Patrick honors Lynn students

LYNN-Three Lynn Public School students were among 54 local youth honored by Gov. Patrick’s administration last week for their involvement in the Department of Developmental Services’ Urban Youth Collaborative Program.More than 200 interns from across the state, including Lynn students Broderick Lincoln, Myles Nickola and Antoine Salvadore, have been participating in the UYCP this summer, aiding in the care of individuals with developmental disabilities at state-operated programs and developmental centers in local communities.In its 18th year, the UYCP introduces interested teens to the field of health and human services, helping the students to gain experience and assuring that the next wave of employees entering the work force will be more qualified.In addition, the program goes to great lengths to help reduce the stigma associated with developmental disabilities.The UYCP began in Boston in 1992 as a collaborative effort with Madison Park High School and Bay Cove Human Services with the goal of interesting diverse young adults in a career in human services. The program has since expanded to 15 centers and non-profit organizations across the commonwealth, which provide full-time summer work to students.Some locations have partnered with local colleges to offer course credits for the internship.Since its inception more than 3,000 youth have participated in the program.”The enrichment our Urban Youth Collaborative interns and our consumers gain from spending time together is one of the strengths of this program,” said Program Director Jerry Scott.The program is in place to compliment Patrick’s ongoing efforts to promote dignity and independence for people with disabilities, his office says. In June, the governor celebrated the renaming of the Department of Developmental Services, which had been known as the Department of Mental Retardation.”The Department of Developmental Services is proud to sponsor the Urban Youth Collaborative Program, which enriches the lives of both the student interns and the individuals we support and serve,” said DDS Commissioner Elin Howe. “Our ultimate goal is to encourage young adults to consider careers working with people with developmental disabilities.Other local students who participated include from Saugus, Robert Lemoine and Christopher Spadafora and from Peabody, Jason McNiff, Nicole Janvier, Emmanuel Begon and Gregory Bevins.