Serving those who have been diagnosed with a wide variety of mental health challenges, this youth center is an addition to the three-acre campus that also includes three supervised residences and an adult wellness center.
Formerly the Caroline Hospice House, the Caroline Youth Center (CYC) is a friendly and comfortable setting for interactive activities that mirror the work and play experiences in which children struggle to cope. At the CYC, they will find hope for a bright future and lifelong wellness.
Children will come to the CYC through referral from a mental health
professional. Channel Marker partners with psychiatrists, social workers, and educators
in the community to develop therapeutic programs that can positively affect a child’s
whole family.
Home settings for many of our youth frequently involve addiction and various chronic mental illnesses, and children exhibit general anxiety disorders, depression, separation anxiety, oppositional defiance, and other brain disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), as well as symptoms of anger, isolation, and despair. Our goal is to grow the Caroline youth program to serve more children who can learn mental health interventions and prevent psychiatric hospitalizations.
Channel Marker staff will provide these children, and their families, with critical life-altering support. The CYC also helps children acquire the necessary skills to cope with their mental health challenges – be it at home, at school, or out in the community. They learn about their diagnoses and how to manage “triggers”. Channel Marker staff also work closely with children to help them set achievable goals toward wellness, while also assisting them to explore ways to make better real-life decisions.
Because of the impoverished environments of Caroline County, many of these children lack
the skills necessary to independently manage their mental health symptoms, stay out of the juvenile system, and maintain average grades. Also characteristic of Caroline County, many children are raised by grandparents due to the high substance abuse struggles or death of their biological parents.
Equally important to the clinical aspect of the Caroline Youth Center is the personal kindness, respect, and love that each staff member brings to every child in his or her care – the Center is an extended family. As such, it provides each child with the time for fun and laughter as a necessary component in developing healthy life skills, while providing a home-like environment to teach specific skills such as table manners, chores, laundry care, and participating in family style meals. Consistency, a meal, yard space or a basketball hoop are the simple benefits of the Caroline Youth Center.
We are proud of the success stories of many children formerly in the program who are now
graduates of Channel Marker’s youth program. Their achievements underscore the various ways our focus on prevention transforms once socially isolated, mentally unwell children into happy, well-adjusted, adult citizens.
This 3,003-square foot building rounds out an extraordinary range of mental health services for Caroline County. Built in 1943, the building was purchased for $130,000 by Channel Marker in May 2019 and more than $100,000 in renovations have been made to transform the building into an inviting place for children.
The completed three-acre campus includes four supervised residences for adults who need extra support to live in the community, as well as a 4,830 square foot Adult Program Center offering daily programs for adult clients including a space dedicated to young adults, aged 18 – 25. The campus also includes offices for a total of 14 staff.
Your financial support will enable us to meet our goals and
improve the lives of the youth that we serve .
We thank you for supporting our mission!
