Urban Youth

Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP) is a summer program coordinated and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, which offers inner-city youths summer jobs and training to support individuals with developmental disabilities. More than 2,000 youths have been placed in valuable jobs throughout the state.

In this program, local youths undergo a two-week training program at LifeStream, which focuses on mental retardation and relevant issues such as human rights, human values, behavior management, care provision, diversity training, alternative communications, and more. The participants are subsequently employed at programs operated by LifeStream and other DMR service providers.

Participating college students are recruited from Bristol Community College and UMass/Dartmouth. High school seniors come from New Bedford, Dartmouth and BMC Durfee High Schools and the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School. The local office of the Massachusetts Department of Employment and Training and New Directions, a New Bedford agency, assists with student recruitment.

For more information about the Urban Youth Collaborative Program, please contact our Job Development staff at 508-991-4503, TTY 508-998-2870, or email us: Employment & Training

FUNDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.