Penikese Island School Board Announces Management Transition

In 2013, the Board of Directors of the Penikese Island School, Inc. contracted with the Upper Valley Stewardship Center (UVSC) to establish a new and expanded program on Penikese Island, which has served teenaged boys since 1973. "Penikese" is a non-profit residential treatment center based on Penikese Island in Buzzards Bay that serves adolescent boys struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. The UVSC is a member of the Becket Family of Services, an affiliated group of nonprofits that has provided a range of services to adolescents and families throughout New England since 1964. Under its contract, the primary goals of the UVSC included helping Penikese (i) to develop and train a team of staff, (ii) to secure a license from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and (iii) to introduce the new Penikese program to referral sources.

With these objectives largely achieved, the respective Boards of the Penikese Island School and the UVSC have agreed to transition operations from UVSC to the Penikese Island School Board of Directors. This transition, which will occur by the end of November, will not impact the services being rendered to current Penikese residents.

"We are proud of the work completed to establish a quality co-occurring substance abuse program based in the Northeast that provides an alternative to wilderness for families of young men in need. I have greatly enjoyed working with the Penikese Island School Board, and the residents and families served to date have benefited from the professional and talented staff and a great facility and experience. We look forward to a smooth transition to the new management team," said Don Vardell, the UVSC's Executive Director for the program.

Jay Wolter, President of the UVSC notes that "while our official role will be ending, we will continue to collaborate, offer guidance, network on behalf of and support Penikese as much as we possibly can. Like the many supporters of Penikese over the years, we are inspired by its mission and hope very much to share in its future successes."

To effectuate the transition, Penikese will temporarily halt admissions, and plans to resume full operations in the first quarter of 2015.

Questions regarding future plans for the program should be directed to the Penikese Island School at 508-548-7276.

Penikese is a non-profit, short term residential treatment program for boys, ages 14 to 17, with substance use issues coupled with �internalizing� mental health challenges � anxiety, mood, attachment and trauma.