, call 781-593-2312.
Pa'lante (Youth GED)/English and Spanish GED
The GED program is a bilingual alternative education program that prepares out-of-school Latino and other minority youth between the ages of 16 and 21 for the high school equivalency or GED exam. The program helps students develop career goals and employment skills in an environment that is culturally and personally affirming.
The Pa'lante GED program is a program of Catholic Charities El Centro del Cardenal. For more information, call 508-542-9292.
Teenstart
Teenstart is a program for out-of-school youth that addresses their needs for education and career development. This comprehensive program offers a sequence of three class levels – adult basic education, pre-GED and GED – as well as academic remediation, GED diploma preparation, and life/employment skills training. Teenstart, which enrolls approximately 70 students annually, is a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities North, Operation Bootstrap, and the Department of Education.
The Teenstart program is a program of Catholic Charities North. For more information, call 781-593-2312.
Young Parents Program (GED)
Our Young Parents Program in Lowell offers GED preparation classes to young parents and young pregnant women between the ages of 14 and 21. Other supportive services are offered including computer skills training, parenting skills training, and job or college preparation. The goals of this program are to increase the educational attainment level of participants to help them obtain a high school diploma or GED and to assist young parents in securing employment through education and training.
The Young Parent program is a program of Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities. For more information, call 978-459-2387.
Youth Tutoring Youth
The Youth Tutoring Youth program (YTY) at Catholic Charities Labouré Center provides a free after school program which includes academic tutoring to primarily low-income South Boston students between the ages of 8 and 12. The program is operated by two adult staff who hire, train, and supervise local teens to provide math, reading, and computer skills enrichment to the roughly 40 third- though sixth-graders who participate each year.
The program provides a safe place for these at-risk youth to spend the critical after school hours of 3-6 p.m., while instilling a sense of belonging and fostering a heightened level of attachment to school. A summer session provides students with remedial and academic skill-sustaining instruction, ensuring that they are prepared to return to school in the fall.
The Youth Tutoring Youth program is a program of Catholic Charities Labouré Center. For more information, call 617-268-9670.
Youth Works
Youth Works is a career and educational preparation center serving teens and young adults ages 16-21. The program serves the most high-risk, out-of-school youth and enrolls 20 students each year. Youth Works connects students to job training programs, post-secondary education, and employment through intensive case management, small GED classroom instruction, and computer skills development. The program provides personalized career counseling, mentoring, support services and referrals, and introduces youth to careers through summer employment, work-readiness workshops, and guest speakers. Participants also are able to explore and develop key life skills for contributing to their family, community, and workplace.
For more information about the Youth Works program at Catholic Charities North, call 781-593-2312.