Optimism held for future of Macon’s Boysville campus

Although the campus of Boysville in Macon is missing the young men it has served for more than six decades, there is a quiet sense of optimism among the remaining staff. Holy Cross Children’s Services (HSCC) is still operational, and working to utilize the campus of Boysville in a new way, possibly by the fall.When the campus of Boysville opened in 1948, the mission of the Catholic-based organization was to assist Catholic boys struggling with family life to help them reintegrate successfully with their families and society. Over the past 66 years, the details have changed, but the mission has remained the same. The success of the original program at the small campus in Macon, once owned by Henry Ford, expanded across the state to help at risk youth, girls and boys, regardless of religion, either in a residential setting or in the home.Residential treatment for juveniles in the state of Michigan is becoming a thing of the past. For both financial reasons and the belief treatment in a family environment will be more successful, the state has not been investing in residential treatment for at risk youth.“We have been looking at this day for the last 15 years,” said Paul Neitman, the retired Program Operations Director for Holy Cross Children’s Services who works on special projects for HCCS.With the organization’s knowledge and experience with at-risk youth, and its work in the cities of Detroit, Flint and Saginaw, HCCS looked for a new way to help young people successfully integrate into society. In the last two or three years, the number of kids aging out of the foster care system was investigated as a possible avenue of assistance. Never adopted, these young people reach the age of 18 and are released from foster care programs with no guidance or direction for the future. “They have really poor outcomes,” Neitman said. “These young people are capable of success but have no one to support or guide them.”Young people from healthy families are guided through life by supportive parents, and assisted in making decisions about college or work. The scenario is very different for former foster children and other at-risk young adults.“They need an academic push and emotional support,” said Neitman.HCCS wants to provide the necessary support on the Boysville campus in Macon by creating a college preparatory academy. Designed to provide academic assistance and personal guidance to young people aged 16 to 19, the academy would replace missing family support.Through HCCS’s continued affiliation with the Lenawee Intermediate School District, the campus would offer young adults the means to earn a high school diploma through a rigorous college preparatory program.The program also addresses social and personal development, and a guidance counselor will assist students not only during their time at the academy, but also through their college or trade school journeys. HCCS plans to recruit host families to provide a stable home base for students lacking families. “We just want to give young people the skills and abilities to do whatever they want,” Neitman said.Students will arrive on campus at 5 p.m. on Sunday and leave campus at 5 p.m. on Friday to return home. The option to stay on campus during weekends is planned for students lacking other arrangements.HCCS has followed the model created by universities to provide a stable and supportive environment for international students, increasing the likelihood of graduation and academic success. The organization recognizes student success is dependent on not just academic offerings, but also reinforcement of life skills and personal support.Participation in the program would be voluntary and limited to 125 students. The Boysville campus would once again require teachers, social workers, and other support staff.A similar program in Maryland has been very successful, operating on a lottery basis, and has a long waiting list, according to Neitman. HCCS believes the program would be just as successful in Macon.Currently, HCCS is waiting for approval on a request made to the Federal government to cover board for students as well as college advising costs. The college preparatory academy is proposed as a three-year pilot program with the goal of being self-sustaining after the pilot is completed.HCCS is preparing the campus by renovation of buildings for a September start, but, according to Neitman, the start of the college preparatory academy is dependent upon federal approval and financial support.Executive Director and President of HCCS, Br. Francis Boylan, is very excited about the new direction for the Boysville campus. He believes the program fulfills the original mission of Holy Cross to care for underserved youth, providing education and support for young people lacking proper family assistance.“They are human beings trying to survive,” said Boylan. “We believe they deserve a chance. They are just great, wonderful kids.”