An after school program offered by the Metropolitan  YMCA of Mississippi is providing students from sixth through 12th grades with a place to go after school.

A joint effort by the Metro Y and the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Community Youth Career Development Center in Warren County is open to youth ages 12 to 18 after school to help them develop career skills and avoid behavior that could land them in trouble.

The center is located at 3210 Wisconsin Avenue Suite A, near the state Department of Rehabilitation offices.

The program runs from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

“We pick the children up in a small school bus and bring them to the center, and we will bring them home,” said Laura McCallum, the program’s Warren County coordinator.

“They have some time for snacks and cooling down, and then tutoring, and we will have some life skills.

“We address issues like anger management, time management, building self-esteem, health issues, relaxation techniques, anti-bullying.”

She said the program began in February through an MDHS grant. The initial goal was to provide programs to keep children out of the juvenile justice system and was expanded this fall to include tutoring services.

“It’s a new program; they have it in Hinds and Adams counties, as far up as Tupelo and Grenada, and they’ve been successful.”

The program is underway, but McCallum said she is sending out fliers to area schools so parents can register children to participate.

“The parents have to contact us to get them (the students) registered so we can get some information, and then they have to let the schools know so we can pick the children up.

Parents wanting to enroll their child can call McCallum at 601-501-1850.