The Dorchester Youth Alternative Academy (DYA)is an innovative human services organization with a highly focused mission. DYA serves young people ages 12-16 who have an open Children in Need of Services (CHINS) petition for truancy issues.

DYA’s goal is to increase student attendance, enhance academic growth, improve behavior at school, and engage parents and guardians in the educational process so that students may function effectively and successfully in the school setting. Because students enter DYA working at a different grade levels, each student’s curriculum is designed individually. In our model, every student is able to work on and receive personalized assistance with the material that they are seeking to master. In addition to time spent on individual coursework, students are also taught and work in groups.

DYA has established close partnerships with several agencies within the Fields Corner area of Dorchester. One such collaboration is with the Kit Clark Senior Center in Dorchester where students visit weekly in order to foster meaningful relationships with the seniors who live there. Our other major community collaboration is our school greenhouse which is located in the parking lot of the C-11 Police Station. The close proximity of our school and the police station, combined with our joint efforts on the greenhouse, promotes a positive relationship between police and our students.

In addition to academics and community partnerships, DYA also offers a summer job program through Arts in the Park and Operation Greenhouse, after-school physical education classes, and homework assistance.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must:

• be referred to the school by the Boston Juvenile Court’s Probation Department or the Department of Social Services
• be 12-16 years old
• have an open Children In Need of Services (CHINS) truancy petition.

After a student is referred by his/her probation officer or social worker, the intake process begins with initial interviews, conducted by the DYA Case Manager, with the student and parent, the student’s probation officer, and a DSS social worker. During these interviews, the Case Manager assesses the student’s academic, social and emotional needs. The new student is then scheduled for a second interview with the students and staff of the school. The guidance counselor of the student’s assigned BPS school generally provides the Case Manager with the student’s BPS transcript.