New Haven Independent

James, an alderwoman from the Hill, has found a location her evolving Elm City Youth and Family Center, at 50 Fitch St. She’s planning to open a comprehensive center that ranges from a shelter for girls to drop-in counseling, to medical and dental care, to life skills training, to recreation. She has a board comprised of fellow alder Jorge Perez and City Hall’s Che Dawson among others. She also has received passionate assistance from young people such as Rachel Plattus (pictured on the right), a Yale junior who is the Democratic hopeful in September to replace Nick Shalek to represent Ward 1 on the Board of Aldermen.

The location in question is 17,000 square feet of unfinished commercial space, in the back of the building housing the Community Action Agency. Additional space for clinics and services would be in parallel space now occupied by a dance studio, an office of adult parole, and a bar. Many of these appear to be moving out. In addition, there’s a broad parking lot, some 100 yards in from Whalley on Fitch. James and Plattus envision kids and families driving in, filling up the 80 slots, and availing themselves of a full-service “campus for adolescents.” They hope to begin providing services in 2008.

On a bright, warm day, the Independent met with James and Plattus, the founders, to hear the details of their dream.

NHI: What’s the need your project is addressing?
James: Homelessness among adolescents is really a severe problem in New Haven, especially among adolescent girls. Our first service is going to be a 15-bed shelter, because now an adolescent female runaway or “throwaway” shelter does not exist in New Haven. There are shelters only in Waterbury, Hartford, Cos Cob, and Greenwich. But there a New Haven kid loses all touch with family, friends, teachers, those who can help. It makes no sense. Plus, these are available only if you’re in the criminal justice system or through the Department of Children and Families. Our idea is to have this service for any adolescents, and a wide range of help for their families as well. But we’re much more than a shelter.

Plattus: The idea is, after the shelter is up and running, to have a full-service clinic for medical and dental needs; for mental health and behavior modification needs; with Planned Parenthood. And to have life-skills courses, college prep, mentoring, the entire gamut. Plus, it would be a place with a 24-hour hotline, where the teens can eventually answer the phones once they are trained; a place where parents can call in if they’re having problems; where we work with individuals and with families. And there will be recreation, movies, a place that really draws kids in.

NHI: It’s for boys and girls both?

Jmesa: Right. The shelter, however, is only for girls.

NHI: Is this a unique idea? Where does it come from?

James: New Haven is a city rich in services, but many kids in need just can’t get to them, or they’re scattered. Various places offer life skills — I’m talking about cooking, how to dress, and apply for a job, basics. But the same places don’t offer mental health counseling, or ways to get your G.E.D. We’re going to pull it all under one umbrella, on this site. It’s going to be beautiful.

NHI: And the idea derives from what model?

James: I’ve been dreaming about something like this since 2003. Remember, I’m a social worker. I know how fragmented services can be. I also grew up in the city when there was more of a sense of community. This place, even the shelter, will be like that, family. We know that works. The model of a comprehensive campus comes from the Harlem Children’s Zone, in Manhattan, which I visited, along with a few others from the Board of Aldermen, as part of a team from the United Way. They deal with thousands of children, and we, of course, will not be that big. But a campus for kids and all their needs, an idea whose time has come.

NHI: What do you mean by that?

James: Well, services are all over the place. And many kids are not getting any. If a kid is not learning how to talk, to be in society, to dress for a job, to deal with health or emotional issues at home or at school, where are they going to go? We can’t abandon them. We have to address it, and Elm City Youth and Family Center is going to do just that.

NHI: Let me understand. Other places do provide life skills and other help, right?

James: Yes. Youth Continuum, for example, has life skills, but that’s through DCF. You have to be involved in the foster or judicial system to be eligible. With us, no.

NHI: And where did you two meet or get together on the project?

Plattus: Jackie came to speak at Dwight Hall, at one of our programs at Yale. She was very powerful in outlining this problem. She said, “The adolescent that commits a crime against me is going to commit one against you. How can we work on this together?” I was really taken by the holistic approach, the 24-hour availability. Also, I grew up not far from this area. I want to make this work here.

NHI: How specifically are Yalies involved?

James: Well, we’ve had help from the Yale Law Clinic so that we are incorporating as a 501(c)(3). Debbie Hauser from the Yale Child Study Center is in our board. Rachel is helping us with a fund-raising campaign beginning in October, right? Her dad, as you know, is an architect, and is going to help design our spaces.

NHI: So you have a commitment for this location?

James: Pretty much. Over there the shelter will be 15 beds, only for girls, to start. Then over along this side of the parking lot we’ll have the clinic rooms —- Planned Parenthood used to be here, so examining rooms and other facilities are already in place. The landlord is committed to helping us, including re-paving the lot.

NHI: Who else is on your board? Is City Hall behind the effort?

Plattus: Alderman Jorge Perez is on the board, Laura McCargar from Youth Rights Media is, Larry Conway, a Wilbur Cross assistant principal. Who’d I forget?

James: We have invited the city to have a representative. We’re working with Kica Matos, through the office of community services. Che Dawson is serving as the mayor’s representative.

NHI: Okay, and why this particular location?

James: It’s a place without territoriality. A kid from Dixwell or Newhallville can come here without problem. It’s not going to be fought over, either by kids, or by denser local communities. It’s set apart, a bit. Look, that’s a beautiful brick building, but we’re away from businesses, so the dance studio is closing, the convenience store is closing, and we think the department of corrections office will be leaving too. It’s ideal for a non-profit concept like ours. Plus this parking lot has lots of room for clients, for kids to drive here, on their own.

NHI: And what are the next steps?

James: We’re working with Jim Farnam, a consultant with Holt, Wexler, and Farnam, to help us refine our approach. Right now, phase one is the shelter and the life skills; phase two is the pre-school, the family resource center. Along the way we add the clinics, and other programs as needed. We will be partnering with the whole range of organizations in New Haven - with Planned Parenthood, St. Raphael’s, DCF, the school system, whoever.

Pattus: We’re hoping to raise $50,000 to 60,000 in a fund-raiser this fall.

To learn more about the evolving Elm City Youth and Family Center, the contact is Jackie James: 676-9478. They are seeking not only financial support but actively looking for volunteers.