PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Martha's Vineyard Community Services was awarded funding to build the Island Wide Youth Collaborative (IWYC) Center, a facility that will integrate services for young people struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse, both rising youth issues on the Island.

The IWYC Center will house offices for case managers and clinicians to coordinate services, as well as a conference room and kitchen for team meetings and support group gatherings. MVCS estimates the IWYC will support 1,810 young people and family members in year one. Operational funding for many years has already been secured through grants from The Tower Foundation ($300,000 for 3 years) and a state Family Resource Center Grant ($250,000 for 10 years).

Through professional development of the Island's mental health clinicians and increased coordination, the IWYC seeks to curtail the rising number of young people and families struggling with these issues, and reduce the number of on and off-island hospitalizations of young people in crisis.

The facility will be located on the Community Services campus, accessible by public transportation, and in close proximity to MVRHS, YMCA and Island Counseling Center. Squash Meadow Construction has been hired to build the modular facility. Funding from MVYouth will enable MVCS to break ground in May, and be functional by late Fall 2015.