The YABC is an alternative high school for students who are over-aged and under-credited for their high school diplomas. Each of us contributes to an ongoing effort to infuse our program with social work values and concepts, and we provide one another with the support and mentorship that is essential to successful social work practice.

Hilary is a second year student at Hunter College, completing her social work internship at the YABC. She brings theories and concepts fresh from class and does her best to incorporate these theories into the program in an effort to best serve and advocate for our students. Jessica is a first year social worker in the field, having graduated from Columbia University in May 2012 with her MSW. She has planned professional development seminars for the staff, to enhance the level of services our students receive. Additionally, she helps students on a regular basis with a myriad of social, academic, and emotional issues through individual counseling and personal development groups. Amanda serves as the program director after three years of social work in YABCs, bringing a more seasoned and experienced approach to the position of Program Director, constantly seeing it through a social work lens. Amongst the three of us, we have created an ongoing conversation about social work practice and values that includes idea sharing, reinforcement, and support.

At the YABC, we place a very heavy emphasis on academic rigor and dedication on the part of our students. Our goal each semester is to help our students finish their courses and exams as quickly as possible so that they may obtain their high school diplomas and take their next steps in the world. However, we often face challenges with attendance and motivation when it comes to the students, because so many of them are facing hardship in their personal lives that makes completion of high school a tall order. To address these issues, we utilize the core values of social work; providing services to those in need with integrity and competence while valuing the dignity and worth of each individual. As the social work team at the YABC, we make it a point to help our advisors work with the students from an environmental perspective and to use basic skills such as active listening and empathy when meeting with students. We aim to make the YABC a place where students feel comfortable enough to share the challenges they are facing with a trusted adult as we work to forge enriched relationships with our student population. As we collectivity work to enhance the level of services offered to our students, we foster a sense of hope that our youth will excel academically and personally while concurrently working to obtain their high school diplomas.

The South Shore Young Adult Borough Center is run by FEGS, one of the largest and most comprehensive human services organizations in the country. The YABC is run through the FEGS education and youth services division, which runs many programs for youth in the areas of education, as well as social and emotional health. We get support and inspiration for the work that we do at the YABC through FEGS.