FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I join?
Easy! Either drop in, or you can fill out this online registration form. Once all of the preliminary paperwork is filled out, teens can use our space as much as they want. We do ask that teens sign in & out each time that they use the center. This prompts accountability and empowerment, which are some of the life skills we try to ingrain. It is not necessary for parents to be present; however- we do love it when parents are involved and visit the space!
What do you do?
We do a lot! We offer a wide variety of FREE programming. Our programming ranges from girls group, tutoring, gardening group, STEM activities, art opportunities, board games, video games, cooking classes, and much more all with underlying Social-Emotional learning undertones. Kids can do as much or as little as they would like. If structured programming is more their style, we have scheduled classes and meetings. If they prefer a loose hangout or to do activities as they pop up, we offer that daily. Every night, we offer a nutritious dinner and snacks. This is free of charge to the students. We can do so through our partnerships with local nonprofits and their generous donations.
Who is supervising the students?
Our highly trained staff of volunteers, interns, and licensed counselors oversee the kids daily. All interns are currently studying a concentrated field relevant to BTO. Their backgrounds are in education, psychology, and other degrees from highly esteemed institutions. We have actually brought on some of our interns as paid licensed counselors for our in-house partner, Compassionate Counseling.
Compassionate Counseling is only for teens, right?
WRONG! This is one of our biggest misnomers. Compassionate Counseling provides various counseling services to people of all ages and demographics. They offer sliding scale payments, accept insurance, and offer free services to those who qualify. If you wish to inquire more, please visit the Compassionate Counseling website.
How can I get involved in volunteering?
This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. Visit our Get Involved page for more information.
My child needs to fulfill mandatory community service hours, can they do anything at the teen center?
Absolutely! We have had a range of Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, school projects, fundraisers, and other community service fulfillment hours conducted at Brookline Teen Outreach. We have ample space, tasks, and other opportunities for your child at BTO. There is never a lack of things to do around here, and we attempt to facilitate the most productive environment to do so. As a 501(3)C non-profit, mandated community service hours can be done and signed off at our location. Please stop in during our usual hours and ask for Director Caitlin McNulty for more information. If you want to guarantee a meeting, please email info@brooklineteenoutreach.org to schedule and learn more by visiting our Community Service page.
