Youth Alternatives Family Center
Why This Barn?

In 1853 Maine opened its first State Reform School for boys 7 to 18 years of age. In those days, a depressed, angry, or neglected boy might be institutionalized for minor offenses or disobedience. Not only were these boys taken from their families — a distressing and damaging event in the life of any child — they also were put to work at far too early an age. Those boys labored in the barn Youth Alternatives plans to convert into its Family Center.

Youth Alternatives will use this historic site to build a Family Center dedicated to helping Maine's children and families cement their relationships, rather than pulling them apart. We’re thrilled to have this chance to renovate and revitalize a historically important structure while helping to restore and transform relationships.

We are building on hallowed ground.