50 Years of Social Services Brochure

SOCIAL

SERVICES

50Established in 1972

YEARS

OF DEDICATED PEOPLE CARING

FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

OLD COLONY YMCA

SOCIAL Old Colony YMCA’s 50th Year Anniversary of
Community Commitment & Social Responsibility
SERVICES
Our deliberate work to build capacity to serve all people has been our hallmark since the 1972 launch
50Established in 1972 of our first contract to provide residential treatment. We offer numerous state-contracted services
that help youth and their families grow and thrive.
YEARS

1972, Old Colony YMCA establishes a youth 1984, The Diagnostic Assessment Unit 1994, The Dispositional Revocation Program
detention center with the state Department (male residential serving DYS clients) begins operations, under contract with the
of Youth Services. This was our first contracted was established in Brockton. Department of Youth, on the fifth floor of
service with the state. the Old Colony YMCA Central branch at
1989, The Fall River Diagnostic 320 Main Street.
1976, The Boys Secure Detention Unit begins Assessment Unit opens and
operations, under contract with the state, on the begins offering residential programs 1994, Old Colony YMCA Services Corporation
fourth floor of Old Colony YMCA’s Central branch for youth at-risk under contract opens a Mental Health Clinic at Bolton Place
at 320 Main Street, Brockton. with the state Department of Social in Brockton, which is located behind the 320
Services, Department of Youth Main Street Central Branch.
1978, The Boys Shelter Care Unit begins Services and Commonworks. The
operations, under contract with the state, program is eventually expanded 1994, Old Colony YMCA begins affiliation
on the third floor of the Old Colony YMCA’s to include transitional housing with AmeriCorps, over the years providing a
Central branch at 320 Main Street, Brockton. and outreach. place for thousands of young adults to learn
valuable work skills, earn money for education,
1979, The Old Colony YMCA Services 1991, The Old Colony YMCA begins and develop an appreciation for citizenship.
Corporation is established to provide youth managing Brockton’s community
programming under contract with the state pools and playgrounds. 1996, Under contract with the Department
Department of Social Services.  of Youth Services the Y begins operating a
1993, The Y establishes contracts Secure Detention Program at the Plymouth
1979, The Girls Secure Detention Unit begins with the Department of Social County Correctional Facility to provide services
operations, under contract with the state, Services for Lead Agency and to special placement youth.
at 465 Main Street in Brockton. Family Preservation Advocacy.
1998, Camp Massasoit, a day camp at
1982, The Outreach and Tracking program 1993, The Y charters its Big Massasoit Community College for inner-city
is established with the Department of Social Sister Big Brother Program, Brockton children, is established through a
Services (now the Department of Children and affiliated with the national youth partnership with state and local government.
Families), pairing Youth Advocate mentors mentoring organization.
with children in need of positive role models 1998, Old Colony Y establishes YouthBuild
and resources. 1993, City Pride, Brockton’s Urban Brockton, a full-time construction skills and
Youth Services Corps, operated by the GED training program.
1972-1982 Old Colony Y, is established.
1998 The Transition to Independent Living
1993, The Y began to provide program was established in Fall River.
statewide leadership to the Public
Policy Committee and Youth and 2000, YouthBuild Brockton completes its
Government program. first house at 26 Walnut Street in Brockton.

1983-1993 2002, Old Colony YMCA secures a charter for
the Social Services Branch through YMCA of
the USA.

2003, Transition House, a residential
program serving juveniles engaged in DCF
programming, was established in Brockton.

2003, The Family Life Center was
established in Brockton to offer a safe,
nurturing environment for families
experiencing homelessness.

1994-2004

2005, YouthBuild Brockton completes is fifth house at 69 Laureston Street in 2016, Under a contract with the Office of Community Corrections
Brockton. The program begins its sixth house on Emmet Street, as well as a collaborative the Y begins operating four Community Corrections Centers in Taunton,
effort with South Coast Habitat for Humanity on a property located at the corner of Turner Hyannis, and Pittsfield in partnership with OCC.
and Wyman Streets. This last project is part of the “Brockton Mayor John T. Yunits Home
Ownership Initiative.” 2016, As a part of the Y’s global engagement initiative, a formal
partnership with the YMCA d’Haiti is formed to help fundraise
2005, The Youth Focus Program was established, bringing Y programs and services and build a Y Program Center in Jacmel, Haiti.
directly to urban children in four Brockton Housing Authority developments – Crescent
Court, Golden Circle, Hillside Village, and Roosevelt Heights. 2017, Under contract with DMH, the Y begins to offer Child and
Adolescent Therapeutic Day Mental Health Services for the Southeast
2006, The Old Colony YMCA acquires the David Jon Louison Center. The Center, located Area Brockton/Taunton and Fall River/New Bedford.
in Brockton, becomes a new branch of the Old Colony Y with its own Board of Governors.
2018, The Y is awarded an additional contract from OCC to open a
2006, YouthBuild Brockton completes its sixth house, as well as its collaborative Community Corrections Center in Lowell. This site is the fifth OCC site to
effort with South Shore Habitat for Humanity. be opened by the Y since our collaboration with OCC began in 2009.
2019, The Y collaborated with a coalition of community organizations
2006, The Y establishes the YouthBuild Fall River program. to procure the multi-year Gun Violence Prevention Grant from the
Department of Public Health.
2007, The Y establishes the Brewster Treatment and the Brewster 2019, The Y’s Mental Health Clinic finished preparations for
Detention Center in Brewster, MA. using an electronic records system to process and maintain
clients’ information.
2007, The YouthBuild Brockton Program completes its eighth house and 2019, In a collaboration of the Y and the Department of Children
graduates thirty-two students. and Families, the Taunton/Attleboro Family Resource Center opened
its doors to provide support and resources to families engaged
2007, YouthBuild Fall River graduates its first class of twenty-two students. with DCF.
2019, In December, the Y’s Fall River, New Bedford, and Brockton
2007, The Brockton Juvenile Resource Center was established through a DCF-support programs achieved a three-year accreditation from the
contract with the Office of Community Corrections. Council for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), after
an extensive assessment of the programs.
2008, The Y secures Department of Public Health funding for “Kidz Konnect,” a community 2020, In March, community efforts were launched to provide support
based violence prevention program serving Brockton children ages 6 to 14. Building upon during the COVID pandemic. Old Colony Y pivoted resources to provide
this success, we collaborated with the Boys & Girls Club of Brockton, to develop “Teenz prepared meals and essential items, remote learning access, telehealth
Konnect,” which offers sports, recreation, education, tutoring, workforce development, life mental health services, donations of groceries, and emergency child
skill development, mentoring, and more for Brockton youth ages 15 and older. care to frontline and essential employees.
2020, Old Colony Y’s Community Justice Support Center locations
2008, YouthBuild Fall River graduates 23 students, and receives their first $900,892 expand to eight programs across the Commonwealth. Program centers
contract from the US Department of Labor. support individuals involved with the trial courts and probation/parole.
2020, Old Colony Y provides the summer camp experience to children
2008, The YMCA was awarded the contract for the DYS Northeast Transition Program. experiencing homelessness during the summer of 2020 when camp
Located in Lowell, the new STRIVE program seeks to successfully transition young males opportunities were limited. In partnership with the Department of
back into the community. Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Camp Avoda in
Middleboro, children from the Brockton area were able to enjoy all the
2008, Under contract with DYS the Y begins operating a Clinical Services program to delights of summer camp.
providing services for a twenty-five bed secure detention facility located at the Plymouth 2020, In response to escalating social unrest, Old Colony Y created
County Correctional Facility. the “Break the Silence” video series – an opportunity for Y staff and
constituents to share stories, perspectives, and ideas surrounding
2009, The Y secures a license to offer Substance Abuse Treatment through our Mental all forms of diversity.
Health Clinic in Brockton. 2021, A contract was secured with Massachusetts Department
of Mental Health to provide intensive home-based therapeutic care
2009, The Y was awarded a new five-year contract with the Office of Community for youth and support for their families. These services prevent, reduce
Corrections to operate the Brockton Resource Center, an adult or help to shorten the need for out of home treatment for some of our
recidivism-prevention program in Brockton. most vulnerable youth.
2021, Board of Directors at Old Colony Y adopt “Diversity Pledge”
2010, The YMCA opened a new gang violence prevent/street outreach program, to renew the Y’s commitment to confronting instances of injustice,
“Safe Corners,” to reduce violence, create the opportunity for peace, and pave the way addressing root causes, and promoting meaningful change for our
for youth in the community to connect to positive relationships and opportunities. employees, our youth, our families and our communities.
2022, our work continues...
2012, Old Colony YMCA celebrates 125 years of providing high quality programs
and services to children, adults, and seniors throughout Southeastern Massachusetts 2016 TO PRESENT
and beyond!

2013, The Y establishes the Merrimack Revocation Program in Lowell under contract
with the Department of Youth Services.

2014, Under contract with DYS, the Y establishes the Fall River LEAD
Program – a residential treatment center for adolescent males.

2014, The Y establishes the South East Independent Living program in Brockton – an
independent living program for DYS involved older male adolescents who are transitioning
from residential supervision to living independently in the community.

2014, In a further expansion of our work with families experiencing homelessness, the Y
opens the Bolton Place Family Center located behind the Central Branch at 320 Main Street,
in Brockton. This new location provides supportive space for up to 15 families at one time.

2005-2015

OLD COLONY YMCA

A Mission-Based Organization
Old Colony YMCA is a charitable, non-profit Association committed to the development of strong spirit, mind,
and body, guided by Judeo-Christian principles, to enrich the quality of life for everyone in our communities.

Our Values
Guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Y is dedicated to giving people

of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity.

Our Commitment
Old Colony YMCA has been listening and responding to our communities’ most critical social needs since 1887.
We continue to condemn systemic racism, bias and discrimination of all kinds. When confronted with instances of injustice,
we will address the root cause and commit to meaningful change. By building a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion,
we aim to ensure that our employees, our youth, our families, and our communities achieve equitable outcomes
and live fulfilling, healthy lives. We know that when we work as one, we move people and communities forward.