Children's Study Home gets grant to renovate building

Date: 12/22/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- A $50,000 grant from the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding is making expansion of a program at the Children's Study Home (CSH) a reality.

Speaking at a press event on Wednesday, CSH Executive Director Steve McCafferty explained the budget for the renovation of space at the organization's 30 Sherman St. site was $100,000 and "the $50,000, which was critical, was able to get us started."

CSH is a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of at-risk children, youth and families through educational, residential and family services. The renovations to the building will be for a new family center where several family-oriented programs addressing the stress placed on children and parents by poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and violence would be headquartered.

McCafferty said the current programs are in a "very over-crowded space" and the move to the new area will enable CSH to "better serve the community." He noted CHS was making an expansion of its facility and programs despite the difficult economic conditions.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said the CSH is "on the front lines" and the money designated for infrastructure use would help make sure the funding for the renovation were not pulled away from CSH programs. Sarno had set aside $667,000 of the federal funding to be designated as grants to non-profit organizations in the city.

Debra Call, director of clinical services for CSH, explained families using the program are facing "the most challenging situation and complex needs."

As part of the event, a mural outside the area to be renovated was unveiled. Facing a play area, the mural was created by CSH art instructor Don Blanton with the assistance of the Urban Plunge program of Western New England College.

The theme of the mural children at play will help reinforce the theme of the work of the family center, McCafferty said.

"Today for us it's a celebration," McCafferty said.