CASE STUDY 8: An аgency thаt serves children аnd yоuth secured funding tо renоvate a building to create a new residence and program. The residence was to be short-term intensive, with the goal of returning young people to their families and communities as quickly as possible. Parents and clients were to feel welcome and comfortable in the residence. The agency wanted to move away from an institutional look and instead create something that was very community friendly and aesthetically pleasing. The upstairs area consists of five bedrooms and the license was for eight beds, two on an emergency basis only and six for short term treatment. There would also need to be a staff room to accommodate the night staff members who were required to check on the kids frequently after lights out. Each room had to meet the local building code and licensing requirements. Space on the main floor was increased to allow for an isolation room and a second living room to be built. It was thought that this would give the residents another place to spend time, complete homework, and meet with parents, workers, and other community partners. The program also requires a classroom, which is located in the basement in an area previously used for office space and storage. Over the next year, it was determined that the kitchen set-up was not practical. More storage space was needed along with better seating arrangements. The supervisor in consultation with many others came up with an island in the middle of the kitchen that would accommodate 20 people instead of 12 with storage underneath. Bar stools replaced chairs, and an additional seating area was created. Through her many discussions with the staff, it was decided that the driveway should be paved in order to create a more appropriate play area for the kids and to keep the inside of the building cleaner. The area behind the school was also paved and was dedicated solely to the residents for sports and other activities. No vehicles were allowed to park in that area. A fence was also erected around the residence in order to enclose the playground equipment and to make the home blend in better with the neighborhood. After administrative discussions, it was decided that a two-story addition should be added to the residence. The upstairs would be used as meeting room for clinical reviews, group therapies, family meetings, and staff training. On the main floor, a game room would be created to motivate the residents in a positive way. It would contain a pool table, air hockey table, craft cupboards and supplies with tables and chairs to accommodate twelve people. Staff decided to convert the former craft room into another office space for computers, medications and a table with chairs to complete paper work. The staff now had two rooms and thus more room to get things done.