New family support center in Westminster to expand access to social services by end of year

A nonprofit in Carroll County is expanding access to mental health resources with the construction of a $5.3 million community service facility, due to offer additional services to citizens by the end of the year.

Springboard Community Services, which provides a variety of social services to the county, focused on prevention, intervention, counseling and advocacy, is expanding their offerings in the county with the construction of a new Family Support Center located adjacent to the current West End Place on 7 School House Road in Westminster.

The West End School House, originally built in the late 19th century as an elementary school, is currently being used for their West End Place senior housing and adult day care center providing services to older, underserved Carroll County citizens, according to a Springboard news release.

F.T. Burden, CEO of Springboard Community Services, said Tuesday the center has spent two years raising funds, soliciting support and creating a plan.

“It will absolutely make it easier for the citizens of Carroll County to access services,” he said. “There will be greater efficiency for individuals and we’ll be able to bring on more staff.”

Burden said the demand for the Springboard’s services has increased “year after year” but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth enabled them to meet that demand, he said.

With a groundbreaking ceremony held Tuesday, Burden said they wanted to “take advantage of the fact it is Health Awareness Month to bring attention to what we are doing to address mental health in the community.”

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With funding made possible by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Kahlert Foundation and the Carroll County Commissioners, Springboard Community Services, formerly Family and Children’s Services, the new center will provide additional resources including psychiatric services, counseling, crisis intervention, case management and more, the release states.

The combined 20,000-square-foot facility, slated for completion by the end of December, will contain the medical adult day care, counseling and case management offices, conference rooms and training spaces, affordable supportive housing and residential units for seniors and other vulnerable adults. The building was designed by Quinn Evan Architects and is being constructed by Southway Builders.

Commissioner President Ed Rothstein, R-District 5, said this week commissioners helped to secure a community development grant to fund the county portion of the project.

“This is a very exciting opportunity as the new support center will allow Springboard to expand capacity and consolidate a lot of the work they do,” Rothstein said. “I’m very proud of the Carroll County community, both private business and government, for wrapping their arms around challenges we face,” such as homelessness.

He said the key to Springboard’s success is “their willingness to partner with others throughout the community,” and added they currently serve more than 2,500 adults and children every year. “This is a proud moment and I’m looking forward to the continued partnership and strength in taking care of those that need a hand up, not a handout.”

Tuesday’s groundbreaking event also acted as an announcement of the reopening of the adult day care facility on June 1, which had to close during the pandemic because of certain restrictions.

“We’re grateful to the Carroll County Commissioners who have been really supportive of the work we do and to Greg Kahlert, president of the Kahlert Foundation. … We couldn’t have done this without him,” Burden said.