WGA’s comprehensive Life Skills program helps youth better understand and adopt healthy daily living activities in preparation for community living and independent functioning.
Independent Living Skills Coordinators work with residents in the areas of career planning, communication, daily living, housing and money management, self-care, social relationships, and work and study skills.
Added learning opportunities can include driver’s education, attending job fairs, college preparation, and resume building activities such as participating in community service projects.
Community Involvement
At WGA, youth learn that the smallest efforts can make the biggest difference. Below are past and present community service opportunities youth have volunteered to participate in; some are annual occurrences:
- Dryden Kitchen Cupboard’s Weekend Backpack Program
- The Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family, Kettle Bell Ringing and Soup Kitchen Programs
- The Annual Fillmore Auto Show & Flea Market
- Howd Nursing Home
- Loaves and Fishes
- Dryden Beautification Brigade
- Montgomery Park Playground Project
- Homer American Legion Post 465 Memorial Day Cemetery Flag Planting
- Dryden Town Historical Society Opportunity Sale & Homestead Heritage Fair
Collaborations
WGA works closely with the GJR UFSD to ensure a continuum of care throughout a youth’s length of stay on campus. Staff from both organizations regularly communicate on progress toward an individual’s goals. The vocational and career exploration curriculum on campus is co-designed with GJR staff so youth are eligible to receive maximum academic credit for their participation in hands-on, work-based learning.
In addition, collaborations with Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, Park Fellows Leadership Program and the student-run programs of the Cornell Einhorn Center for Community Engagement have produced excellent learning opportunities for youth. Such projects are typically carried out around the Cornell semester calendar and based on youth interest and opportunity. They have included:
- CORNELL CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAM: aimed at introducing high school level students to the world of hospitality and the restaurant industry.
- PERSONAL FINANCES WORKSHOP: designed for students to learn the basics of budgeting and smart spending.
- POETIC JUSTICE CLUB: exploring literature and writing with the goals of expressing feelings, establishing a safe space, exercising freedom of speech, and thinking creatively.
- COMPUTER SCIENCE CLUB: working on coding, web design, 3D printing projects created using the computer program tinkercad.com.
- COMPASS RECORDING CLUB: An off-shoot of the poetry club, students work with their teacher and a volunteer from Cornell to write and record music.
- CHESS CLUB: designed to provide a social, informational, and competitive meeting place where students, staff, and Cornell students come together through chess.
A Living-Learning Environment
Growing through Giving
Last November, on a chilly, overcast day, the youth of The William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA) donned their winter coats and braved the
Fostering Positive Lifelong Habits
“Fulfilling and mutually-beneficial.” These words leap to Lauren and Alex LaBelle’s minds when recalling the feeling of co-presenting a financial literacy workshop for teens at
Learning Opportunities
- expand perspective
- acquire new skills
- improve self esteem
- foster respect
- change behavior
- nurture hope