About Connecticut Youth Services Association

Connecticut Youth Services Association (CYSA) brings together and empowers Connecticut Youth Service Bureaus (YSBs) through statewide coordination, training, advocacy, and innovation, ensuring every community has the necessary tools to support young people and their families.

Since 1972, CYSA has served as the unifying voice for YSBs – community-based organizations that provide prevention, intervention, and diversion services for young people. Through training, technical assistance, data coordination, and policy leadership, CYSA ensures that YSBs are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

In addition to supporting YSBs, CYSA also advances the work of Youth Diversion Teams (YDTs), a trauma-informed, restorative approach to youth accountability that emphasizes healing, community connection, and early intervention.

Whether addressing mental health, truancy, family challenges, or juvenile diversion, CYSA helps YSBs and YDTs deliver local, equitable, and effective support – ensuring every young person has the opportunity to grow, heal, and succeed.

Mission

Connecticut Youth Services Association leads, strengthens, supports and advocates on behalf of a unified network of Youth Service Bureaus dedicated to the well-being of Connecticut’s youth and families.

History

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Late 1960s–Early 1970s

Creation of Youth Service Bureaus

Municipalities across Connecticut begin establishing YSBs to address rising concerns about youth crime, truancy, family crises, and substance abuse

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1972

Founding of CYSA

A small group of Youth Service Bureaus forms the Connecticut Youth Services Association (CYSA) to unify efforts and strengthen advocacy for youth services statewide

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1975

YSBs Codified into State Law

Passage of Public Act 75-487 establishes YSBs as a permanent part of Connecticut’s youth services system under the Department of Children and Youth Services (now DCF)

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1990s

Program Growth and Expanded Funding

YSBs expand their offerings to include Positive Youth Development, mentoring, and bullying prevention. Many secure additional grants to increase funding for direct services.

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2005

Launch of JRB Advisory Panel & KidTrax Pilot

CYSA forms a statewide Juvenile Review Board (now known as Youth Diversion Teams, or YDTs) Advisory Panel to guide the growth of restorative diversion programs. It also pilots KidTrax, a new data system for tracking youth outcomes

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2010

Leadership of the LIST Initiative

CYSA becomes the lead agency for the Local Interagency Services Team (LIST) initiative, a statewide collaboration to improve juvenile justice planning and service delivery in partnership with DCF and the Judicial Branc.

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2018

Community-Based Diversion Codified

Legislation codifies the JRB/YDT process into state statute, reinforcing the role of YSBs as leaders in early intervention and community-based alternatives to court involvement

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2023

Diversionary Navigation Hub Proposal

CYSA submits a proposal to DCF recommending the development of regional Service Hubs to support YSBs and YDTs by providing access to specialized services not available locally

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2023–2024

Restorative Justice Pilot Implementation

CYSA helps implement new, trauma-informed restorative justice protocols across selected YDTs as part of a statewide pilot program supported by the JJPOC and IOYouth

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2025

Statewide Leadership and Advocacy

Board Members

Staff

Annual Awards

The Connecticut Youth Services Association recognizes the outstanding people and programs that serve children, youth, and families in Connecticut through our annual awards program. These awards are presented at the CYSA Annual Conference each year.

Learn More