Youth Services And Family Counseling Merge, Seek Space At ETH

By Kendra Bobowick

From something old comes something new, as Newtown Youth Services Board of Directors Chairman Chris Gardner explained that his agency and Family Counseling Center Inc, prepare to merge.

Sitting before the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers Monday and briefly describing each agency’s services to the town, Mr Gardner satisfied the board’s curiosity saying, “Now let me tell you why we’re here…”

As the blended agencies become Newtown’s Youth and Family Services, the new entity will also seek a new home. Mr Gardner, along with Family Counseling Center Executive Director Beth Barton, has his eyes on the Edmond Town Hall space once municipal offices relocate to a renovated building on the Fairfield Hills campus.

“We’re looking for space in Newtown,” he explained. Distancing himself from a recent disagreement regarding whether a new town hall is a prudent move for the municipality, Mr Gardner made it clear, “We don’t want to be in that discussion or decision…”

If the town offices should move to a new location at Fairfield Hills, however, he said, “We’ll be interested in the space. I would love to sit down and talk with you…” Knowing that the managers face uncertainty in the future for both an identity in town, and income as current occupants move out, Mr Gardner said, “We have a budget.”

The merged service is in a better position financially than either youth services or the family counseling services were alone. Mr Gardner explained the monetary benefits, which were a part of the reasons for the merge.

“In the years to come it will be difficult for single agencies like us to survive,” he said. “The merge will allow us to streamline administrative costs and we can pour that money back into the community.” He estimates a savings of roughly $100,000, with which Ms Barton agrees.

Mr Gardner also feels that funding opportunities will improve following the merge. He and Ms Barton assured the managers that they will be paying and funded tenants.

“You can assume we’ll pay rent and have the ability to pay more than what we’re paying now,” Mr Gardner said.

The location and history behind the building also hold appeal, the managers learned. Mr Gardner said, “I think this would be a wonderful facility for us in the center of town.”

Manager Sandra Motyka asked, “Why do you need to be in the center of town?”

According to Mr Gardner, the grades 5 and 6 students and middle school students could be easily bused to the Edmond Town Hall. Also referring to the Reed Intermediate School and Newtown Middle School, Mr Gardner explained, “That’s where our needs are.”

Ms Motyka asked, “Would you be taking the whole building and the gym?”

“Not necessarily,” Mr Gardner stressed, saying that he was not there to make demands. “We’re here to work with you and are interested in hearing what you [have to say].”

The combined agencies need space for their programming and staff, which are small. Newtown Youth Services has two full-time and several part-time employees. Much programming is done outside the offices. Ms Barton said her Family Counseling Center Inc, had four full-time staff members with per-diem employees. Her programming involves visits from clients — roughly 80 daily in the afternoon and evening. The guests are a mix of adults and children.

The discussion concluded as managers asked for a written proposal, “Something to go by,” said Mr Juliano. Newtown Youth Services is located at 10 Glen Road and Family Counseling Center Inc is at 121 Mt Pleasant Road.