The Bartlett campus of Youth Villages is spending $22 million to increase its capacity with a 100,000-square-foot expansion, due to open in the spring of 2019.
The one-story addition will expand a smaller structure into a 148,000-square-foot residential treatment center and double its capacity from 72 beds to 144. This project will allow about 435 people to be helped annually at the facility.
Youth Villages will break ground for the construction at 10:30 a.m. Monday on the Bartlett campus at 7410 Memphis-Arlington Road.
This project will allow Youth Villages to help many of the children who would otherwise be on a waiting list for intensive services.
The center will be called “Bill’s Place” in honor of William “Bill” and Marjorie Lawler. They are the parents of Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler.
The facility will serve both boys and girls who have medical issues alongside mental or behavioral health needs.
The goal is to provide an integrated and comprehensive approach to treating the whole child.
All children served by Youth Villages within the Memphis area will have access to the special features and services available at Bill’s Place.
A local capital campaign that is still underway is making the expansion possible.
Youth Villages is working to close the gap and obtain the final $5 million of the $22 million. Those who want to donate can visit the organization’s website at bit.ly/BillsPlace2017. In the comments section, donors can note that the donation is for “Bill’s Place, Capital Campaign.”
With the construction, Youth Villages will expand its intensive residential treatment on the campus and enhance the treatment.
Rachel Cordray, senior public relations coordinator for Youth Villages, said the center “will address a gap in services for medically fragile children and the growing community need for intensive treatment options to serve the most at-risk and vulnerable youth.”
At a recent Bartlett city board meeting, the mayor and aldermen approved the site plan contract for the center.
The developer, Youth Villages, will pay $50,482.90 in city fees. The bond for the project is set at $186,453.33.
Youth Villages has grown from humble roots to helping more than 22,000 children and families each year across 13 states and the District of Columbia.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138, bartlett.editor@journalinc.com or carolyn.bahm@journalinc.com.
