CLEARLAKE — Age requirements at Lake County Youth Services (LCYS) have changed. Effective Monday the drop-in center located on Golf Avenue will accommodate youth age 10 to 16. Prior to the change services were offered to children age 7 to 17.
The age change was made in order to comply with state licensing regulations. Hours of operation have also changed.
LCYS operates under an umbrella of the Lake County Community Action Agency (LCCAA). According to LCCAA Executive Director Georgina Lehne, the change followed a visit from the state. “The Community Care Licensing Division came and reviewed the center and we have to change the way we operate,” Lehne said. “The reason that we have to increase the age is because of the fact that we are a drop-in center. Because we are a drop-in center, the children must sign-in and sign-out. There is a concern on my part that we need to take care of all the children of the community and the younger children can”t drop-in and drop-out. The issue with the state was their coming and going.”
There are alternative options available for parents with children younger than 10. “Basically this change affects the age group that we serve,” said Gigi Mattos, LCYS supervisor. “I”ve been referring our parents with younger kids to their school site after school programs. I have spoken with the Office of Education and they said that all the after school programs in the Konocti district are up and running.”
Lehne said that the change will affect 33 children. “With the amount of children that are not going to be able to attend, we hope that we can welcome other children within the appropriate age range to our center,” Lehne said. “To me, the most important thing is the wellbeing of the children and we will do what ever we can to make sure that is first and foremost at our center.”
According to Lehne, if age requirements are not followed, the center could be fined. “Now that we have been inspected, they will come back and pay us a visit. If they don”t see that we are adhering to the requirements of a drop-in center then we can be fined $200 a day.”
Lehne further reported that parents and school sites have been notified of the change. “We have called the after school programs at Burns Valley, Pomo and Lower Lake elementary schools as well as all the parents to inform them of the change,” Lehne said. “Everybody understood. This youth center is so important to our community and we will do what ever we can to continue its operation.”
Hours of operation will also change at the center effective Monday. New hours are 2:45 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2:45 to 5:45 p.m. Friday.
LCYS provides a variety of services from homework assistance to field trips. The center is currently seeking volunteers to initiate its One-on-One Mentoring Program. Volunteers will be required to submit to a background check and complete an application process that includes interviews with both the mentors and mentees. Upon completion, mentors will be matched with children to whom they are most compatible.
“Being a mentor can change your life and more importantly, it can change the life of a child,” Mattos said.
To learn more about the One-on-One Mentoring program or other programs at Lake County Youth Services, contact Gigi Mattos at 994-7281.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
