Vineyard Group Opening New Family Community Center

COURTESY OF THE ISLAND WIDE YOUTH COLLABORATIVE
The new family services facility for the Island Wide Youth Collaborative.

VINEYARD HAVEN – A new family services center is opening on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Island Wide Youth Collaborative, which is a partnership between Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, YMCA, Youth Task Force and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, is holding an open house for its new building on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the community services Campus.

“We just want to have to community come in and see what programs we are going to be offering for families on the island,” said Susan Mercier, program coordinator for the Island Wide Youth Collaborative. “We believe it’s important for community members to know who we are, what we are here for and how we can help connect the dots for families.”

The IWYC brings the island support to address the issues that face our children, adolescents and young adults including substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

“Basically, what we provide is case management for families and individuals just to help families navigate through different situations in their lives,” Mercier said.

The organization will also try to help the community through parent and peer support groups.

“We’re just about to start a substance abuse recovery group for adolescents here on the island that will be meeting at the IYWC,” she said.

The open house will also offer attendees the chance to meet the staff and partners that make up the different programs offered at the facility.

The new facility, which is about 2,400 square feet, was made possible by a MV Youth grant for $620,000.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter