My Turn

Founded in 1984, MY TURN is a community-based non-profit youth development agency working with in-school and out-of-school youth who are at a crossroad in their lives. MY TURN seeks to help underserved young people make a successful transition to adulthood, measured, in part, by job placement and retention, and post-secondary education enrollment and credential acquisition. Programs provide youth with academic and work place skills and interpersonal tools needed for success in post-secondary education and the workplace.

In-school youth programs operate in partnership with local high schools and provide a sequence of activities that prepare youth for the adult world. Out-of-school youth are typically referred to MY TURN by the one of several youth-serving government agencies. MY TURN staff place the youth in appropriate education programs and help them acquire needed social services such as housing, child care, mental health counseling, and transportation. Some youth enter alternative education programs or return to high school. The majority enter GED programs run by MY TURN. Programs focus on career enhancement, re-engagement in education that leads to a high school diploma, post-secondary education, or training and life skills. Each youth is matched with a case manager/advisor that develops an individualized plan of services, based on assessments of the youth's interests and needs.

MY TURN's mission is to help youth develop goals, skills and confidence needed to transition successfully into post-secondary education or training and the world of work.

MY TURN operates programs in 14 Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire communities. Since its inception, MY TURN has helped more than 20,000 needy youth overcome obstacles to furthering their education and obtaining career-ladder jobs.