School Based Life Skills (SBLS)

At Valley Youth House, we are committed to empowering the youth of participating school districts in York County through our comprehensive School-Based Life Skills Program. This initiative is designed for students who require essential life skills education and connections to community resources, aimed at preventing Children and Youth Services (CYF) involvement.

Our Approach

Grounded in the Positive Youth Development theory, our program emphasizes Safety, Control, Connectedness, and Opportunity. We adopt trauma-informed approaches to actively engage with youth, creating a supportive environment where they can thrive.

Program Offerings:

Our Life Skills Program encompasses a wide range of classes focusing on three main areas:

• Soft Skills: Enhancing interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to build strong, positive relationships both personally and professionally.
• Life (Hard) Skills: Practical skills for daily living, from banking and basic household management to health care, ensuring participants are well-equipped for independence.
• Employment Skills: Career planning, employment training, and job search strategies to secure and sustain employment.

Class Topics Include:

• Financial Literacy: Banking, financial planning, and tax preparation.
• Daily Living: Cooking, grocery shopping, housing, and basic household management.
• Employment and Education: Career planning, employment training, education pathways.
• Health and Safety: Health care, electronic device safety, emergency services.
• Personal Development: Time management, decision making, goal planning, and coping strategies.
• Community Engagement: Accessing community resources, public welfare services, and support groups.

Classes are designed to cover essential areas such as car ownership, child care, communication, community resources, cooking, education, employment training, etiquette, financial planning, health care, insurance, legal identification, military opportunities, planned parenthood, human sexuality, relationships, self-reliance, tax preparation, transportation, and more.

Engaging with the Community

Our program doesn’t just stop at the classroom. We make continuous efforts to connect participants with community resources, ensuring they have access to the support they need. Community referrals are made as needed, fostering a network of support that extends beyond our program.