Youth and Family Services
Baker Victory Services
Facilitator
John Craik
The WAY Program - Work Appreciation for Youth
The Work Appreciation for Youth (WAY) Program was designed to help at-risk youths not only realize the value of education and work, but develop the skills they need to get a job and keep that job. WAY is a comprehensive, individualized program that offers its participants a trained counselor for up to 5 years of care after discharge as well as access to a number of helpful services including tutoring, job counseling, job readiness training, crisis intervention, life skills workshops and career exploration.
A program which has succeeded at several different sites throughout NYS, the WAY program offers at-risk youth a chance at something they deserve - a positive future.
There are a number of worksites currently up and running, including:
Culinary Skills
This workshop teaches the workers the skills needed to work successfully in a kitchen.
LunchWAY
Serving lunch daily with a large menu to choose from and daily specials.
Catering YourWAY
Provides fullcatering services to customers. WAY will propare pre-ordered items and deliver them to the event location.
GateWAY Cafe
Serving lunch daily for the tenants of the Gateway Building in a cafeteria setting.
Fast Stop
This worksite selld penny candy, pop and quick food items using the Gateway-Longview Resource Center
Horticulture
Our horticulture department has three gardens producing herbs and vegetables to be sold or used at the worksites. In addition, this department has partnered with various community greenhouses, allowing WAY employees to assist on special projects in their gardens and greenhouses.
Raindrop Creations
This workshop is home to the handmade jewelry production team. There are a variety of itms made such as: earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This jewelry is available for purchase at stores throughout the community including Chique Boutique on Abbott Road and Thin Ice on Elmwood Avenue Jewelry is also available for saleat various craft shows throughout the year.
Greeting from WAY
WAY is now producing greeting cards for every occassion you can think of. There are several racks of assorted cards throughout the agency. Cards are also sold at stores throughout the community and various craft shows.
Pin Pals
Workers design and create pins from clay that represent children. These pins are used as fundraisers for adoption agencies.
Spice of Life
Workers produce packaged rubs for specific cuts of meat including Luscious Lemon, Jucy Steak Rub, Heavenly Herb Rub and much more. The spice rubs are available for purchase at stores throughout the community including Premier Gourmet, Chique Boutique and Thin Ice. Rubs are also sold at various craft shows throughout the year.
Construction Crew
Workers learn many skills such as measuring, tool handling and proper construction techniques while assisting with demolition and reconstruction at various communty sites with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Buffalo Re-Use.
WAY Cleaning Crew
WAY employees work along side with experienced people in the area of housekeeping and cleaning. They learn proper cleaning techniques and light housekeeping.
Tutoring
The WAY program also provides tutoring for the students who either attenda Baker Hall School or who reside in our residential facilities. We work with several highly qualified teachers who strive to assist the students in mastering their areas of study.
Available services include:
Job Coaching/Job Development
Individualized services focused on locating, obtaining and sustaining community employment.
Career Counseling/Vocational Planning
Individualized service focused on long-term goal setting and transition planning.
Vocational Evaluations
Assessments and interest inventories given by trained evaluators to help identify vocational interests, abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
Workshops
Series of 12 interactive group workshops that focus on vocational training, job readiness traiing, basic employment skills and independent living skills related to the workforce.
Introduction to Occupation
8-week program that meets twice weekly to give students the opportunity to experience various types of work hands-on.
ERTF will be working hand-in-hand with Baker Victory Services to bring the WAY Program to our community
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About Us
The Community Control Board (CCB) was formed in 2003 as a "call to action" for the community residents to take back control of our neighborhoods making it a better place to live.
Read more
Worth a visit
- We are open daily from 9am - 7pm and we would love to have you visit and see what we are doing in your neighborhood.
Youth Program
- You have seen the great job we did over the summer cleaning the lots in our neighborhoods.
We now have a 1 year paid pilot program for youths 21 and under.
We will shovel snow, plow lots, rake leaves, cut trees, trim all weeds, clean debris from your yard, attic, etc. Get more information here
Day & Evening Reporting Center
Need Volunteers
- If you would like to help us out we would love to have you. We are looking for any individual or business wishing to help us in our mission of community rebirth. Contact Us for Info