Jennifer Cabral knows that she has big shoes to fill when she steps on as the new youth advocate. In fact, she's been told that once or twice from members of the community. But this academic year, she says she's prepared to take on the role.

While this changing of the guard may have been a shock back when Kevin Lee announced his retirement in June, both Lee and the new youth advocate, Cabral, are currently working together to ensure a smooth transition.

Cabral’s first day was Sept. 1, coinciding with the start of the school year. Lee will work alongside Cabral for the next month until he formally steps down from the position on Sept. 30.

“The Youth Commission wanted to make sure that there was overlap between the present youth advocate and the new youth advocate coming in,” said Lee. “My function this month is to be a support person for her and to help existing clients transfer over to Jennifer.”

Lee said the Dartmouth Youth Commission has been in existence since 1968, and has been a 24/7, 365 day a year support mechanism for Dartmouth’s youth. The youth advocate meets with residents under age 20 in need, whether they’re public school, private school or homeschool students. The advocate also works with parents and families and communicates with schools and the court system.

“We have our agenda for the month,” said Cabral. “We’ll be going out to the middle school and the high school, and we have kids that are going to be coming in to meet with me while Kevin’s still here to make the transition go more smoothly.”

Cabral, who was hired in July, has been a social worker since 1996. She’s done clinical work at a master's level since 2008. Her most recent job was at Cushman Elementary as a social worker specializing in family outreach.

Aside from some minor redecorating at the Youth Commission’s office in Town Hall, Cabral intends to keep a continuity of services.

That includes the three groups that meet throughout the school year: The STARS Empowerment Program, Dartmouth Girl Power and Teen Zone. The three programs meet once a week throughout the school year and address various issues youth and teens will encounter growing up as well as teach coping skills.

While Cabral said she’s noticed an increase in the number of hardships young people face, she’s encouraged by Dartmouth’s school system being proactive about the mental well being of students. School strategies like the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model, which was adopted by Dartmouth schools within the last five years, rewards positive behavior.

“It’s offering positive rewards for good behavior,” she said. “Office deferrals decrease when a good PBIS model is in place. If you’re giving kids positive attention throughout the day, that kid’s going to want to do it again.”

As more residents have learned that Cabral is taking over as youth advocate, she is often told that she has big shoes to fill. Cabral said she can’t be “the next Kevin Lee” per say, but she intends to share her predecessor’s commitment to the job.

“I would like to be able to serve the town in the same capacity as Kevin, giving them one hundred and ten percent and being here for the youth and the community,” she said.

The two have a busy month ahead of them as they work to meet clients and settle Cabral into her new role. Lee expressed gratitude that he was able to hold the position for as long as he did.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have served the Town of Dartmouth for the last thirty-one years. This is a unique position, and I think it’s a credit to the community and town leaders that they have kept the Youth Commission through thick and thin down through the decades,” said Lee.

“I want to say, as the outgoing person, thank you to the residents of Dartmouth because Town Meeting members have been staunchly supportive of the services of the Youth Commission.”