Milford Youth Center  

The Center is open from after school till 6pm, Monday thru Friday and from 10am till 5pm on half days.  

Our game room is open with pool, foosball, air hockey and WII Entertainment. Homework room is running and the gym is active with soccer, football, basketball, ping pong, 4 -Square and volleyball. Click here for our November calendar.

Mark your calendars for two exciting events at the Youth Center. On Friday, November 18th from 6:30-9:30 PM we will be having our 3rd "Find Yourself Friday" Youth event! On Sunday, December 4th we will also be hosting our 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Jamboree before the Milford Santa parade. More information about both events will be available soon.If you are interested in volunteering at either of these events or during our after school program please email: milfordyouthcenter@comcast.net or call 508-473-1756.  

Halloween and Anti-Bullying

Find Yourself Friday Youth Event a Sucess! 

Over 185 youth attended the second "Find Yourself Friday" youth event of the new school year! This free event was held at the Milford Youth Center on Friday, October 28th from after school until 6 PM and included music, dancing, raffles, special Halloween games, fun snacks, a jumpy, face and pumpkin painting and a movie!

The JAG Youth Council decided to host a Halloween Party themed event this month, with a special focus on anti-bullying, in support of National Anti-Bullying Month. Every youth that entered were asked to read an Anti-Bullying Pledge created by the members of the Council and if they agreed with it could sign the MYC and JAG Anti-Bullying Banner that will be hung up at the Center. All youth who signed the banner were then given a bracelet that said "Find Yourself" and "Let others do the same" to encourage youth to have the confidence to be themselves and to respect their peers. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event including The Juvenile Advocacy Group, JAG Youth Council, the Milford Youth Center, CHNA-6, United Way of Tri-County, Sals Pizza, Garden Pizza, Pizza Palace, Hannafords of Milford, Taylor Rental, Steve Cassinelli and Musician Resource Center, Milford High School National Art Honor Society and to the many volunteers and families that donated decorations and made Halloween snacks for the event!

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer at the next event, scheduled for Friday, November 18th, please contact Youth Council Coordinator Jen Ward at jenward24@gmail.com or 508-473-1756.

Funding for "Find Yourself Fridays" is supported by the United Way of Tri-County Youth Venture Program and CHNA-6.

Our event and efforts were also highlighted in recent article in the Milford Daily News, in concern to trend data on bullying.    

In my experience support is important for everyone, young or older. Everyone likes knowing who will be there for them and whom they can count on. We enjoy the company of those who make us laugh, who make us think, and who help us sort through tough issues. Recently a friend posted this status "Support is not only the glue that holds people together but also the glue that keeps us together on the inside" and it applied so much to what the JAG is doing focusing on the Developmental Asset - Support.

We all live in a hectic society with so many demands, that we sometimes forget the importance of noticing and connecting with one another. The result of this is that too many adults and young people feel isolated and alone.

This year the Juvenile Advocacy Group (JAG) is building community awareness around the 40 Developmental Assets which includes six support assets that have a great impact on the way young people grow up. Most people understand the important roles that families have in supporting young people; however some overlook the positive power of friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, volunteers, grandparents, bus drivers, baby-sitters, aunts and uncles, and other people who are part of children and teenagers' lives.

This month take the time to make simple actions and gestures to help create an atmosphere of support within our community. Together we can make a difference creating caring relationships. We would love to hear how you made a difference with your simple actions and gestures feel free to email Amy Leone at so we can share your stories. Amy will be writing a monthly article in Milford PATCH discussing how individuals can build assets among their families, friends and community.

Visit YourTeen.org for information and advice on key teen issues such as:

• Behavioral problems
• Bullying
• Stresses facing teens
• Internet use
• Alcohol and drug use
• Sex and STDs
• Dealing with death/loss
• Dealing with divorce

The website also links to Mass 211, a 24-hour hotline and website that connects families with services such as counseling, after-school programs, and other health and human services. Dial 211 to speak to a specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Services are free, confidential, and multilingual.

Yourteen.org is funded by Milford Regional Medical Center's Center for Adolescent Health, Tri-County Medical Associates, and CHNA-6.

Donate some or all of your Halloween candy to the troops!

• 4 Better Health (contact Lisa Vasile)
• Palmer Family Chiropractic
• Community Impact
• Athletic Based Training (Milford and Holliston)
• WMRC
• Caring for Women
• LaRose Muscular Therapy
• Hannaford Supermarket
• Juvenile Advocacy Group (Collecting at Milford Youth Center)

For more information please contact Lisa Vasile at 508-333-6108 or Lvasilenp@comcast.net 

The MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWAHS) is an initiative of the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation to support community efforts to improve the health of youth in the region. Since 2006, middle and high schools across the region have administered surveys every other year to monitor trends in health and risk behaviors at the local and regional levels. In Milford, the 2010 MWAHS was administered to middle school students in grades 7 and 8 and high school students in grades 9 through 12.

The survey of Milford High School students revealed that lifetime alcohol use has decreased between 2006 and 2010 from 67.3% to 55%. Current alcohol use is also down from 38.5% to 29.7%. Reports also show that binge drinking has decreased from 21.7% to 16.9%, and riding in a car with a driver who has been drinking has decreased from 24.4% to 21.7%.

The survey also revealed that fewer Milford Middle School students are starting to drink alcohol. In 2010 20% of youth reported drinking in their lifetime, which is a decrease from 28% in 2006. The decline in alcohol use is notable among males, with reported lifetime use decreased from 35% in 2006 to 17% in 2010. Females remained the same at 23% between 2006 and 2010. Despite the decrease in alcohol use, reports of riding with a driver who had been drinking have increased from 22% in 2006 to 26% in 2010.

For Milford PATCH article, click here.

For Milford Daily News article, click here.

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