Spectrum Youth Services

219 Lake Street, St. Albans, 05478- 2376

Spectrum Youth Services
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Contact 
Ann Karlene Kroll
Director of Grants Management Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development
(802) 828-5225
[email protected]

Mark Redmond
Executive Director
Spectrum Youth & Family Services
[email protected]

CDBG funds are being subgranted to Specturm Youth and Family Service to be used for operational expenses related to the establishment of a new regional Drop-In Center that will provide support services to at-risk and homeless youth and young adults in Franklin County. Vermont.  In 2012, the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) asked Spectrum to expand its work out of Chittendnen County, Vermont and  into Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, in order to help 14- to 21-year-olds, who are in or aging out of foster care, prepare for independent living. Stakeholders who were consulted to develop the Youth Drop-in Center plans included the St. Albans City Police Chief, School Superintendent, current and former City Mayor, the United Way in St. Albans, Northwestern Medical Center, Northwest Counseling and Support Services, the Samaritan House, and several business leaders. All expressed support for the idea of Spectrum expanding services and each also conveyed concern regarding the challenges youth face and the needs in their community.

St. Albans, VT has approximately 7,000 residents, making it about one-sixth the size of Burlington, VT (with a population of 42,000). Yet St. Albans was a disproportionate source of intake reports (calls reporting potential abuse or neglect of a child) with 11% of all calls made to DCF in 2017 originiated in St Albans, while 20% originated in Burlington.

• Among Vermont youth over age 15 who are in DCF custody, 18% live in Burlington while 19% live in St. Albans, in spite of the difference in size.
• Among youth of all ages, Burlington has only 30% more children in custody than St. Albans, again in spite of being 600% bigger.
• In Franklin and Grand Isle counties, one in every 69 children is in state custody (the second highest in the state), compared to 1 in 105 for the whole state and 1 in 152 for Chittenden County.

The St. Albans Drop-In Center opened it’s doors on May 8, 2021 and open weekdays from 10am-6pm.  The grant agreement outlines stipulates that the CDBG funds will assist in operational costs for the first two years to provide an opportunity for the Drop-In Center to build operating capital through fundraising campaigns.

Partners
Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development
Spectrum Youth & Family Services
City of St. Albans, Vermont

Funding
CDBG $300,000
Private funds $295,750
Total $595,750