Youth Alternatives to Build New Family Center

Renovated barn to bring services under one roof to help YA keep families together

PORTLAND (March 15, 2005) — Youth Alternatives (YA), a nationally accredited provider of services to children, youth and families throughout Maine, announced at a press conference today that it plans to renovate a historic barn into a 12,600 square-foot Family Center in South Portland.

The barn, which was built in 1903, was used as a work farm for boys and is located on the site of the state’s first reform school in South Portland, off Westbrook Street.

The non-profit agency has signed an exclusive option to sublease a parcel on what is now the Brick Hill development and plans to convert the old barn building over the next two years. The proposed center will enable Youth Alternatives to enhance its existing family-focused programs and expand its capacity to serve more than 7,600 area children and families in need.

Plans for the Building

The agency is working with Winton Scott Architects of Portland to retain the historic warmth and character of the structure while using green design and eco-friendly materials to make the interior spaces functional and appealing.

Once complete in the spring of 2007, the Family Center will enable Youth Alternatives to offer expanded mental health, prevention, education, substance abuse and support services to families in need. The Family Center will include group and individual counseling rooms, substance abuse treatment facilities, a large training center, a parent education resource library, community spaces for parenting classes and support groups, meeting and play areas and a fully-equipped kitchen in which families can prepare meals together.

Serving the Needs of Maine’s Kids and Families

Currently, building limitations, space issues and parking considerations pose barriers to the effective delivery of confidential services to YA’s clients. The creation of a Family Center will allow YA to bring all of its family-focused services under one roof. Multidisciplinary teams will deliver a wide range of supportive services designed to keep families together, safe, strong and at home. Mediation and substance abuse services will be available to families, and parents will be able to receive education around such varied topics as infant care, child development and conflict resolution with teenagers.

“Families come to us seeking hope and stability. Yet our building constraints mean we cannot always offer them a dedicated place to meet, much less a confidential, nurturing space for private family sessions,” said Michael J. Tarpinian, president of Youth Alternatives. “The Family Center will allow us to provide the physical and emotional space kids and their families need to communicate openly, resolve conflicts and improve their relationships. It will also provide our case workers and caregivers the resources and support they need to focus on families.”

In addition to enhancing the quality of service delivery, the Family Center will allow YA to reach new populations, such as non-custodial parents, it does not currently serve. The agency will also be able to offer expanded programming, such as more parenting education and support groups. This will enable families to access all the services they need in one place. Moreover, the Family Center will increase Youth Alternatives’ ability to collaborate by providing state-of-the-art training and meeting space to other organizations working with families.

Building on Hallowed Ground

During harsh economic times, it was not uncommon for boys to be committed to the state reform school for a first offense, for very minor crimes or due to breakdowns in their family. Those boys labored in the barn Youth Alternatives plans to convert into its Family Center. The idea of turning a former reform school for boys into a center offering programming designed to prevent the crises that tear families apart is very appealing to YA. “This is where it all began, and this is where it’s all going to change,” said Tarpinian. “This is our chance to give back to the kids who were incarcerated here and the families who had their children taken away.”

“Transforming this barn into our Family Center provides us with the opportunity to restore and renovate an architecturally significant structure. It also allows us to bring the barn to life again, this time with the sights and sounds of family members spending time together and strengthening their relationships,” he added.

Youth Alternatives, a nonprofit social service agency founded in 1972, advances safe, happy, healthy childhoods and positive family relationships. Through its comprehensive continuum of care, Youth Alternatives creates homes for vulnerable children and youth; supports families in need, conflict or crisis; reaches out to homeless youth; provides substance abuse treatment; and ensures safety by working to prevent child abuse and neglect. Through its programs, Youth Alternatives serves more than 6,100 children, youth and family members throughout Maine each year. Youth Alternatives relies on the support of our community, individuals, corporations, foundations and community groups. For additional information, visit the organization online at www.youthalternatives.org.

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