Alternative
House
Program Established:
1976
Program Coordinator: Kathleen Marencik |
Above - A small garden prepared by residents |
Program Eligibility: Males, Females ages 6 through 18th birthday
Program Description: Alternative House is a place where children and youth can receive temporary shelter and safely work through family problems that have separated them. Boys and girls, ages 6 up to age 18, may have endured abuse or neglect, or may have been homeless, a runaway, or have been pushed out of their home. Whatever the cause, they are in crisis. They may be scared and lonely, have serious problems and limited resources to deal with them. While at the emergency shelter, youth receive individual, group and family counseling; transportation to and from their home school every day of the school year; and recreation. Efforts are made to resolve the situation that brought them to Alternative House.
Above - Residents volunteer at local flood relief headquarters
Follow-up calls have been made since 1992 to determine the outcomes for kids after they leave. In 2005, 99% were reported as doing well or moderately well 51% were back home 97% were in school 48% were in counseling. Outcome measures done from 1998-2004 by an outside consultant indicated that Alternative House achieved the highest satisfaction and concluded that "The Crisis Center (Alternative House) provides a safe and therapeutic place for children to be placed temporarily."
Alternative House provides time and space to think, find alternatives and make choices. Supportive staff, professional counseling, and problem-solving help can make the difference in a young life. Our goal is to set youth on a path to a happier future. After all, you only get to be a child...once.
Above - Marencik & staff member, Melissa Hoffman sort through donated holiday gifts
Employment Opportunities: Yes (click here for job listings)
Volunteers Needed: Contact Kathleen Marencik for specific volunteer requests.
(click here for volunteer opportunities from our other programs)
Donations Needed: Yes, below is our "Back-to-School" wish list. To donate, contact Program Coordinator Kathleen Marencik at 219-938-7070
2-pocket homework folders (assorted colors)
Pencils
Black ink pens
Blue ink pens
Highlighters-assorted colors
Colored pencils
USB drives
Boxes of Kleenex
Pocket hand sanitizer |
High school age backpacks-Sturdy.
Journals
4 scientific calculators
Trapper keepers
Pen/pencil holders for 3ring notebook
Spiral notebooks-assorted colors
Planner or assignment notebooks
Display boards for science fairs |
For More Information or a Site Visit: E-mail Kathleen Marencik
Contact Info. for Alternative House: Call 219-938-7070, option 1 - (24 hrs).
Fax: 219-938-7503 |
Program Coordinator Spotlight-
Kate Marencik leads a staff of 26 full & part-time residential care workers who serve hundreds of kids
each year.
Marencik also supervises the
professional counseling staff.
Feature Story, August 2010
For over twenty-two (22) years the Crisis Center has cooperated with the Gary Community School Corporation, Office of Federal Programs through Title 1. Currently, we have teachers as tutors to assist Alternative House residents with homework help, reading enhancement, language arts, and math. Below is information pertaining to our Reading Program, as well as recommendations from Alternative House residents.
Books we are reading now: Slave Dance by Paula Fox; Scorpions by Walter D. Myers; Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell; The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.Books which we have read: The Contender by Robert Lipsyte; The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake; Bicycle Rider by Marshall Taylor; The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher P. Curtis; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dumphrey by Margaret P. Haddix; The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson; Short and Shivery by Robert D. San Souci; and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher P. Curtis.
Our resident’s reviews:
Gina describes Missing May by Cynthia Rylant as “The book was good. It was very interesting and it made me want to keep reading more!” Rachel describes the same book as “It was a good book, and I would recommend for other kids to read it also.” Kaylin describes the book as “I think the book is very good. Other people will love the story.” Gina describes Don’t You Dare Read this, Mrs. Dumphrey by Margaret P. Haddix as “I would recommend this book to people. Anyone can relate to this book if they have been through things like this and because it is interesting and keeps you wondering.” Emily describes The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake as “It was a very good book, and I highly suggest you read it. The book made me really realize that what people say means nothing as long as you like yourself.” Ariel describes Islands of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell as “I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this to anyone who has struggled their whole life.”Ezekiel recommends The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox for “younger kids so they could be more informed about history.”
Carl recommends Scorpions by Walter D. Myers “to other teenagers in my community.”
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